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TN Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit - More than a CCP

TN Enhanced Handgun Permit

Tennessee Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit Classes

Over 20,000 Students Certified

If you plan to travel outside Tennessee, it's advisable to obtain the Tennessee Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit. More states recognize this permit than the standard Concealed Carry Permit.

The Enhanced Carry Permit is the most comprehensive handgun permit class offered in Tennessee. It allows you to legally carry in more locations than you can with the Concealed Carry Permit or under Tennessee's Open Carry Law.

With the Enhanced Carry Permit, you can carry in o
r on the grounds of any public park, playground, nature area, historic park, nature trail, campground, forest greenway, waterway, civic center, or similar public property owned, used, or operated by the state, a county, a municipality, or any instrumentality of the state, county, or city, as long as these areas are not being used for school activities or sports.

 

Additionally, with an Enhanced Carry Permit, you can carry in buildings that are posted with “Concealed Firearms by Permit Only” signs.
 

Furthermore, an Enhanced Carry Permit allows you to carry within or on property designated by the federal government as a national park, forest, preserve, historic park, military park, trail, or recreation area.

$80 Standard Tickets
$70.00 Student/Educator

All tickets include:
$15 All day Range Pass (for use anytime) 

$25 Off Discount Coupon  
Eye Protection
Ear Protection
Day of Class Range Fees
Targets
Lunch (Saturday and Sunday only)
Reserved Seating

$95 Premium Tickets
Student/Educator $85.00

Include Handgun with Ammunition

Plus everything below

Are you looking to exceed the minimum requirements, understand the laws, and learn the intricacies of handgun carry? Or do you simply want a certificate indicating that you passed? If you are serious about concealed carry, consider taking your Tennessee Enhanced Handgun Permit Class at Frontier for professional and thorough training. 

 

Our course is conducted at a state-inspected and certified handgun academy and indoor shooting range, led by both state and nationally certified instructors. The Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit Course is available to individuals aged sixteen and older. 

 

To qualify for a permit, you must be within three months of your twenty-first birthday and must be twenty-one years old before you can apply for a permit. Please note that applications and class certifications expire six months from the date of your class. The class duration is mandated by the State of Tennessee to be six to eight hours, excluding lunch. 

5 Easy Steps

5 Easy Steps

Enhanced Handgun Permit Class Overview

BEFORE CLASS
Step 1:
Pick a Class & Sign Up
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Step 2: Complete 
State Permit Application
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Step 3
Practice at Frontier
Practice Shooting at Frontier Firearms
CLASS
Step 4:
Take the Class
Handgun Carry Permit Class at Frontier Firearms
Step 5
Complete the Process
AFTER CLASS
1. Pick a Class - Tickets

TICKETSTICKETS

Step 1: Pick your class day and register

To obtain a handgun carry permit in Tennessee, you must first complete a handgun safety course offered by a school certified by the Department of Safety, like Frontier Firearms. 

Upon completing the Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit class, your scores will be entered into the State online system showing that you have completed the eight (8) hour Handgun Safety Course.

 

After class, you will go to a driver's license center where you will need proof of US Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residency, photo identification such as your driver's license,

When your application is processed at the Driver Service Center, you will be given instructions for fingerprinting.

Note: Even though a person has a permit and is authorized to possess or carry a firearm under TCA 39-17-1315 or 39-17-1351, there are restrictions on where firearms may be carried—Tennessee Code Annotated and subject matter list additional information about possessing and carrying a gun. More information can be obtained online from the Tennessee Code Annotated lookup (this link is to the LexisNexis site external to the Tennessee Department of Safety website).

BUY TICKETS:  TN Enhanced Handgun Permit Class

2 State Application

State
Application

Step 2: Complete your Carry Permit Application here

Before taking your CCW or Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit class, you must complete the concealed carry or handgun permit application online because your instructor must have the Application Confirmation Number to report your class scores.  Use the link below to access the Department of Safety's Online System.  It's straightforward.  Additionally, the system enables you to track the status of your application.  If you fail to bring your Application Confirmation Number to class, you will be unable to complete the course.

CLICK  BEGIN APPLICATION  below, and you will be on your way to getting the gun permit that allows you to carry a handgun open or concealed (CCW).  

  • Once you are on the state website, you will see a screen similar to the one shown in the screenshot below.  

  • CLICK on the folder Handgun Permits.  

  • If you are a current Tennessee Resident, CLICK on VERIFY MY IDENTITY and enter the requested information. Then CLICK NEXT.  

  • If you are a new resident, CLICK NEXT > at the bottom left of the page.

Print your Application Confirmation Number! Your instructor must have that number.
STATE PAGE
3. Practice - Free Range Pass

PracticeShooting

Step 3: Use your free Range Pass to practice

Frontier_Firearms_Range_1.jpg

You may want to polish your shooting skills before your class.  If so, use the Free Range Pass that prints with your Class Ticket.  Then, you may come to the range and shoot for as long as you want, anytime we are open.

 

COME PRACTICE BEFORE CLASS - IT'S FREE

Students must pass a shooting qualification (let us know if you have special needs. 

 

Shooting Qualification is 50 rounds from three distances.

  1. Three Yards - 20 Rounds

  2. Fiver Yards - 20 Rounds

  3. Seven Yards - 10 Rounds

Scoring 

  • Hits within the seven-ring line (or on the line) will be counted as two points.

  • Hits outside the seven-ring but within the silhouette will be counted as one (1) point.

  • The final score will be calculated by multiplying the number of hits by the specified points.

  • A composite score of 70% must be achieved to pass the range portion of the course.

