If you have been planning to get your Texas License to Carry, there is an important change you need to know about before you start. On October 1, 2026, Texas DPS moved the entire LTC program onto a brand-new online licensing system called RSD Connect. The old online application is gone, you now need a Texas by Texas (TxT) account to apply, and the paperwork side works a little differently than it used to. The good news is that the training itself has not changed, and the process is still very manageable. Here is what is different and how to get through it.
What Changed On October 1
The DPS Regulatory Services Division replaced its old online system with RSD Connect. It is now the one place where you apply for a new LTC, renew an existing license, and check the status of your application. Instructors like me also use it to manage LTC courses and report your training directly to DPS.
To make the switch, DPS paused online LTC applications in mid-September while records were transferred, and new applications opened back up on October 1. If you submitted an application before the shutdown, you do not need to start over. DPS carried those applications into RSD Connect, and they will keep processing there.
You Now Need A Texas by Texas (TxT) Account
This is the biggest change for new applicants. You must have a Texas by Texas account to apply for your LTC under the new system. RSD Connect is reached by logging in through TxT, so without an account you cannot start your application.
TxT is the State of Texas’s official online account for government services. Many Texans already have one from renewing a driver license or vehicle registration online. If you do, make sure you can still log in and that your information is current. If you do not, go to txt.texas.gov and create one before you begin. Have your permanent Texas Driver License handy, and use an email address you actually check.
The New Process, Step By Step
- Verify your eligibility. Check the Texas DPS Handgun Licensing website to confirm you qualify and whether you are eligible for a reduced fee. We also summarize the general eligibility rules on our Texas License to Carry page.
- Create or log in to your TxT account at txt.texas.gov.
- Apply through RSD Connect. From your TxT account, open RSD Connect and complete your LTC application. You will need your permanent Texas Driver License, your residence history, and answers to the background questions. The standard state fee is $40 for a five-year license, with discounts available for some applicants.
- Get fingerprinted. After you submit your application, you will be directed to schedule fingerprinting with IdentoGO, which has locations across the state. Note that the fingerprinting fee changed on October 1, so check the current amount when you schedule.
- Complete your LTC training. About four hours of classroom instruction, a 25-question written test, and the 50-round shooting proficiency test. You can do your training before or after you apply.
- Your instructor reports your completion to DPS. When you pass, your instructor submits your course completion electronically through RSD Connect.
- Check your status and wait for your license. You can track your application in RSD Connect. Plan on roughly 60 days from application to license in hand.
No More Uploading Your LTC-104
Under the old system, you finished your class, received a paper LTC-104 certificate, and uploaded it to DPS yourself. For training completed under the new system, the electronic record your instructor submits through RSD Connect becomes your proof of completion. That means one less document for you to keep track of and upload.
Already finished your training and have an LTC-104 from the last two years? You can still upload it through the new system.
Tip: Make sure the name you give your instructor matches your Texas Driver License exactly, so your training record and your application line up without delays.
What Has Not Changed: The Training
DPS still requires the same training it always has. The classroom portion covers weapons law and the use of deadly force, handgun use and safety, non-violent dispute resolution, and safe storage, followed by a 25-question test. The shooting proficiency test is 50 rounds: 20 from 3 yards, 20 from 7 yards, and 10 from 15 yards.
We offer three ways to get it done, with range work held at Cedar Ridge Range in Bulverde:
- Online Classroom + Range Combo ($99): Complete the classroom portion online at your own pace, then finish your range qualification with me. Range fees and targets are included.
- LTC Proficiency Test Only ($69): Already completed the classroom portion with us or another provider? We will run your shooting proficiency demonstration, including the required hour of firearms training, in about 90 minutes to two hours on the range.
- LTC Classroom Only (Online): The self-paced classroom portion and written test. Pair it with a proficiency session whenever you are ready.
For range day, bring your handgun (rentals are available), at least 50 rounds of ammunition, eye and ear protection, and a photo ID. Training days run Wednesday through Saturday.
Is It Still Worth Getting Your LTC?
Absolutely. Permitless carry ends at the Texas state line, while a Texas LTC is recognized in more than 37 other states. It also gives you access to some locations where unlicensed carriers face different rules, and it is a state-issued credential showing you have passed a background check. I break it all down in Why You Should Still Get Your Texas LTC, Even With Permitless Carry.
Questions? We Can Help.
Any time a system changes, there are going to be a few bumps. If you get stuck, reach out. We cannot check your application status for you (that comes from DPS through RSD Connect), but we are happy to walk you through the process and get your training scheduled.
Call or text (830) 360-0583, email Training@franktookerfirearmstraining.com, or book your LTC training here.
This post is general information, not legal advice. DPS procedures and fees can change, so always confirm current requirements on the Texas DPS Handgun Licensing website before you apply.
Be safe out there, and see you on the range.