Nevada CCW Permit: What It Costs and How Long It Takes

A Nevada concealed firearm permit costs more than the class price you see advertised. The class is one line on the bill. The sheriff's fee is another, and it is the bigger of the two. This page gives you the real total, the order you do things in, and how long each step takes.

Last updated: 24 September 2026. Sheriff fees are set by each county and change, so confirm the current amount with your sheriff before you pay.

What a Nevada CCW costs, all in

The two class prices above are real, current prices: The Range 702 on Dean Martin Drive charges $109.95 for the initial class and $85 for a renewal. Green Valley Range in Henderson charges $125 and $90. Prices around the valley cluster between those two.

The sheriff's fee covers the state and FBI record checks plus the sheriff's own charge. Each county sets its own amount within the limit in NRS 202.3657, so ask your sheriff what is included and whether fingerprint cards cost extra.

Nothing else is compulsory. You do not need a lawyer, a passport photo or a membership. If a quote is much above $225 for a first permit, you are probably paying for extras you can buy separately or skip.

Who can apply

You must be 21. Active-duty military, reservists, National Guard and honourably discharged veterans can apply at 18.

You do not have to live in Nevada. The state issues permits to non-residents. The training course must be one the sheriff you apply to accepts, so ask that sheriff before you book a class outside Nevada.

You will be turned down for a felony conviction, a domestic violence conviction, an active warrant, current parole or probation, an active restraining order, a dishonourable discharge, unlawful immigration status, a court finding of incompetence, or an involuntary mental health commitment in the last five years. Habitual use of alcohol or a controlled substance is also a bar, and under NRS 202.3657 a DUI conviction within the past five years is presumed to show it. Ask your sheriff how other recent convictions are treated.

Step 1: the approved class

Eight hours, classroom plus live fire, taught by an instructor and course the sheriff accepts. Courses approved by the Nevada Sheriffs' and Chiefs' Association are the safe choice; ask the school directly whether their certificate is accepted by the sheriff you are applying to.

The day runs like this. Morning is law and safe handling: where you can and cannot carry, drawing, storage, and what happens if you ever use the gun. Afternoon is the range. The qualification is short — at The Range 702 it is 30 rounds at 3, 5 and 7 yards. You are not being graded as a competition shooter. You are being checked for safe handling and hits on paper at conversational distance.

Bring your own handgun and ammunition if you have them. Every school rents a pistol and sells ammunition if you do not. Shoot the gun you actually intend to carry; qualifying with a rented full-size pistol and then carrying a small pocket gun you have never fired is a bad plan.

You leave with a certificate. It is not a permit. Nothing happens until you take it to the sheriff.

Step 2: your county sheriff

Nevada permits are issued by the county sheriff, so the process changes depending on where you live. This is the step most training companies skip on their websites.

Clark County (Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, Mesquite). The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department handles it. Start the application online, then book an appointment at the Records and Fingerprint Bureau, 400 S Martin Luther King Blvd, Building C, Las Vegas NV 89106. Phone (702) 828-3271. Appointments open up to 60 days ahead and the counter runs Monday to Friday 7am to 6pm, weekends and holidays 8am to 5pm. Walk-ins are accepted, but an appointment saves an hour.

Washoe County (Reno, Sparks, Incline Village). The Washoe County Sheriff's Office handles it. Complete the online application, print it, then take it to the Records Section at 911 Parr Blvd, Reno NV 89512, or the Incline Village substation, which is Monday to Thursday by appointment only. Phone (775) 328-3001. Fees and prints are paid at that appointment.

Every other county. You apply to the sheriff where you live, and the smaller offices run prints on set days rather than daily. Nye, Lyon, Douglas, Elko and Carson City all issue their own permits, and a Nevada permit is good statewide once issued, regardless of which sheriff signed it.

If the required documents are not with you, the application is rejected on the spot and you go home and book again. Take your class certificate, photo ID, and everything on the sheriff's document list.

Step 3: fingerprints, and how long the wait runs

Fingerprints and your photograph are taken at that same appointment. Then you wait while the state and the FBI run the record checks.

