Colorado's New 2025 Concealed Carry Law

Why Colorado Residents Should Get their CHP Now

What is CO House Bill 1174?

CO House Bill 24-1174 passed on June 4th, 2024, introduces significant changes to the requirements for obtaining a concealed handgun permit (CHP) in Colorado. The bill aims to ensure that permit holders are thoroughly trained in a variety of instructional components. While certain provisions went into effect immediately, the major changes of the bill do not go into effect until July 1st, 2025. Colorado residents looking to obtain a CHP should familiarize themselves with these updates to ensure a seamless transition.

How Will These Changes Affect Applicants After July 1, 2025?

 Following July 1st, 2025 those applying for a CHP will need to meet more stringent training and competency requirements. The most impactful updates to the process include:

• Training: Applicants will now be required to complete at least 8 hours of in-person instruction. This is a significant increase from the current course length of 2-3 hours.
• Proof of Competency: To qualify, students must pass a written exam with a minimum score of 80% as well as demonstrate live fire accuracy, hitting 35 of 50 rounds fired.
• Renewal Requirements: CHP renewals will require a 2-hour refresher course, along with both a written test and a live fire exercise.
• Additional Updates: Other changes include stricter instructor verification, disqualification for certain misdemeanor convictions, and peace officer certification regulations.

Why You Should Get Your CHP Now

With the impending changes that make the process of getting your CHP more rigorous, extensive, and expensive it may make sense to obtain your permit before certain provisions take place mid-2025. Current classes are shorter, more flexible, and more affordable.

• Time: Classes currently last only 2-3 hours, compared to the upcoming mandatory 8-hour sessions.
• Cost: Current classes are only $65, a fraction of what the increased requirements may eventually cause the classes to cost.
• Simplicity: Today’s classes do not require written exams or live fire tests - something that will change in the future.

By securing your CHP now, you’ll avoid the extra hurdles and costs associated with the new CHP training requirements. Our classes will remain in the current format until the end of May 2025, to give as many people the opportunity to take the more affordable 2–3-hour class. Starting in June 2025 our courses will move to the new reequipments in preparation for them going into effect on July 1st, 2025.

The Bottom Line

If you’re considering applying for a concealed handgun permit in Colorado, now is the time to act. All concealed carry classes in Colorado, including ours, will become more expensive and take significantly more time. If you wish to get your permit before the new law goes into full effect, don't wait. While the new requirements don't go into effect until July 1st, 2025, we expect there to be a great deal of confusion and potentially disappointment for those who take the class prior to July 1st but whose permits had not been issued prior to that date. By getting your permit before the new law goes into full effect, you will save time and money while still gaining the essential knowledge to carry confidently and responsibly.

Don’t wait - take advantage of the current training structure and get your permit now. Click here to find a class near you.