FIREARMS TRAINING COURSE
House Bill 824, which became law on October 1, 2023, has made changes to the required Firearm Safety Training Course requirements in 5-306 of the Public Safety Article. The Maryland State Police, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Health, was charged with developing a new firearms training course curriculum of instruction which includes all of the required topics for classroom instruction in compliance with House Bill 824. The new training curriculum can be viewed here: Firearms Training Course (updated 9/8/2023)
Check this site for the most current version of the Firearms Training Course.
What is Wear and Carry Permit Training?
Approved Wear and Carry Permit training courses are offered by Maryland State Police approved Qualified Handgun Instructors who have established an account through the Maryland State Police MyLicense/E-Gov site. Training is valid until the permit expiration. However, you must receive subsequent training within 2 years of submitting your renewal or subsequent application.
Wear and Carry Permit training is 16 hours of instruction for an original application and 8 hours of instruction for a renewal application. The approved training is offered by a Qualified Handgun Instructor and will include instruction on state firearm law, home firearm safety, handgun mechanisms and operation, and a component that requires the applicant to demonstrate gun safety and proficiency with a minimum score of 70% accuracy. You will be required to upload a completed and signed MSP 29-14 Certified Qualification Score Sheet to the documents section of the Wear and Carry Permit Application in the Licensing Portal.
Designated security personnel (security guards, private detectives, special police, and armored car drivers/guards) must shoot a Practical Police Course of at least 50 rounds, from no further than 25 yards and score at least 70% accuracy.
All other applicants must shoot a Basic Practical Handgun Course of at least 25 rounds, from no further than 15 yards and score at least 70% accuracy.
Who needs to take the training?
Every original application and renewal application submitted after October 1, 2013, unless exempt. If you are any one of the below you are exempt.
- You are an active law enforcement officer with a law enforcement agency of the United States, the State or any local law enforcement agency in the State.
- You are a retired law enforcement officer with a law enforcement agency of the United States, the State or any local law enforcement agency in the State.
- You are an active, retired, or honorably discharged member of the armed forces of the United States or the National Guard.
- You are a Qualified Handgun Instructor registered with the Maryland State Police.
- You have successfully completed a firearms training course given by a Qualified Handgun Instructor. (The on-line firearm safety course is no longer accepted).
Who do I contact to receive the training?
A list of Qualified Handgun Instructors is available online here.
