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Florida Concealed Weapon or Firearm License

Florida CWFL Training — Start Online

Florida issues to nonresidents, administers licensing through a single state agency, and lets you complete the classroom portion online. That combination is why it comes up so often as a second license.

Residents & nonresidentsLive fire requiredOnline training available$74.99
Start Florida Training — $74.99See how it works

At a glance

Credential
Florida Concealed Weapon or Firearm License
Issued by
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Licensing
Residents
Eligible
Nonresidents
Eligible
Online training
Available
Live fire
Required
Course price
$74.99
Provider
U.S. LawShield

Last reviewed August 2026. Verify current requirements with the issuing authority before applying.

Why consider a Florida CWFL

What a Florida CWFL gets you.

Florida is a common choice for people who want coverage beyond their home state, and the reason is structural: it issues to nonresidents, it is administered by one state agency rather than 67 county offices, and the classroom requirement can be satisfied online from anywhere.

For someone who drives the Southeast regularly — or spends part of the winter there — a Florida license can change which states recognize them. And when they're physically in Florida, they're carrying on a license Florida issued rather than depending on Florida to honor someone else's.

One caveat worth knowing up front: six states recognize a Florida license only when the holder actually lives in Florida. That doesn't make it a bad choice for a nonresident — it just means you should check those six against where you travel before you decide. The recognition map further down does exactly that.

How it works

The Florida process, in order.

Steps marked “handled elsewhere” are run by the government or a third party — not by us. Knowing which is which is most of what prevents wasted money.

  1. Confirm eligibility

    Age, residency-or-nonresidency status and prohibiting factors are screened by the state. Florida accepts applications from residents and nonresidents alike.

  2. Complete the online training

    The U.S. LawShield Florida CWL course delivers the instruction and covers Florida law, safe handling and use-of-force principles.

  3. Receive your completion documentation

    You will receive a certificate of completion to submit with your application.

  4. Complete range proficiency

    Demonstrate competency with a firearm in person. A qualified resident or nonresident NRA instructor can perform this qualification.

  5. Submit your applicationHandled elsewhere

    Apply through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, including fingerprints, photo and fee.

What you'll learn

Inside the coursework.

U.S. LawShield Florida CWL Online Training — delivered online by U.S. LawShield.

Start Florida Training
  • Florida law governing the carry of a concealed weapon or firearm
  • Use of force and the legal standard for defensive force in Florida
  • Safe handling, storage and transport of firearms
  • Places where carry is restricted or prohibited
  • Practical concealed carry considerations — holsters, clothing, awareness
  • What happens legally and procedurally after a defensive incident

Residency

Resident vs. nonresident.

Florida residents

Eligible

Florida residents apply directly to the Division of Licensing and may complete the process at a regional office or by mail. Residency simplifies fingerprinting and proof-of-identity steps.

Everyone else

Eligible

Nonresidents apply to the same state agency using the same standards. You do not need to live in Florida, own property there, or travel there to hold the license — which is why out-of-state applicants so often start here.

Read this before you buy

What this course does — and does not do.

Every state page on this site carries this section. If a training company won't tell you where its product stops, that is the information you needed.

What this course does

  • Satisfies the classroom instruction component through online delivery
  • Provides the certificate of completion Florida requires with your application
  • Is available to both Florida residents and nonresidents
  • Covers Florida-specific law rather than generic firearms content

What it does not do

  • Does not issue your license — the state does, after a full application
  • Does not satisfy the range proficiency requirement
  • Does not include fingerprinting, the photo, or the state application fee
  • Does not make you legal to carry in other states automatically

About the live-fire requirement

Florida requires demonstrated competency with a firearm. The classroom portion can be completed online; range proficiency is completed in person.

Travel value

What could a Florida CWFL add to your carry strategy?

A second license is worth it where it covers ground your current one doesn't — and that depends entirely on the combination. So look at the actual recognition below, with the states you travel to in mind, rather than assuming any permit simply adds coverage.

