Ohio is a constitutional carry state. Eligible individuals 21 or older may carry a concealed handgun without an Ohio Concealed Handgun License. Ohio also issues a Concealed Handgun License (CHL) to eligible applicants 21 or older.
Although Ohio does not require a license for concealed carry, obtaining a CHL can still offer important benefits.
For residents, an Ohio CHL can exempt you from the federal NICS background check when purchasing a firearm from an Ohio FFL. A valid CHL also provides specific school safety zone exceptions, including circumstances involving a handgun kept in a motor vehicle.
Nonresidents must be employed in Ohio and may apply through the sheriff of the county where they work or an adjacent county.
Ohio CHL Online Training
Ohio allows the classroom portion of the required CHL training to be completed online when the course meets Ohio requirements and includes an interactive component that regularly engages the student.
The complete CHL course requires at least 8 hours of training.
Required Live Fire Qualification
Ohio requires at least 2 hours of in-person range and live-fire training.
The applicant must also complete an in-person physical demonstration of handgun competence and safe handgun handling and storage.
Ohio does not prescribe a statewide round count, target, shooting distance, timed course, or numerical passing score.
Ohio CHL Renewal
An Ohio CHL is valid for 5 years and remains valid during a 30-day grace period after expiration.
The initial license fee is $67. Applicants who have lived in Ohio for less than 5 years and nonresidents employed in Ohio must also pay the actual cost of the FBI background check.
The renewal fee is $50. Applicants who have lived in Ohio for less than 5 years and nonresidents employed in Ohio must also pay the actual cost of the FBI background check.
An Ohio CHL renewal does not require you to complete the 8-hour training or live-fire qualification again.
Complete Your Ohio CHL Classroom Training Online
Complete the classroom portion of your Ohio Concealed Handgun License training online.
$74.99
Ohio CHL Online Training Course
Start Ohio CHL TrainingResidents: An Ohio CHL can exempt the holder from the federal NICS background check when purchasing a firearm from an Ohio FFL. A valid CHL also provides specific school safety zone exceptions, including circumstances involving a handgun kept in a motor vehicle.
A nonresident applicant must be employed in Ohio and may apply through the sheriff of the county where they are employed or an adjacent county.
Ohio requires at least 8 hours of training. Eligible classroom training may be completed online when it includes the required interactive component.
Ohio requires at least 2 hours of in-person range and live-fire training and an in-person physical demonstration of handgun competence and safe handling. Ohio does not prescribe a statewide round count, target, shooting distance, timed course, or numerical passing score.
Applicants are fingerprinted by the sheriff as part of the Ohio CHL background-check process.
The Ohio CHL is valid for 5 years and remains valid during a 30-day grace period after expiration.
The initial license fee is $67. Applicants who have lived in Ohio for less than 5 years, and nonresidents employed in Ohio, must also pay the actual cost of the FBI background check.
The renewal fee is $50. Applicants who have lived in Ohio for less than 5 years, and nonresidents employed in Ohio, must also pay the actual cost of the FBI background check.
Renewal does not require the 8-hour training or live-fire qualification to be completed again.