Learn what Massachusetts law says about the training requirements that must be met to apply for a gun license.

Approved training course

Completion of a basic firearms safety course is required to apply for both a Firearms Identification Card (FID) and a License to Carry (LTC). For the FID, a hunters education course is a valid substitute.

Basic firearms safety courses are taught by independent instructors who have been approved to teach the course by the Colonel of the State Police. BFS instructors must teach from one of various specific course curriculums approved by the MA State Police.

Course requirements

New Training Requirements Now in Effect

The new training requirements mandated by Ch. 135 of the Acts of 2024 went into effect on April 2, 2026.

Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 introduced significant changes to the training curriculum requirements, the most notable change being mandatory live fire training. The new curriculum requirements went into effect on April 2, 2026. The following topics are now required for all basic firearms safety courses:

The safe use, handling and storage of firearms
Methods for securing and childproofing firearms
The applicable laws relating to the possession, transportation and storage of firearms
Knowledge of operation, potential dangers and basic competency in the ownership and use of firearms
Injury and suicide prevention
Laws relating to the use of force
Disengagement tactics
A written examination
Live firearms training

In order to pass a basic firearms safety course and receive a certificate, a student will have to:

Demonstrate competency in the use of firearms through class participation
Pass a written examination
Participate in live firearms training

Live firearms training

Although the law requiring live firearms training for BFS courses is now in effect, there is confusion on whether live firearms training is actually required at this time. The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) has not yet formalized the live firearms training requirements, and the Firearm Control Advisory Board (FCAB) has stated that the live firearms training requirement would not be enforced until the requirements have been established. EOPSS additionally sent a memorandum to firearms licensing authorities on March 26, 2026 stating that live fire does not need to be included in the BFS course until regulations are formalized. You can read more about this on GOAL's website here.

Can I apply with older certificates?

On March 26, 2026 Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) sent notice a memorandum to firearms licensing authorities about how BFS course certificates issued prior to April 2, 2026 will be handled. According to the notice, BFS course certificates issued before April 2, 2026 will continue to remain valid. These certificates do not have an expiration date.

Additionally, the state police sent an email to BFS instructors stating: "Any student who completed a safety training course prior to April 2nd may submit their certificate with their application at any time. These certificates will not be denied. However, upon renewal, applicants will be required to complete a supplemental online training developed and provided by the Department in order to satisfy the new BFS course training requirements (i.e. disengagement and conflict avoidance tactics, suicide prevention, and use of force laws)."

Please note that according to EOPSS, anyone who applied for a license by August 1, 2024 does not need to complete the above mentioned supplemental material when renewing their license. The only persons that need to complete the supplemental material upon renewal are those that applied for a license after Agusust 1, 2024 and used certificates that were issued before April 2, 2026.

Some PD's not accepting older certificates

We have received reports of LTC applicants being turned away from applying with older BFS course certificates and being required to submit new certificates from courses using the new approved curriculums. If this applies to you, we recommend printing a copy of the memorandum sent by EOPSS and providing it to your licensing authority when applying. You can view and print the notice here.

Exemptions

The following people do not need to take a course to apply for a gun license:

Active military members with proper authorization and acting within the scope of their duties
Law enforcement with authorization and acting within the scope of their duties
State officers, agents, or employees with proper authorization and acting within the scope of their duties

Citations

Take the course with us!

Our Massachusetts gun licensing class in Boston fulfills all requirements, including live firearms training.

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FAQ

Do retired law enforcement or military veterans need to complete a course?

Yes. Massachusetts doesn't provide training exemptions for retired law enforcement or military veterans.