Are you thinking about getting your Michigan Concealed Pistol License (CPL), or just trying to make sense of the rules? Responsible gun owners need to understand the process, requirements, and rules that come with concealed carry in Michigan.
Michigan Compiled Laws Section 28.421a gives the Michigan Legislature the authority to create a standardized system for issuing CPLs. The Michigan State Police outlines this process. Unless otherwise stated, all facts outlined in the answers below were retrieved from the MSP site.
How Do You Get a Michigan CPL?
The first step on the road to your Michigan CPL is getting trained. You must be 21 years of age or older to sign up. The class must be an approved eight-hour CCW Pistol Safety Training Course, which includes three hours of range time and five hours of classroom time, according to the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards.
To get your Michigan Concealed Pistol License, you’ll need to download the application form, submit it to your county clerk, and pay the associated fee. You’ll also get your fingerprints taken, so they can process your application, and once submitted, you’ll wait up to 45 days to receive your license.
How Long Is a Michigan CCW Valid?
Once you obtain your Michigan CCW, pay close attention to the expiration date. It will expire not fewer than four years but not more than five years after the issue date. The expiration date will be your birthday.
You can apply to renew it six months before or within the first year after it expires. If you apply for your renewal and do not receive it before the expiration date on your current license, keep your receipt and expired license. Together, they will serve as a valid CPL until your new license comes in.
How Do You Renew a Michigan CPL?
Michigan requires you to complete at least three hours of review of the original training material, and at least one hour of range time to renew your CPL. The easiest way to satisfy this requirement is to sign up for a refresher course at a reputable range.
Next, you can submit your renewal online or by mail. Some applicants will be required to go to their local county clerk’s office. You will not have to complete additional fingerprints. Renewals open six months before your expiration date. Don’t wait until the last minute, as you cannot legally carry a concealed firearm with an expired CPL.
Which States Honor a Michigan CPL?
The following states will recognize your Michigan CCW via a legal concept known as “reciprocity”:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
However, several states won’t recognize your Michigan CCW, including:
- California
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
Make sure you don’t conceal and carry a firearm in these jurisdictions, as it can lead to criminal charges. Also, make sure to verify that a state still offers reciprocity before traveling there with your firearm. Laws can change. For instance, Nevada offered reciprocity to Michigan CPL holders until July 1, 2025.
What Disqualifies You From Getting a Michigan CPL?
You could be disqualified from obtaining your Michigan Concealed Pistol License if any of the following are true:
- You have felony convictions or pending felony charges.
- You have been convicted of certain misdemeanor violations in the last three years or have pending charges for those offenses.
- You are subject to orders involving legal incapacitation, involuntary treatment, involuntary hospitalization, or protection orders.
Disqualifying misdemeanors include:
- Operating a vehicle while visibly impaired while under 21 years of age
- Disorderly person
- Embezzlement
- False pretenses with intent to cheat or defraud
- Controlled substance violations
- Larceny
- Negligent use of a firearm resulting in injury, death, or property damage
- Third or second-degree retail fraud
Some misdemeanor convictions carry an eight-year ban on obtaining your CPL. Examples include:
- Failing to stop when involved in an accident resulting in personal injury
- Possessing a controlled substance
- Reckless driving
- Fourth-degree child abuse
- Aggravated assault or aggravated domestic assault
- Assault or domestic assault
- Vulnerable adult abuse
- Illegal sale of a firearm or ammunition
Make sure to review the Michigan State Police website for a comprehensive list of disqualifiers.
Can You Get a CPL With a DUI in Michigan?
No, if you are convicted of a DUI charge, you won’t be able to apply for your Concealed Pistol License for eight years after your conviction date. If you are facing pending charges for a DUI, you will also be ineligible. However, if the charges are dismissed or the eight-year ban lapses, you will be eligible to apply for a Michigan CCW.
If your application is denied, you will receive a detailed explanation. You can appeal some denials. However, the state won’t budge on statutorily defined bans, such as the eight-year ban following a DUI conviction. Your only option is to wait it out.
How Long Does It Take To Get a CPL in Michigan?
After submitting your complete application and fingerprints, it typically takes up to 45 days to receive your CPL. The length of the waiting period will largely depend on what time of year it is (i.e., the holiday season has more office closures), and how many other applications are being processed.
You can do your part to speed up the process by scheduling your course, paying the fee, and submitting fingerprints as soon as possible. However, you can’t apply until you complete the required course, and the state won’t start processing your application until it receives your fingerprints.
Can You Have a CPL and a Medical Marijuana Card in Michigan?