 

Students are given one opportunity to pass the range portion of the course.  If the student fails in either part, they must retake the entire safety course.  COME PRACTICE!

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4. About the Class

Take theClass

Step 4: About the Class

The Handgun Safety Course, or Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit Class, qualifies students to be certified to lawfully carry a firearm in both Tennessee and states honoring the Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit. Frontier Firearms teaches the Handgun Carry Permit class in our state-inspected handgun academy and indoor shooting range. Each of our instructors is State and Nationally certified.   Please note that we adhere to the rules -- we don't take shortcuts or violate regulations. When you experience our class, you get the real deal. 

Students will spend time in our comfortable classroom and range to learn basic pistol nomenclature, safety, ownership responsibilities, shooting fundamentals, and handgun selection factors. They will also learn applicable Tennessee laws regarding the use of deadly force.

 

Classes are open to individuals sixteen years or older, regardless of gender. However, you must be within six months of your 21st birthday for the class to qualify you for a handgun permit.

 

This mandatory class is eight hours long, not including lunch. One-day courses are held on weekends. Please arrive 15 minutes early.

 

Students must pass a short written exam and a shooting qualification. Please let us know if you have special needs for the written exam or the class's range portion.

As required by the State of Tennessee, all students must successfully pass this class to qualify for a Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit.  

Classes are open to individuals sixteen years or older, regardless of gender. However, you must be within six months of your 21st birthday to qualify for a handgun permit.

 

The mandatory class length is eight hours, not including lunch. One-day classes are held on weekends. Courses spread over two days are held on weekday evenings. Arrive 15 minutes early.

CLASS HIGHLIGHTS

  • Firearm safety

  • Basic pistol terms

  • Basic handgun and ammunition instruction

  • Basic firing range protocol

  • Shooting fundamentals

  • Firearms Qualification

  • Weapon and ammunition selection

  • Self-defense legal fundamentals

  • TN and Federal law relating to handgun carry

  • When the use of deadly force may be justified

  • Criminal and civil ramifications of using deadly force

​​

COURSE LESSONS

  • The application process and eligibility requirements

  • Legal responsibilities associated with carrying a handgun

  • Understanding the requirements for the use of lethal force

  • Ammunition knowledge and the fundamentals of pistol shooting

  • Selecting and maintaining (cleaning) a defensive firearm

  • How to conduct yourself when encountering law enforcement

  • Classroom Test - 50 questions (True/False and Multiple Choice)

YOU WILL NEED​

  • A Valid TN Driver's License with a photo or 

  • A Valid TN Photo ID

  • A handgun (or rent from us)

  • 50 rounds of ammunition (Frontier Firearms sells ammunition and rents firearms with ammunition for the course)

  • Comfortable seasonal clothing (women should avoid low-cut tops or sweaters to prevent hot shell casings. No sandals, please)

  • Pencil and paper

YOU WILL NOT NEED

  • Raingear - Our range is indoors

  • Eye and ear protection - We provide them for you

  • Lunch - We provide pizza

  • A cap or hat - We shoot indoors

  • Bug spray - We shoot indoors

  • Sunscreen - We  shoot indoors

  • Money for range fees - It's included in the price 

5. After Class

CompletE
The Process

Step 5: What to do after class

Once you have received a passing score in the Handgun Safety Course (Handgun Permit Class), you must go to a full-service Driver's License Station or DMV office.   You MUST do this within six (6) months of completing the class or repeat the entire Handgun Permit Class.   
 

At the Driver's License Station: 

  • You will need your State Application Receipt / Confirmation number.  

  • NOTE: Your application and certification expire after 12 months

  • You will need a certified copy of your birth certificate or U.S. Passport

  • At the Driver's License Station, you pay the state application fee (see COST button Below)

  • You will have your photo taken and your signature digitally captured.

  • You will be given instructions on how to sign up for and where to go for fingerprinting.

  • Following the instructions, you will be asked to register online or over the phone with L1 for your fingerprint processing, which is required for the applicant's background investigation.

  • If you have questions, ask the DMV examiner for further details about the fingerprinting process. 

  • After fingerprinting, it may take 6-12 weeks to process your permit.

  • Your Handgun Carry Permit will be delivered to you by U.S. Mail.

Tennessee Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit Classes 

Must be completed before class
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GUN STORE - RANGE - FIREARMS TRAINING

Located in Kingston, TN, Frontier Firearms Family Shooting Center is the largest locally owned shooting range and gun store in the Knoxville area, and it is the only gun store that lets you "try before you buy." Since 2000, Frontier has provided East Tennessee shooting enthusiasts with high-quality new and used firearms, including handguns, rifles, shotguns, ammunition, and shooting accessories, as well as the latest tactical arms and gear.   We have guns for sale from all major brands, like Smith & Wesson, Glock, Benelli, Stoeger, Uberti, Franchi, Mossberg, Sig Sauer, Springfield, Taurus, Ruger, and more. We have some of the most knowledgeable staff and best firearms instructors; each staff member is NRA-certified. We train thousands of people each year. Indeed, few can match the experience and knowledge of our staff. We offer gun classes and NRA courses. We offer firearms training classes, including the Tennessee Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit (HCP) and Concealed Carry Permit (CCP) classes, as well as concealed carry courses, TNCCP, women's gun classes, and beginning, intermediate, and advanced Carry for Life courses. Additionally, we provide private handgun, CCW, and self-defense instruction.

© 2000-2025 Copyright Frontier Firearms, LLC©
Range Hours

Last Shooters allowed in the range 1 hour before store closing.

Bible Gateway
Brant Williams has been an NRA life member since 1980
Frontier Firearms Family Shooting Center support the NSSF since 2000.
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