7 Steps to Get the Ohio Concealed Carry (CCW) License
How Do I Get A Concealed Carry License in Ohio?
Here is a step by step breakdown of getting an Ohio Concealed Carry License (CCW/CHL).
STEP 1
Verify Eligibility
Your first step should be to verify that you are eligible for the Ohio concealed carry (CCW, CHL) license. The Attorney General's Law Summary Publication explains the disqualifiers on pages 7-9. You should refer to those pages for further clarification. The 3 major disqualifiers are felonies, drug related violations, and domestic violence violations.
If you have questions about whether something on your background disqualifies you for an Ohio Concealed Carry License, talk to the Sheriff's Office directly. They are the ones who will approve or disapprove your CCW license application. Trainers are not involved in the concealed carry licensing process and have no weight in the decision.
After you determine that you can qualify for the license, you can move on to step 2, take the Ohio concealed carry training.
STEP 2
Take the Ohio CCW Training
You don't want to just go through hoops. You want to get trained! You want the training experience to be meaningful! Where you go for training matters. Do your research! There is good training and there is bad training. There is also downright scary training!
Carrying a gun day-to-day is a big responsibility. Could you imagine if we trained 16-year-olds how to operate a vehicle but didn't train them on the laws of driving? Wow, they would get themselves into pickles!
Amazingly, the average concealed carry training class in Ohio doesn't include a legal section. Students walk out of class knowing how to operate a firearm but without any formal education on the laws pertaining to those firearms. Armed2Defend teaches the USCCA's Ohio Legal Training that will break down the laws in an easy to understand way.
Click to check out pictures and details about some of our recent Ohio CCW classes.
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STEP 3
Fill out the Application
Here is a link to the application. If you have any questions while filling it out, contact the sheriff's office where you will be applying.
STEP 4
Read the Attorney General's Law Summary
Read this PDF document before you go to apply for your license with the Sheriff's Office.
This publication gets updated as laws change so anytime you reference it in the future always be sure to go to the Attorney General's webpage to access the most current version. (In other words, don't print it out and keep it on your bookshelf and then refer to that print out 2 years later.)
STEP 5
Schedule an Appointment with the Sheriff's Office
The Certificate of Completion you get at the end of training is honored by the Sheriff's Office to fulfill the Ohio training requirement for 3 years. This is a long window so there is no huge rush to complete this step. However, if you let the 3 years pass, you will have to retake training!
As an example, if you took training on May 18, 2015 but then procrastinated and tried to apply for a license using that certificate on December 10, 2018 it would not be accepted. You would be required to redo training.
Here is some info for the Sheriff's Offices in the Columbus Area.
Sheriff's Offices
FRANKLIN – Appointment Required. Appointment is made through their website. 614-525-5090 ***RECOMMENDED -- Very Fast Turn Around Time***
FAIRFIELD – Appointment Required. Must call to schedule appointment . 740-652-7321 or740-652-7320
DELAWARE – Appointment Required. Appointment is made through their website. 740-833-2801
MADISON – Accepts Walk-Ins. Hours are Mon-Fri 8:30-3:30. 740-852-1332
HOCKING – Accepts Walk-Ins. Walk-In Hours are Mon-Thur 8am-8pm, Fri 8am-4pm, and Sun 4pm-8pm. 740-385-2131
LICKING – Accepts Walk-Ins. Walk-In Hours are only on Tuesdays & Thursdays 7am-7pm. 740-670-5508
(This information for each county is current to the best of our knowledge as of 8/3/2018. If you discover any outdated info please let us know so we can update it!)
STEP 6
Apply with Sheriff's Office
Go to your appointment prepared!
Each county does things differently. For example, Franklin County only accepts exact change. (And there is nowhere around there to get change!) Fairfield County requires you to bring your social security card while most other counties do not.
The folder we give you in class provides a handy way to store all the items together as you prepare for your appointment.
STEP 7
Carry Often
Be sure that you have a reliable holster and carry your gun everywhere you can. A Central Ohio police officer that tracked his personal experience reported that only 15% of the licensed concealed carriers he pulled over actually had their gun on them at the time. Be a part of that 15%!
Don't let holding a license create a false sense of security in your mind. Carry the gun! Victims of crimes have no idea when and where the crime will happen.
We don't typically change our lifestyles overnight. Becoming a concealed carrier is a lifestyle change. It will take time and effort to figure out methods and habits that work for your body type, activities, and preferences so don't get discouraged. It will eventually become more natural feeling.
STEP 8
Keep Training!
Don't end your journey here. Keep going!
Live fire practice. Dry fire practice. Read books. Take big classes. Take small classes. Attend seminars. Join a community. Find people who will support you.
Think. Learn. Grow. Ask questions.
Don't stop!
Some good next step training opportunities:
Repeat the Range Training
Continue to build your shooting confidence by repeating your range training. Whether you want to re-shoot the beginner or intermediate, I want to make sure that you continue to develop as a shooter.
NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program
The NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program is a great next step for continuing to master your fundamental shooting skills. You will earn patches along the way as you demonstrate mastery of different skills. You'll see more improvement in your skill because you will be measuring your growth and pushing yourself to do things you probably wouldn't have done on your practice time at the range.
Ladies, you've found your tribe..... Rosie Pistol Women's Shooting Group
Rosie Pistol provides an opportunity for ladies to learn, grow and practice in a safe and encouraging environment alongside other like-minded ladies. We meet once a month. Ladies are welcome to come here and there or come regularly.
We would love to be a part of your journey!
Hope to see you in a class soon!
-Kevin & Alisha Sadeski
