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About the exam
California Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) Test
Anyone buying or receiving a firearm in California must hold a Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ), unless an exemption applies (for example, active peace officers and holders of a valid carry license). You earn the FSC by passing a written test given by a DOJ Certified Instructor, usually at the firearms dealer where you are buying. The certificate is valid for five years.
The test is written by DOJ, and the DOJ Firearm Safety Certificate Study Guide states that it contains everything you need to pass. The 2025 edition of the guide was revised for the January 1, 2026 safe storage law (AB 53), so questions about locking up firearms at home have changed; this bank follows the current guide.
Expect questions on the basic safety rules, safe handling and how firearms work, safe storage and child access, transport, California purchase and ownership law (age limits, waiting periods, dealer requirements, family transfers, prohibited persons), and where you may and may not carry.
Exam format
Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC): questions, time and pass mark
| Item | Official exam | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 30, true/false and multiple choice | Verified Oct 2026 (oag.ca.gov FSC FAQ) |
| Pass mark | 75 percent (23 of 30) | Verified Oct 2026 (Study Guide; FAQ) |
| Time limit | None published by DOJ | Unpublished; practice test uses 30 minutes |
| Fee | $25, covers two attempts | Verified Oct 2026 (Study Guide p. 32; FAQ) |
| Retake | A different version of the test from the same instructor, no extra fee, after 24 hours | Verified Oct 2026 (FAQ) |
| Minimum age | 18 (most purchases require 21) | Verified Oct 2026 (FAQ) |
| Validity | 5 years from issue | Verified Oct 2026 (Study Guide p. 1) |
| Replacement | $5 through the issuing instructor | Verified Oct 2026 (Study Guide p. 32) |
The practice test above draws 30 questions with a 30-minute timer and a 75% pass mark. Practice mode lets you work one topic at a time with explanations after every answer, and the cheat sheet view lists every question and answer for review.
Cost and booking
Fees, where to take it and retakes
The FSC test costs $25 as of 2026, paid to the DOJ Certified Instructor, and that fee covers a second attempt if you fail the first. Most licensed dealers have a certified instructor on staff, so you can take the test when you go in to buy; call ahead to confirm. Bring a California driver license or ID card.
If you fail, you may retake a different version of the test from the same instructor after 24 hours at no extra charge. Once you pass, the instructor issues the certificate on the spot. It is valid for five years, and a lost certificate can be replaced for $5 by the instructor who issued it. Buying a firearm still requires the dealer transaction, the Dealer Record of Sale, the 10-day waiting period and a safe handling demonstration.
What’s covered
180+ practice questions, by topic
Written from California DOJ Firearm Safety Certificate Study Guide (2025 edition). Every explanation cites its section.
- Firearm safety rules and safe handling43
- Safe storage, child access and transport36
- How firearms work29
- California purchase and ownership law45
- Carrying, prohibited places and legal responsibilities27
Why people fail
The mistakes that cost people the Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC)
- Studying from an old guide. The 2025 edition changed the storage chapter for the 2026 safe storage law (Penal Code 25100, 25105, 25145). Questions on what counts as securely stored now have a different right answer.
- Skipping the law chapter. Roughly a quarter of the bank, and of the guide, is California purchase and ownership law: the 21-and-over rule, the 10-day wait, dealer transfers, family transfer reporting and prohibited persons.
- Guessing the three degrees of criminal storage. Which degree applies depends on whether a child obtained the firearm and whether anyone was hurt.
- Mixing up the four kid rules, where it is legal to carry, and what makes a firearm 'loaded' under California law.
- Treating true/false items casually. Half the real test can be true/false and a single wrong word in a statement makes it false.
A study plan that works
- Download the current DOJ FSC Study Guide (2025 edition) from oag.ca.gov and read it once end to end; it is about 40 pages.
- Practice here by category: safety rules first, then safe storage (the 2026 changes), then purchase and ownership law.
- Learn the numbers: 18 to test, 21 to buy, 10-day wait, 30 days to report a family transfer, 24 hours to relinquish under a protective order, 5-year certificate, 75 percent to pass.
- Take a 30-question timed test and review every explanation. Star anything from the law and storage chapters you missed.
- Before the dealer visit, reread the guide's chapter 6 (laws) and the storage pages, then run your starred questions once more.
Try a few
Sample Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) practice questions
Six questions pulled straight from the bank, with the answer shown. For the timed, no-peeking version, use the quiz above.
Why: Bullets can miss or pass through a target and strike something beyond it. You must check the backstop and surroundings before you fire.
Source: DOJ FSC Study Guide (2025), Ch. 1, p. 4
Why: Childproofing means an unloaded firearm, a safety device plus a locked container, and ammunition stored separately in a locked container.
Source: DOJ FSC Study Guide (2025), Ch. 4, p. 28
Why: In a double-action revolver a single pull of the trigger both cocks the hammer and releases it.
Source: DOJ FSC Study Guide (2025), Ch. 3, p. 10; Glossary, p. 41
Why: The guide says that in California only licensed firearms dealers are authorized to engage in retail sales of firearms.
Source: DOJ FSC Study Guide (2025), Ch. 6, p. 31
Why: A person may use only the amount of force, up to deadly force, that a reasonable person in the same circumstances would believe necessary to prevent imminent injury.
Source: DOJ FSC Study Guide (2025), Ch. 6, p. 35; Pen. Code 197
Why: It is illegal for an unauthorized person to bring or possess any firearm in a courtroom, courthouse or court building, or at a meeting required to be open to the public.
Source: DOJ FSC Study Guide (2025), Ch. 6, p. 37; Pen. Code 171b
FAQ
Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) questions, answered
How many questions are on the FSC test?
30 questions, a mix of true/false and multiple choice, written by the California DOJ. You need 23 correct (75 percent) to pass.
How much does the Firearm Safety Certificate cost?
$25 as of 2026, paid to the DOJ Certified Instructor. The fee includes one free retake after 24 hours. A replacement certificate costs $5.
Where do I take the FSC test?
At any location with a DOJ Certified Instructor, which in practice means most licensed firearms dealers. Call the dealer first to confirm an instructor is available.
Is the FSC test hard?
No. The DOJ study guide contains every fact on the test and most people pass on the first try after reading it. The questions that trip people up are the law chapter and the 2026 storage rules.
How long is the FSC valid?
Five years from the date of issue. You need a valid FSC each time you buy or receive a firearm unless you are exempt.
Who is exempt from the FSC requirement?
The study guide lists exemptions including active and honorably retired peace officers, holders of a valid California carry license, licensed collectors buying curios and relics, and people acquiring an antique firearm. Check the current list on oag.ca.gov.
Did the FSC test change in 2026?
The study guide was revised for the January 1, 2026 safe storage requirements. Since that date a firearm kept in a residence must be secured with a DOJ-approved safety device or secure gun safe unless it is being carried or is within close proximity of the owner. This bank reflects the revised guide.