The steps to earn Ohio's optional concealed handgun license (CHL): confirm your eligibility, take an approved pistol safety course, and submit your application to your county Sheriff's office.
Getting Your Optional Ohio CCW License (CHL) Is as Easy as 1, 2, 3
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Three steps to your Ohio CHL
Confirm your eligibility
Make sure you meet Ohio’s requirements: at least 21 years old, no felony convictions, an Ohio resident or employed in Ohio, and legally living in the United States.
Take a pistol safety course
Complete an approved Ohio pistol safety course of at least 8 hours, with a minimum of 6 hours classroom time and 2 hours range time.
Submit your application
Take your training certificate and application to your county Sheriff’s office, sign it there, pay the fee, and get fingerprinted.
Eligibility
- At least 21 yrs old
- No felony convictions
- Resident of Ohio or employed in Ohio
- Living legally in the United States
- Not subject to a protective order
- Not a fugitive from justice
- Not prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm
- Not subject to other restrictions
Pistol Safety Course
To earn the optional CHL, you take a pistol safety course from an approved Ohio instructor who is either an NRA-certified instructor or certified to teach through the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission. It must be at least 8 hours long, with a minimum of 6 hours classroom time and 2 hours range time.
Submit Application
Once you complete your CCW training, you can fill out the Ohio Application for License to Carry a Concealed Handgun (CCW License) but don’t sign it. Call your local Sheriff’s Office and set an appointment time for turning everything in. Take the application, along with your training certificate to your local county Sheriff’s office of the county you reside in or an adjacent county. There, you will sign the application and give them payment of $67.00 (+ $24 FBI background check fee if not an Ohio resident for the last 5 years) as well as one 2×2 passport-sized photo taken in the last 30 days. Then, they will electronically take your fingerprints.
Once the application has been submitted, it takes less than 3 months to receive your CCW.
Each county processes their own applications, and therefor each county has different processing times.
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