Time to renew your CCW permit? Get registered here!
Time to renew your CCW permit? Get registered here!
You didn’t wake up one day and decide to think about self-defense. Something changed. Maybe it was a late-night walk to your car, a story on the news, or realizing that protecting your family starts with you. Whatever brought you here, you’re not looking for a hobby. You’re looking for a plan.
This page is that plan. It covers everything you need to get or renew your concealed handgun permit (CHP) in El Paso County: the right class, the Sheriff’s Office application, fees, deadlines, and what comes after. Our concealed carry classes in Colorado Springs are taught by instructors who have walked hundreds of local residents through this exact process.
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Most people run into the same problem. They know they want to carry legally, but the process feels like a maze. Which class counts? What does the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office need from me? What does it cost, and how long does it take?
Left alone, that confusion turns into delay. And delay means going through life without the protection and confidence you came here for.
You don’t need another confusing government webpage. You need a guide who has done this before.
At Colorado Handgun Safety, we’ve spent years training residents across Colorado Springs and greater El Paso County to carry safely, legally, and confidently. Our courses meet current Colorado requirements, and our certificates are issued by verified instructors, which is exactly what the Sheriff’s Office checks for.
We’ve watched a lot of students walk out of class standing a little taller. That’s why we do this.
Most applicants prove competence with a training certificate, but Colorado law gives some applicants other options. You may be exempt from the class if you can show:
Even if you qualify for an exemption, many veterans and experienced shooters take a class anyway to get current on Colorado’s carry laws, which have changed significantly in the last few years.
Step 1
Your certificate must come from a verified instructor listed on a Colorado county sheriff’s website, and it must be dated within one year of your application. The Sheriff’s Office requires the original certificate with your instructor’s printed name and signature. Copies aren’t accepted, and a refresher-class certificate won’t work for a first-time application.
Our full concealed carry class covers:
Want to know exactly what to expect? Read our full breakdown of everything you need to know about our concealed carry class.
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
State law gives the Sheriff’s Office up to 90 days to process your application. Most delays come from missing documents or incorrect information, so double-check everything before you submit. Once approved, your permit is valid for five years.
Your permit is good for five years, and renewal is where a lot of people get caught off guard. Yes, you need a new training certificate to renew. Here’s what that looks like.
Your concealed handgun permit is valid for five years. You can renew your CCW permit up to 120 days before it expires through the county’s online portal.
For renewals:
If your permit has already expired, you may need to complete new CCW classes in El Paso County before reapplying.
Fees are set by the county and may change. Always confirm the latest rates on the sheriff’s office website before applying.
Colorado is a permit-required state for concealed carry. That means anyone who wants to carry a handgun in public must complete a state-approved CCW training course and apply through the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
Concealed carry weapon (CCW) laws are designed to promote firearm safety and ensure permit holders understand how, when, and where they can legally carry. Training typically includes:
If your county isn’t listed, don’t worry—we are certified statewide and can train students from all 64 Colorado counties.
All applications must be processed within 90 days. To avoid delays, make sure you:
Once your background check clears and your application is approved, you’ll receive an email from the Sheriff’s Office letting you know your permit is ready for pickup.
Yes, Colorado law now requires live-fire training sessions for concealed handgun permits. Live-fire practice is a crucial part of responsible gun ownership, and it allows you to build real-world muscle memory — learning how your firearm behaves under stress, how to handle recoil safely, and how to improve your accuracy and confidence.
Several CCW classes in El Paso County include an optional live-fire component, including our CCW courses at Colorado Handgun Safety. Even if you’ve been shooting for years, refreshing your safety habits under instructor supervision can make a major difference in your readiness and reaction time in a self-defense situation.
No — Colorado concealed carry laws specifically require in-person instruction from a state-approved firearms instructor. Online-only courses do not meet the legal training requirement to apply for a concealed handgun permit.
In-person CCW training ensures that you not only understand concealed carry laws, but also demonstrate safe handling, storage, and situational awareness.
Under new Colorado law, your handgun safety course certificate is now valid for 1 year for new applicants, and 6 months for anyone who is renewing. That means if you took a CCW class within the last decade, you can use that certificate when applying for your Colorado concealed carry permit — as long as the course was taught by a state-approved instructor and covered the required legal and safety material.
If your certificate is older than 1 year, or if you completed training in another state that doesn’t meet Colorado’s requirements, you’ll need to retake an approved CCW class in El Paso County before applying or renewing.
Once you receive your concealed handgun permit, you can legally carry a concealed firearm throughout most public areas in Colorado. However, certain locations remain restricted under both state and federal law. You cannot carry a concealed weapon in:
When traveling, it’s your responsibility to stay informed about concealed carry laws and local ordinances. If you plan to carry outside Colorado, you can check reciprocity agreements using the USCCA Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map to confirm which states honor your Colorado permit.
If you move or legally change your name, you must update your information with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office within 30 days. This requirement ensures your concealed handgun permit remains valid and your record stays current in the state database.
To update your permit:
If you move to another Colorado county, you’ll need to notify your new county’s sheriff within 30 days to transfer your permit record.