Technically, yes, you can. However, the matter is extremely complicated due to a conflict between federal and state law. Michigan does not prohibit you from obtaining a CPL and a medical marijuana card.
However, firearms dealers are required to obtain federal firearms licenses (FFLs). Unfortunately, FFLs are prohibited under federal law from selling firearms to individuals who unlawfully use controlled substances, which includes marijuana. That’s because marijuana remains a scheduled drug under federal law.
How Much Does a Michigan CPL Cost?
The cost of your Michigan CCW includes several different fees. You’ll have to pay for your class, an application fee, and fingerprinting. Most agencies charge a $15 fingerprinting fee, but some third-party entities charge more. The standard application fee is $100, but your county clerk may also add on a small upcharge, depending on your payment method.
The biggest variable is your CPL course. Some ranges charge a lot of add-ons. They may offer a “low price” class, only to tack on fees for ear and eye protection, weapon rental, lunch, and ammunition. The good news is you can keep your costs in check by taking a course that includes all costs under a single fee. Look for a course that includes everything you need to complete the course and earn your certificate.
If you find an agency to fingerprint you for just $15, take advantage of an affordable all-inclusive course, and pay your county clerk’s fee, you can get your Michigan CPL for about $200 or less.
Can You Get a CPL Online in Michigan?
No, you cannot get a new CPL completely online. You’ll need to have fingerprinting done and attend an in-person training course. First-time applicants also have to apply in person at their county clerk’s office. Renewals can be completed online if you are eligible. However, you’ll still need to attend a renewal course.
Where Can You Carry With a Michigan CPL?
A Michigan Concealed Pistol License allows you to carry your firearm in many public places. However, you may not carry in:
- Schools or on school property
- Daycare centers
- Sports arenas or stadiums
- Bars (where alcohol sales exceed 50% of income)
- Hospitals
- College dorms and classrooms
- Casinos
If a business has a clearly posted sign that prohibits firearms, you must honor that request as well. Failing to do so may not result in criminal charges under state law; however, the business could request that you be removed from the premises.
If you are visiting somewhere that does not allow you to carry a concealed firearm, make sure you lock up your weapon in a secure location. Leaving an unsecured handgun in your vehicle can be incredibly dangerous and expose you to significant liability. Don’t put yourself in that position.
Do You Need To Register Your Firearm?
You do not have to register long guns (shotguns and rifles) in Michigan. If you do not have a CPL, you have to obtain a license to purchase from a local law enforcement agency. If you do have your CPL, you won’t have to apply for a license to purchase. However, you will need to complete a pistol sales record.
Once you purchase your firearm, make note of the make, model, serial number, and caliber. If it is ever stolen or lost, you want to be able to provide law enforcement with as much information about the weapon as possible. They can use this information to document the incident, and identify the firearm if it is ever recovered.
What Happens If Your CPL Expires in Michigan?
You have up to one year to renew your license after it expires. After that grace period, you will have to complete a new application, which means retaking the training course and getting a new set of fingerprints.
While your license is expired, you cannot legally carry a concealed firearm. However, once you pay the renewal fee, you can use your expired license and the receipt of renewal as a substitute until your license arrives. This rule only applies if you have proof that you’ve paid for renewal.
Can You Carry in a Vehicle With a Michigan CPL?
Yes, you can carry a concealed firearm in a vehicle if you have a Michigan CPL. Without a CPL, you cannot carry a concealed handgun directly on or about your person in your vehicle. You should keep it locked in a case and unloaded to avoid inadvertently violating any firearms laws.
Check with an attorney for further information regarding the lawful transportation of firearms in Michigan.
Ready To Get Your Michigan CCW? Uncoiled Firearms Can Help
Uncoiled Firearms makes it easy to complete your Michigan CPL class, so you can apply for your concealed pistol license.
Our Pistol Safety Training Course teaches you the skills, attitude, and knowledge you need to safely carry a firearm. Our instructors cover topics such as choosing the right handgun, your legal responsibilities, and CPL laws.
Our primary CPL course lasts eight hours and costs $75. Range members receive a 20% discount. Classes start at 8:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. Your class fee includes lunch, a course completion certificate, eye and ear protection, firearm rental, and the instructor-supervised range qualification.
We also offer a two-night evening CPL course that splits the required eight hours of instruction into two consecutive days. The course lasts from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The cost is also $75, and the fee is all-inclusive, so you don’t have to worry about any add-on charges once you arrive.
Are you ready to get started? Contact us about qualifying for your Michigan CPL today!