Plan for up to about four months (the sheriffs recommend allowing 120 days) and be pleased if it comes back sooner.

You cannot carry concealed while you wait. The certificate from your class is not a temporary permit.

Renewals

A Nevada permit is valid for five years. The renewal is a 4-hour class with live fire, then about $65 to the sheriff.

Start 120 days before your expiry date, as LVMPD recommends. If you miss the date, a late fee applies (NRS 202.3677 sets a $15 late fee; some sheriffs list a higher late-renewal total), and after a limited window you must apply as a new applicant and sit the full class again. Ask your sheriff how long the window is. A lost or stolen permit card is $15 to replace. You must tell the sheriff in writing within 30 days if your address changes.

Your old permit stays valid until the day it expires, so file early and there is no gap. File late and you are unpermitted from the expiry date, whatever stage the paperwork is at.

Where your Nevada permit is honoured

Nevada recognizes permits only from states on an official list that the state prepares each year on or before July 1 under NRS 202.3689. The list changes, and some states recognize Nevada permits while Nevada does not recognize theirs. Get the current list from the Nevada Attorney General or Department of Public Safety, and check each destination state's own official reciprocity page, before you travel armed.

If a state is not on the official list, treat your permit as not valid there. Recognition lists change from time to time, so check the current official list before a road trip, not after.

What to bring to the qualification

• The handgun you plan to carry, in a holster, unloaded and cased
• At least 50 rounds of factory range ammunition, even though the course only fires 30
• Two magazines if your pistol takes them
• Eye and ear protection, a hat with a brim, and a closed-neck shirt
• Photo ID and the school's booking confirmation

Choosing a pistol you can actually qualify with

The qualification is fired at 3, 5 and 7 yards. That is close. What fails people is not accuracy, it is a gun that is too small, too snappy or too stiff to run safely for 30 rounds under an instructor's eye.

A compact 9mm with a 3.5 to 4 inch barrel is the sweet spot: light enough to carry daily, heavy enough to shoot straight, and cheap to feed. Full-size 9mm pistols are the easiest of all to qualify with and many people buy one for the class and a smaller gun later. A .380 pocket pistol is the hardest thing in the room to shoot well, and a lightweight .38 revolver is close behind.

Whatever you pick, dry-fire it at home and put 100 rounds through it before class day. Browse our pistols and handguns, or read our home defense guide if the same gun is going to live by the bed.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to carry openly in Nevada?

No. Open carry is legal in Nevada without a permit for anyone who may lawfully own the gun. The permit is for carrying concealed on your person.

Can a non-resident get a Nevada permit?

Yes. Apply to any Nevada county sheriff. The catch is the training: it must be a course that sheriff accepts, so ask before booking a class outside Nevada.

Does Nevada honour my out-of-state permit?

Only from states on Nevada's official list, which is updated each year by July 1 under NRS 202.3689. Some states count only certain permit types, so check the current list.

Can I qualify with a rented gun?

Yes, every school rents. It is better to qualify with the gun you will carry, but a rental is not a problem for the certificate.

What disqualifies me?

Felony convictions, domestic violence, active warrants, current parole or probation, restraining orders, habitual use of alcohol or drugs (a DUI conviction in the past five years is presumed to show it), a dishonourable discharge, unlawful immigration status, or an involuntary mental health commitment in the past five years. Your sheriff can tell you how other offences are treated.

How long is the permit valid?

Five years. The renewal is a 4-hour class plus about $65, and you should file about 120 days before expiry.

Do I need a permit to have a gun in my car?

No. You can carry a loaded handgun in your own vehicle — glove box, console, door pocket or seat — without a permit, as long as you may lawfully own it. The moment it is concealed on your person, in a waistband or a jacket pocket, you need the permit. That line is where people get into trouble.

After the permit

Once the card arrives, a proper holster stops being optional. Our summary of Nevada gun laws covers where the permit does and does not let you carry, and the shop has the carry pistols, holsters and practice ammunition to go with it.