Kentucky offers two filing paths for a license to carry concealed deadly weapon (CCDW license). A paper application goes to the office of the sheriff...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
Kentucky offers two filing paths for a license to carry concealed deadly weapon (CCDW license). A paper application goes to the office of the sheriff in the county in which the person resides. An electronic application goes to the Department of Kentucky State Police. The form is sworn. If the application is denied, the applicant may seek de novo review in District Court.
The Department of Kentucky State Police is the agency that receives electronic applications and administers the license, under KRS 237.110(7)(a)2.. A paper application instead goes to the office of the sheriff in the county in which the person resides, under KRS 237.110(7)(a)1.. The rest of this section describes that application.
The application must contain each of the following:
A denied applicant is informed of the right to seek de novo review of the denial in the District Court of his or her place of residence within ninety days from the date of the denial letter, under KRS 237.110(9)(b).
A training exception runs through the provisional license statute. The Department of Kentucky State Police is required to issue provisional licenses, effective July 15, 2026. The Department of Kentucky State Police is not yet accepting applications from people ages 18 to 20, and says on its concealed carry page that it expects to update the online portal this fall. The provisional license statute provides:
An applicant for a Kentucky concealed deadly weapon license must complete a qualifying firearms training course before the license can be issued, under KRS 237.110(4)(i). The approved course must meet four requirements:
The course must include actual range firing of a handgun.
| Item | Rule | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Paper application fee | $60 for an original or renewal license | KRS 237.110(7)(b)1 |
| Electronic application fee | $70 for an original or renewal license | KRS 237.110(7)(c)1 |
| Course length | Not more than 8 hours | KRS 237.110(4)(i)1 |
| Live fire | Not more than 20 rounds at a full-size silhouette, with at least 11 hits | KRS 237.110(4)(i)3 |
| Applicant course fee cap | Not more than $75 charged to conduct an applicant training course | KRS 237.122(8) |
| Review of a denial | De novo review in the District Court of the applicant's residence within 90 days of the denial letter | KRS 237.110(9)(b) |
It goes to the office of the sheriff in the county in which the person resides, under KRS 237.110(7)(a)1.. An electronic application goes instead to the Department of Kentucky State Police, under KRS 237.110(7)(a)2..
A paper application for an original or renewal license costs $60. An electronic application submitted in place of a paper application costs $70.
The applicant is informed of the right to seek de novo review of the denial in the District Court of his or her place of residence. That filing must come within ninety days from the date of the letter advising the applicant of the denial.
The instructor must be certified by a qualifying national firearms organization, or the course must be offered or approved by the Department of Criminal Justice Training. The statute names three such organizations, and the list is not exclusive:
A legible photocopy or electronic copy of the certificate of completion is accepted as evidence of qualification when submitted with the application. The certificate comes from a certified instructor or from the Department of Criminal Justice Training.
A firearms instructor trainer or certified firearms instructor who falsely represents to the department that training was conducted commits a Class D felony, under KRS 237.126(2).
No. A provisional licensee applying to switch to a standard license is not required to retake the firearms training, under KRS 237.118(6)(g). The Department of Kentucky State Police is required to issue provisional licenses, effective July 15, 2026, under KRS 237.118(2). The Department of Kentucky State Police is not yet accepting applications from people ages 18 to 20, and its concealed carry page says the online portal is expected to be updated this fall.
This page covers one part of our Kentucky concealed carry guide.
Read the complete Kentucky guideBrowse local instructors offering state-approved training in your area. Book online, complete your training, and get one step closer to your concealed carry permit.