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About the exam
Texas License to Carry (LTC) Written Exam
Texas allows permitless carry for most adults 21 and over, but a License to Carry a Handgun (LTC) from the Department of Public Safety still matters: it lets you carry in places where unlicensed carry is an offense unless you were given notice, it is recognized in other states, and some employers and campuses require it. To get one you complete the DPS-approved LTC class (four to six hours of classroom, plus a range session), pass the written exam, and pass the shooting proficiency test.
Government Code 411.188 fixes the classroom topics and the exam subjects: the laws that relate to weapons and the use of deadly force, handgun use and safety including restraint holsters and secure open carry, nonviolent dispute resolution, and proper storage practices with an emphasis on preventing child access. DPS publishes the statutes in its LTC-16 booklet, which is the source for this bank.
The bank also covers eligibility and the application process, where a license holder may and may not carry (Penal Code 46.03 and the 30.06 and 30.07 notice rules), the justification chapter of the Penal Code (9.31 through 9.43), and the safe storage and restraint holster material DPS publishes for instructors.
Exam format
License to Carry (LTC): questions, time and pass mark
| Item | Official exam | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Classroom | Not less than 4 and not more than 6 hours | Verified Oct 2026 (Gov. Code 411.188(b)) |
| Exam subjects | Weapons and deadly force law; handgun use and safety; nonviolent dispute resolution; proper storage | Verified Oct 2026 (411.188(d)) |
| Pass mark | 70 percent on both the written and the proficiency exam | Verified Oct 2026 (37 TAC 6.14(b), via mirror) |
| Attempts | Three opportunities within 12 months | Verified Oct 2026 (37 TAC 6.14(c), via mirror) |
| Questions | Not published; the DPS student exam is instructor-only | Unpublished; practice test uses 25 |
| Time limit | Not published | Unpublished; practice test uses 30 minutes |
| Original license fee | $40 (discounts and exemptions for seniors, veterans, indigent applicants and others) | Verified Oct 2026 (DPS fee schedule; Gov. Code 411.174) |
| Validity | Original: to your first birthday after the 4th anniversary of issue; renewals 5 years | Verified Oct 2026 (411.183) |
The practice test above draws 25 questions with a 30-minute timer and a 70% 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
Take the class from a DPS-certified LTC instructor, in person or online followed by a one-to-two-hour range session with an instructor. Class prices are set by the instructor and commonly run $50 to $150. The written exam and the proficiency demonstration are given by the instructor, who certifies completion on form LTC-100.
Apply to DPS online through RSD Connect (the new licensing platform launched October 1, 2026), pay the $40 original license fee (as of 2026; reduced or waived for some applicants), schedule fingerprints and upload the LTC-100. No training is required to renew: a renewal is just the form, the fee and the informational sheet, submitted on or before the first anniversary of the expiration date.
What’s covered
150+ practice questions, by topic
Written from DPS LTC-16 Texas License to Carry a Handgun Laws booklet (December 2025). Every explanation cites its section.
- Eligibility, application, renewal and license conditions30
- Where you may and may not carry42
- Use of force and deadly force38
- Non-violent dispute resolution and conflict de-escalation13
- Safe handling, storage and proper use of restraint27
Why people fail
The mistakes that cost people the License to Carry (LTC)
- Not knowing where carry is prohibited and what notice means. Penal Code 46.03 lists the places, and 46.15(p) says several of them do not apply to a license holder unless given effective notice under 30.06, 30.07 or 411.204 (the 51 percent sign).
- Confusing when deadly force is justified. Chapter 9 requires a reasonable belief that it is immediately necessary, and the property rules in 9.41 and 9.42 are narrower than most people assume.
- Mixing up permitless carry rules with license holder rules, for example the plain-view-in-a-vehicle exception and the holster requirement for open display.
- Guessing eligibility details: six months of residency, Class A or B misdemeanors in the last five years, protective orders, delinquent taxes or child support.
- Treating the class as a formality and skipping the booklet. The exam is written from the statutes in LTC-16, not from the instructor's slides.
A study plan that works
- Download LTC-16 (Texas License to Carry a Handgun Laws) from dps.texas.gov and read Government Code 411 subchapter H and Penal Code chapters 9, 30 and 46.
- Practice here by category, starting with Where you may and may not carry, then Use of force and deadly force; together they are more than half the bank.
- Make a sheet of the notice rules: 30.06 (concealed), 30.07 (open), 411.204 (51 percent), and which 46.03 places require notice for a license holder.
- Take a 25-question timed test, then re-run the starred questions. Pay attention to questions where you picked the answer that felt safest rather than the one the statute gives.
- Review DPS's restraint holster handout and safe storage page before the class so the handling questions are easy points.
Try a few
Sample License to Carry (LTC) practice questions
Six questions pulled straight from the bank, with the answer shown. For the timed, no-peeking version, use the quiz above.
Why: A Class A or B misdemeanor conviction in the five years before applying makes an applicant ineligible. A felony conviction is a bar no matter when it happened.
Source: Gov't Code 411.172(a)(3), (a)(8)
Why: 46.15(p) says 46.03(a)(7), (11) and (13) do not apply to a license holder who was not given effective notice under 30.06, 30.07 or 411.204.
Source: Penal Code 46.03(a)(11), 46.15(p)
Why: 9.41(b) allows force to recover property only if the actor uses the force immediately or in fresh pursuit after the dispossession.
Source: Penal Code 9.41(b)
Why: A holder who was personally given oral notice and promptly departs has a defense to prosecution under 30.06.
Source: Penal Code 30.06(b), (g)
Why: DPS describes a well-restrained handgun as one that stays put during activity, is not easily taken by someone else, and is still readily available to the carrier.
Source: DPS, Use of Restraint Holsters (LTC instructor course material)
Why: A qualifying service member or veteran may not be required to complete the range instruction part. The classroom and written parts are still required.
Source: Gov't Code 411.1881(a)
FAQ
License to Carry (LTC) questions, answered
How many questions are on the Texas LTC written test?
DPS does not publish the count or time limit; the student exam is provided to certified instructors only. Instructors commonly describe it as a short multiple-choice test, and this practice test uses 25 questions in 30 minutes. The pass mark in DPS rule 37 TAC 6.14 is 70 percent.
Do I still need an LTC in Texas with permitless carry?
Legally most adults 21 and over may carry without a license, but a license holder is excused from several prohibited-place offenses unless given notice, can carry in states that recognize Texas licenses, skips the background check at dealer purchases, and may carry on public college campuses. Some employers require it.
How much does a Texas License to Carry cost?
The original license fee is $40 as of 2026, with reductions or waivers for seniors, honorably discharged veterans, indigent applicants, peace officers and some others. Class fees are set by instructors and are separate.
How long is the LTC class?
Between four and six hours of classroom instruction by statute, plus a range session of one to two hours. Online classroom courses are allowed, but the range portion is always in person with a certified instructor.
What happens if I fail the LTC written exam?
DPS rules give you three opportunities to pass the written and proficiency exams within 12 months of the class. Your instructor schedules retakes.
How long is a Texas LTC valid?
An original license expires on your first birthday after the fourth anniversary of issue, so four to five years. Renewed licenses last five years to your birthday. No class is required to renew.
Is this the official DPS exam?
No. These are original practice questions written from the statutes in DPS's LTC-16 booklet and DPS instructor materials. Only your certified instructor gives the real exam.