Florida publishes a list of 37 states that recognize its license. Six of those recognize it only when the holder is a Florida resident — so a Florida license does slightly less for an out-of-state holder than the headline number suggests. Use the toggle below to see the difference before you decide.

Showing recognition for a licensee who lives in the issuing state.

35 states recognize the Florida Concealed Weapon or Firearm License, and 1 recognize it conditionally.

Tap a state to see how it treats this license.

Start with the places you actually go — where family is, where you drive, where you spend the winter.

  • Issuing state
  • Recognized(35)
  • Permitless carry(1)
  • Conditional(1)
  • Not recognized(12)
Read this map as a list
Issuing state (1)
Florida.
The state that issued the license.
Recognized (35)
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming.
This state recognizes the license.
Permitless carry (1)
Vermont.
This state does not require a carry permit in the circumstances noted. That is a feature of its own law, not recognition of your license.
Conditional (1)
Wisconsin.
Recognized only under specific conditions. Read the note before relying on it.
Not recognized (12)
California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington.
This state does not recognize the license.

Recognition is not the same as holding that state's own license

A recognized state honors this license subject to its own laws and restricted locations. It does not mean you are treated identically to someone that state licensed directly.

Some provisions turn specifically on being licensed by the state you are physically in. The federal Gun-Free School Zones Act is the clearest example: 18 U.S.C. § 922(q) generally addresses possession in a school zone, including within 1,000 feet of school grounds, subject to exceptions — and one licensing exception refers to a person licensed by the state in which the school zone is located, where the statutory verification requirement is met.

That is a narrow point, not a blanket rule, and it is one reason serious travelers care about the difference. We explain it properly here.

Sources for this map

Last verified: August 2026

Reciprocity changes without notice. This map is educational information, not legal advice, and it is not a substitute for confirming current law with the destination state before you travel armed.

Work out which states you actually needWhat about the states in white?

Quick answers

Florida, in plain terms.

Can a nonresident get a Florida CWFL?

Yes. Florida accepts applications from people who do not live in the state.

Does Florida require live fire?

Yes. Florida requires an in-person range qualification in addition to the classroom instruction.

Can I complete Florida training online?

The classroom portion, yes. Florida still requires you to complete the range component in person.

Who issues the Florida CWFL?

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Licensing.

Florida is centrally administered. One state agency handles every application, which makes the process far more predictable than county-issued states.

FAQ

Florida questions, answered.

Can a nonresident get a Florida concealed weapon license?

Yes. Florida issues concealed weapon or firearm licenses to nonresidents under the same standards it applies to residents. You do not need to live in Florida or own property there.

Can I complete Florida CWFL training online?

Yes, for the classroom portion. Florida allows the instructional component to be completed through approved online training. You must still demonstrate range proficiency in person.

Does Florida require live fire?

Yes. Florida requires you to demonstrate competency with a firearm. Online coursework covers the classroom requirement; a qualified resident or nonresident NRA instructor can conduct your range qualification.

How much does the Florida course cost?

The U.S. LawShield Florida CWL online training is $74.99. State application and fingerprinting fees are paid separately to Florida.

How long is a Florida license valid?

Florida licenses are issued for a multi-year term and must be renewed through the Division of Licensing. Confirm the current term and renewal window on the state's licensing page, since fees and terms are periodically adjusted.

Official U.S. LawShield Florida Concealed Weapon License Training Course artwork

Start your training

Begin your Florida CWFL training.

U.S. LawShield Florida CWL Online Training · $74.99 · Delivered by U.S. LawShield. You complete it on your own schedule.

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Purchases are completed on the U.S. LawShield site. The Ammo Academy earns a commission on courses bought through our links, at no extra cost to you.

Sources & official resources

Last reviewed: August 2026

Program details for the U.S. LawShield Florida CWL Online Training were provided by U.S. LawShield Instructor Relations. Statutory and procedural details are sourced to the issuing authority above.

Educational information only. Not legal advice. Firearm laws change, and requirements vary by state, county and issuing authority. Verify current requirements with the issuing authority before you apply.

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