For constitutional (permitless) concealed carry under Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.030.3, Missouri requires no training. A person 19 or older (or 18 or...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
For constitutional (permitless) concealed carry under Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.030.3, Missouri requires no training. A person 19 or older (or 18 or older if active military or honorably discharged) who is not otherwise prohibited may carry concealed without any course, qualification, or certification.
This is a deliberate legislative choice. SB 656 (2016) eliminated the training requirement for permitless carry; the CCP program retained its training requirement for the holders who continue to obtain a permit.
That said, the lack of a legal training requirement does not eliminate the practical and ethical need for training. Major Missouri firearms organizations, the Missouri Sheriffs' Association, the U.S. Concealed Carry Association, and most defensive trainers strongly recommend formal training for every concealed carrier regardless of legal status.
For a Missouri CCP under Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.101, the training requirement is set out in Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.111. The required course consists of:
The eight-hour minimum is exactly that: a floor. Many Missouri training providers offer a 12-hour or 16-hour course that exceeds the statutory minimum and includes additional instruction on defensive shooting, drawing from a holster, malfunction clearance, and post-incident protocol.
Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.111.1 requires the course to cover:
The Department of Public Safety publishes a recommended curriculum at dps.mo.gov, although individual approved instructors may exceed it.
The live-fire qualification under Section 571.111 must include:
The applicant brings his or her own firearm and ammunition unless the instructor provides them. Many instructors include the ammunition cost in the course fee.
If the applicant fails the qualification, the instructor may permit a single re-test on the same day or require the applicant to return for a separate qualification.
A Missouri CCP instructor must be approved by the Department of Public Safety under Section 571.111.5. The Department publishes a list of approved instructors at dps.mo.gov, searchable by county. The applicant should verify instructor approval before booking the course; a certificate from a non-approved instructor is not accepted by the sheriff.
Approved instructor categories typically include:
A standard Missouri CCP under Section 571.104 is renewable every five years. The renewal does NOT require a fresh eight-hour course. The holder must submit a renewal application, pay the renewal fee, and pass a fresh background check. There is no statutory requirement of refresher training, though many instructors offer optional CCP renewal classes.
A lifetime CCP under Section 571.215 does not expire and does not require renewal training. A senior CCP under Section 571.205 (for applicants 65 or older) is valid for 25 years and does not require interim training.
Section 571.111.6 provides that the Department of Public Safety may accept the following as satisfying the training requirement:
The applicant who claims equivalency must provide documentation. The sheriff has discretion to accept or require additional training.
Missouri CCP course pricing varies by instructor and region. As of May 2026, typical pricing is:
Some sheriffs' departments or county-affiliated training programs offer reduced rates for residents.
A Missouri CCP training certificate satisfies the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act state-license exemption under 18 U.S.C. Section 922(q)(2)(B)(ii) because the Missouri CCP is itself a state license issued only after a background check. The training certificate alone does not satisfy the federal exemption; the actual issued CCP does.
Missouri CCP training, even at the high end of the duration and intensity range, does not cover:
Carriers serious about defensive carry typically pursue additional training beyond the CCP requirement. Major national training programs (Gunsite, Thunder Ranch, Massad Ayoob Group, USCCA Defensive Pistol, Front Sight) and Missouri-based programs offer such follow-on training.
| Statute | Subject |
|---|---|
| Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.030.3 | Constitutional carry; no training required |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.101 | CCP issuance and eligibility |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.111 | Training requirement (8 hours, live fire) |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.111.5 | Instructor approval |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.111.6 | Equivalent training acceptance |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.104 | Renewal of CCP (no refresher training required) |
| 18 U.S.C. Section 922(q) | Federal Gun-Free School Zones Act |
This section reflects Missouri law as of May 2026. Course content and live-fire qualification specifics may vary by instructor; confirm with the chosen instructor before booking.
This page covers one part of our Missouri concealed carry guide.
Read the complete Missouri 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.