I have NY and PA and am thinking about getting FL now. They have a pretty streamlined online system with tracking. It looks like they accept my safety class I took to get my NY permit. The only thing I would need is for them to mail me a fingerprint card to get done, and get 2 passport photos taken. The Florida permit also opens up NV, NE, NM, and DE. Have any of you gone through this?
Anyone apply for Florida?
- Thread starter Chevusa
- Start date
Karpteach
6.5 Creedmoor
I’m waiting for my renewal form. I do mine 5 years ago.
Bob
6.5 Creedmoor
I both have and teach classes for Florida, Utah, and Arizona.
Cheapest option is Arizona, then Utah, then Florida. Arizona will take pretty much any course. Utah requires a Utah-specific course. Florida requires live fire unless you're using a DD214. Florida also requires your fingerprints to be done by a law enforcement agency.
What I tell people is to get Utah or Arizona unless you specifically need the state of Florida.
Cheapest option is Arizona, then Utah, then Florida. Arizona will take pretty much any course. Utah requires a Utah-specific course. Florida requires live fire unless you're using a DD214. Florida also requires your fingerprints to be done by a law enforcement agency.
What I tell people is to get Utah or Arizona unless you specifically need the state of Florida.
I wanted Florida specifically. That way I'm good for Florida and Vegas vacations. I read on their website that they accept a course certificate as long as it was taught by a NRA certified instructor. They may have loosened that requirement as I see no mention of Live Fire.
Approved Training Courses
To qualify for a concealed weapon license, Florida law requires you to submit proof of competency with a firearm. A copy of a Certificate of Completion or similar document from any of the following courses or classes is acceptable:
- Any hunter education or hunter safety course approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or a similar agency in another state;
- Any National Rifle Association firearms safety or training course;
- Any firearms safety or training course or class available to the general public offered by a law enforcement agency, junior college, college, or private or public institution or organization or firearms training school, using instructors certified by the National Rifle Association, the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, or the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services;
- Any law enforcement firearms safety or training course or class offered for security guards, investigators, special deputies, or any division or subdivision of law enforcement or security enforcement;
- Any firearms training or safety course or class conducted by a state-certified instructor or by an instructor certified by the National Rifle Association.
Bob
6.5 Creedmoor
It goes on to say "A photocopy of a certificate of completion of any of the courses or classes; an affidavit from the instructor, school, club, organization, or group that conducted or taught such course or class attesting to the completion of the course or class by the applicant; or a copy of any document that shows completion of the course or class or evidences participation in firearms competition shall constitute evidence of qualification under this paragraph. A person who conducts a course pursuant to subparagraph 2., subparagraph 3., or subparagraph 7., or who, as an instructor, attests to the completion of such courses, must maintain records certifying that he or she observed the student safely handle and discharge the firearm in his or her physical presence and that the discharge of the firearm included live fire using a firearm and ammunition as defined in s. 790.001; "
Not sure where you're seeing that. Right on the official page it makes no mention of it. Can you link to it?
Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
www.fdacs.gov
Bob
6.5 Creedmoor
Not sure where you're seeing that. Right on the official page it makes no mention of it. Can you link to it?
Also note the official page says ANY courseFlorida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
It's in the statute itself.
Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine
www.leg.state.fl.us
Not sure how they would know what was entailed in the course if you submitted a signed completion certificate since the requirement is so vague ("any course"). Are they going to call every instructor on every certificate and ask about live fire? Seems like it would sail right through. Especially an out of state training class.
Bob
6.5 Creedmoor
The onus is actually on the instructor. Many instructors simply ignore the requirement because it's not likely they'll be audited. Given the anti-gun nature of the issuing authority at the moment, I wouldn't put it past her to audit instructors. It's also an ethical issue for instructors, and that's one place where I won't bend.
I just read it. It is on the person who conducted the course. The law however is Florida law and wouldn't be applicable to my NY instructor. I think if I submit a certificate signed by an NRA instructor I'm going to be good. Worst case, "sorry I didn't know, it's not mentioned on your website."
Bob
6.5 Creedmoor
I know lots and lots of people who have submitted certificates where live fire wasn't conducted, and they've received a Florida permit. It's not likely that they'll ever audit the instructor. If they do, I suspect that you will have little legal liability beyond revocation of your permit.
I'm not telling you NOT to do it. I'm just pointing out the appropriate section of law.
