You do not need a license to carry concealed in Kentucky if you are 21 or older and can otherwise lawfully possess a firearm KRS 237.109(1). The state...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
You do not need a license to carry concealed in Kentucky if you are 21 or older and can otherwise lawfully possess a firearm KRS 237.109(1). The state still issues the license to carry concealed deadly weapon (CCDW license), and KRS 237.110(1) authorizes the Department of Kentucky State Police to issue and renew it. A license runs five years from issuance KRS 237.110(2)(b).
Permitless carry begins at age 21 for a person otherwise able to lawfully possess a firearm. The statute heading names the license the license to carry concealed deadly weapon in KRS 237.110. Kentucky's administrative regulations abbreviate the concealed deadly weapon license as CCDW in 503 KAR 4:040.
An applicant must generally be a United States citizen residing in Kentucky, or be on a Kentucky military posting, or be a lawfully admitted resident, under KRS 237.110(4)(b)1. Under KRS 237.110(3), the state runs a background check to see whether the applicant is eligible. That check asks whether the applicant may lawfully purchase, receive, or possess a firearm under 18 U.S.C. 922(g) and 18 U.S.C. 922(n), any other applicable federal law, and state law.
An applicant must meet each of the following criteria:
These criteria are set out in KRS 237.110(4).
Kentucky is shall-issue. KRS 237.110(19) provides that no person who qualifies under that section is denied his rights. The Department of Kentucky State Police is authorized to issue and renew licenses. A license, unless revoked or suspended, is valid for five years from the date of issuance. A standard license cannot take effect until the holder turns 21.
Training comes before issuance. An applicant must complete a qualifying firearms safety or training course under KRS 237.110(4)(i). A course offered or approved by the Department of Criminal Justice Training may be not more than eight hours in length, under KRS 237.110(4)(i)1. A paper application carries a fee of $60 under KRS 237.110(7)(b)1. An electronic application carries a fee of $70 under KRS 237.110(7)(c)1. Kentucky treats a valid concealed deadly weapon license from another state as valid here, under KRS 237.110(20)(a).
KRS 237.118(1)(a) defines the age-limited license as the provisional license. KRS 237.118(2) directs the Department of Kentucky State Police to issue provisional licenses. That duty to issue is effective July 15, 2026. The Department of Kentucky State Police is not yet accepting applications from 18 to 20 year olds, and its concealed carry page says the online application portal is expected to be updated this fall and will then begin accepting applications from eligible individuals ages 18 to 20. KRS 237.118(2)(a) covers applicants who are 18 years of age but younger than 21. The minimum age for the provisional license is 18.
Under KRS 237.118(4)(b), a provisional license is valid until the holder turns twenty-one years of age. KRS 237.118(6)(a) requires the switch notice to be sent not less than 90 days before the provisional license expires. The holder then has six months after expiration to apply to switch to a standard license, under KRS 237.118(6)(f). A holder who does not apply within those six months must instead apply as a new applicant under KRS 237.110, per KRS 237.118(6)(f). A provisional licensee who switches to a standard license is not required to retake the training course, under KRS 237.118(6)(g).
The CCDW license does two things permitless carry does not:
| Rule | What the law says | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry minimum age | 21 | |
| Standard license effective age | 21 | |
| Provisional license minimum age | 18 | |
| Standard license term | Five years from the date of issuance | |
| Provisional license term | Valid until the holder turns twenty-one | |
| Switch notice before provisional expiration | Not less than 90 days | |
| Paper application fee | $60 | |
| Electronic application fee | $70 | |
| Maximum course length | Eight hours | |
| Out-of-state licenses in Kentucky | Honored as valid |
No, if you are 21 or older and otherwise able to lawfully possess a firearm. The Department of Kentucky State Police still issues and renews the license for those who want one.
The provisional license path applies to applicants who are 18 but younger than 21. The Department of Kentucky State Police is required to issue provisional licenses, effective July 15, 2026. The department is not yet accepting applications from 18 to 20 year olds and expects to update its online application portal this fall.
Unless revoked or suspended, it is valid for five years from the date of issuance. A provisional license instead runs until the holder turns twenty-one.
KRS 237.110(19) provides that no person who qualifies under that section is denied his rights. The background check under KRS 237.110(3) determines whether the applicant is eligible.
No. A provisional licensee switching to a standard license is not required to retake the training course. The application to switch must come within six months of the provisional license's expiration.
Yes. An applicant must not be prohibited from the purchase, receipt, or possession of firearms or ammunition under 18 U.S.C. 922(g), 18 U.S.C. 922(n), or applicable federal or state law. The check reaches those sections, any other applicable federal law, and state law.
An applicant must generally be a United States citizen who resides in Kentucky, with allowance for a Kentucky military posting or lawfully admitted resident status. Kentucky separately treats another state's concealed deadly weapon license as valid here.
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.