DrBleachCocktail
.44 mag
If I’m correct I heard the Utah one was the best due to it having high reciprocity. I want to get as much CCW as I can but some states won’t even bother if you have a “Sportsman” for example PA certain counties won’t give it to you unless you have a full carry. I called Center County in PA and they’ll give it to you regardless of restrictions.
Bob
6.5 Creedmoor
Utah, Florida, and now Arizona are all within a couple of states of each other in terms of the number of states. There are some differences, so you have to investigate to see who honors what. Washington state, for example, honors Utah but not Florida. Florida doesn't honor Utah.
Understand. How could they audit an instructor in another state though? Also circle back to the list of courses they say are accepted. Hunter safety, "any" NRA etc. All of those courses listed do not conduct live fire. In fact, most of them don't.
I've had mine long enough to renew it last year. I took the RPD course that does the certified training for both Florida and Utah and completes the application with both fingerprints by the end of the class. I can't recommend it enough.
You pick up more states with Florida than Utah, as you can already carry in Utah with your NY permit. Plus Florida is the main state I want.
Great map to show you who honors what:
www.usacarry.com
Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Maps (Updated April 2024)
Our Concealed Carry Reciprocity Maps are the most up-to-date CCW maps available. View which states accept your concealed carry permits. Great for traveling.
www.usacarry.com
Bob
6.5 Creedmoor
Great map to show you who honors what:
Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Maps (Updated April 2024)
Our Concealed Carry Reciprocity Maps are the most up-to-date CCW maps available. View which states accept your concealed carry permits. Great for traveling.
This is the one that I use:
Handgunlaw.us
The Internets Premier database for Concealed Carry Handgun and Firearms Law.
handgunlaw.us
Marine Cpl
.577 Tyrannosaur.
This! I do not understand people that push Utah. It really isn’t worth it. The only states you get with Utah that Florida doesn’t give you is Wisconsin. You are more than likely to go to Florida on vacation than Wisconsin. At least most people. It’s also harder to get a Utah since you need their specific class.
People push Utah because they were duped into getting it and that is what they have so they will push what they have.
DrBleachCocktail
.44 mag
I’ll get mine as well. Not a bad investment. When carrying in those other states that do not have the magazine restrictions, I should be good to go on carrying standard capacity magazine correct? Just follow the law on the state I’m physically in?
Right. But how would you have said magazine? You going to buy one and throw it away before you cross NY state lines?
Joe Blow
.45 acp
Agreed. UT is nothing but a money grab. If you have a safety class FL can be had through the mail. FL gets you UT, the only state UT will add is WA. Take your own passport photos for use with the FL app. and save a few bucks. Print them on a quality stock paper and you're good. The only problem with applying for FL at this time is finding a PD that will roll your prints the way things are now.
DrBleachCocktail
.44 mag
I have 5 mags here that are 10 rounders but I also ordered 30 round PMAGS that is shipped and kept out of state.
NY gets you UT
Bob
6.5 Creedmoor
Wisconsin, Washington State, and Minnesota. Some people are more likely to go on vacation to Washington than they are Florida.
Utah initially costs $63 for five years and renews at $25.
Florida is initially $97 for seven years and renews at $87.
Florida requires you to have fingerprints done each time you renew. Utah does not. Utah renewal can be done completely over the internet.
Florida requires fingerprints to be done by a law enforcement agency. Utah and Arizona do not. I do prints for Utah and Arizona right in my class.
Many instructors now teach a class that will satisfy the requirements for both Utah and Florida. The majority of my students have neither a DD214, an NRA class, nor a hunter safety course with which to apply to Florida, so they're paying the same price for the same class. Whether they apply to Florida, Utah, or Arizona is up to them.
Bob
6.5 Creedmoor
Check your expiration date. Florida is good for seven.
To be fair... I've gone to Wisconsin twice in less than 9 months and have been to Florida once in 4 years....
But then again... PA license (if I remember correctly covers Wisconsin, but I didnt carry either time we were there, visiting friends staying at their home didnt want to bring a gun if they were not ok with it. It was my first time meeting them. And the 2nd time was for a wedding and we took a plane and were only there for a short time, same friends)
Bob
6.5 Creedmoor
I just double-checked their website. Wisconsin honors Pennsylvania. They also honor New York.
I had both at the time.. just also didnt feel like reading over their laws on where I could or couldn't carry