Rev. July 2020 Page 1 of 7
BUSINESS, CONSUMER SERVICES AND HOUSING AGENCY • GAVIN NEWSOM, GOVERNOR
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
BUREAU OF SECURITY AND INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES
P.O. Box 989002, West Sacramento, CA 95798-9002
P (916) 322-4000 | P (800) 952-5210 | F (916) 575-7290 | www.bsis.ca.gov
FIREARMS PERMIT INITIAL APPLICATION
NOTE: Read Fee Amount Due under Instructions carefully to help ensure payment of correct fee amount.
An application received without full payment will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant.
IMPORTANT: Read all instructions on Pages 4-8. An incomplete or incorrect application will delay processing.
THIS SECTION TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT
COMPLETE ELECTRONICALLY ON COMPUTER OR PRINT CLEARLY IF HANDWRITTEN
Last Name First Name Middle Name
Fee Amount (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
$
SSN/ITIN:
Date of Birth: (MM, DD, YYYY) (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
Address of Record (Address, City, State, and Zip Code) MANDATORY (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
Confidential/Residence Address: (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
Telephone No.:
Provide the number and expiration date for the license(s) you hold or are applying for that you wish to have associated
with your firearms permit. If you are currently applying for a license, write “applying” in the space provided for the
license number. NOTE: You cannot associate a firearms permit with a Private Patrol Operator License organized as
a corporation, or a Private Investigator or Alarm Company Operator License organized as a corporation or limited
liability company (See Instructions).
License Type
License No.
Exp. Date
License Type
License No.
Exp. Date
PI (Sole Owner/
Partners Only)
Security Guard
2
PI (QM)
1
PPO (Sole Owner/
Partners Only)
PPO (QM)
1
Alarm Agent
Alarm Company (Sole
Owner/ Partners Only)
Alarm Company (QM)
1) Provide the number and expiration date of the license on which you serve as the qualified manager.
2) Read Firearms Assessment Information under General Information of Instructions if requesting to associate
firearms permit with a security guard registration.
U.S. ARMED FORCES PRIORITY REQUESTS
Check box if you have served, or are currently serving, in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Disclosure is voluntary. If you check the box, submit proof of your military service (e.g. DD-214, DD-256, V-MET record,
military orders, military I.D., etc.) with your application.
Check box if you are a spouse or domestic partner of an active duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces
assigned to a California duty station.
Disclosure is voluntary. If you check the box, submit the following documentation with your application (You may be asked
to provide original documents).
Certificate of marriage or domestic partnership or other legal union with an active duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces
who is assigned to a duty station in this state under official active duty military orders.
Verification of current licensure as private security guard or security officer in another state, district, or territory of the U.S.
Rev. July 2020 Page 2 of 7
Check if you are an ACTIVE DUTY PEACE OFFICER, as defined in Chapter 4.5, (commencing with section 830) of Title
3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, or a federal qualified law enforcement officer, as defined in section 926B of Title 18 of the United
States Code.
If you check the box, see Instructions.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION - READ CAREFULLY: I understand that a BSIS firearms permit authorizes me to
carry an exposed (i.e. non-concealed) loaded firearm only of the caliber(s) listed on my permit card and only while
performing the duties of the license associated with the permit. I also understand that a BSIS firearms permit
does not authorize me to carry a concealed loaded firearm. Lastly, I understand that if I am a private patrol
operator or alarm company operator licensee; a registered security guard or alarm agent, or a qualified manager
for a private patrol operator or alarm company operator licensee, I can only wear or use an exposed firearm while
on duty when in uniform.
Mandatory Disclosure Language
Submission of the requested information is mandatory. The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) of the
Department of Consumer Affairs (Department) cannot process your Firearms Permit Initial
Application unless all requested
information is provided.
Per the Information Practices Act, the Chief of the BSIS is responsible for maintaining the information in this application. You
have the right to review the records maintained on you by the BSIS or Department unless the records are exempt from
disclosure by section 1798.40 of the Civil Code. Your completed application becomes the property of the BSIS and will be used
by authorized personnel to determine your eligibility for a license, registration or permit. Information on your application may
be transferred to other governmental or law enforcement agencies, as permitted by law.
Pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Gov. Code § 6250 et seq.) and the Information Practices Act (Civ. Code §
1798.61), the names and addresses of persons possessing a license, certificate, permit or registration may be disclosed by the
BSIS unless otherwise specifically exempt from disclosure under the law. The BSIS makes every effort to protect the exempt
personal information you provide us. The information
you provide, however, may be disclosed in response to a court or
administrative order, a subpoena, or a search warrant.
Pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 30, providing your social security number is mandatory and will be used
primarily for tax enforcement purposes and for compliance with any judgment or order for family support in accordance with
section 17520 of the Family Code. Your social security number may also be used for verification of licensure or examination
status for national examination where licensure is reciprocal with a requesting state. If you fail to provide your social security
number, you will be reported to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), which may assess a $100 penalty against you. Further,
pursuant to section 30, su
bdivision (n) your social security number together with your name, date of birth, and license
information may be shared with the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
The State Board of Equalization (BOE) and the FTB may share taxpayer information with the BSIS. You are required to pay
your state tax obligation. This application may be denied or your license may be suspended if the state tax obligation is not paid
and your name appears on either the BOE or FTB certified list of top 500 tax delinquencies.
For questions about this notice or access to your record, you may contact the BSIS
by mail at Bureau of Security and
Investigative Services, Attn: Public Records Liaison, P.O. Box 980550, Sacramento, CA 95798-0550; by phone at (800) 952-
5210; or by e-mail at
bsis@dca.ca.gov. For questions about the Department’s Privacy Policy, you may contact the Department
of Consumer Affairs at 1625 North Market Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95834, by phone at (800) 952-5210 or by e-mail at
dca@dca.ca.gov.
I DECLARE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY, UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THAT:
I personally completed this application;
To the best of my knowledge all statements on this application are true and correct;
I have completed the training requirements (i.e. range for each caliber, classroom and exam) to obtain a BSIS firearms
permit or am an active duty peace officer who has successfully completed a firearms training course;
I am not presently subject to any State of California or Federal prohibition from owning or being in possession of a firearm;
and
With full knowledge that all statements herein are subject to investigation and that any false, dishonest, or incomplete
answer to any question on the application may be grounds for denial or subsequent revocation of my firearms permit and
any other license(s) I hold, or may subject me to criminal prosecution.
Applicant Signature
Date
Rev. July 2020 Page 3 of 7
CERTIFICATION OF FIREARMS RANGE QUALIFICATION TRAINING
THIS PAGE TO BE COMPLETED BY THE BSIS CERTIFIED FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR
DO NOT RELEASE THE APPLICATION FORM to the applicant until you have completed all information
required on this page.
1. Draw a line through and initial unused boxes in the Applicant Training Information Table below.
2. Do not provide corrected information.
If you make an error, start a new form.
Applicant Name ___________________________________________________________________________________
COMPLETE ELECTRONICALLY ON COMPUTER OR PRINT CLEARLY IF HANDWRITTEN
Facility Name____________________________________________ Facility Phone #___________________________
Facility Address____________________________________________________________________________________
Facility Certificate # TFF____________________________ Expiration Date____________________________
Instructor Name____________________________________ Instructor Phone #_________________________
Instructor License # TIF_____________________________ Expiration Date___________________________
APPLICANT TRAINING INFORMATION
All information below must be handwritten (print clearly) by the Firearms Training Instructor
(See Instructions)
TRAINING
INFORMATION
Date of Classroom
Instruction
Written Exam Date
and Exam Score
1
Range Qualification
Date
2
1. Applicant must pass Bureau-approved firearm training written exam with a score of 85% or greater. Indicate actual
percentage score (See Instructions).
2. Completion of range qualification must be after completion of the classroom training and passage of the written exam,
and
must be completed within 30 days of the classroom instruction (B&P Code § 7585.6).
QUALIFIED
CALIBER(S)
NOTE: The range qualifications (50 rounds for practice and 50 rounds for score) must be completed by firing live
ammunition. The use of a firearms simulator to qualify for an initial firearms permit is prohibited.
CITIZENSHIP OR PERMANENT RESIDENT VERIFICATION (See Instructions)
Document Type: _______________________________________________________________________________
Expiration Date _______________________________________________________________________________
(Indicate expiration if passport, permanent resident or I-327 document is used)
I declare under penalty of perjury, under the laws of the State of California, that I am the instructor who
completed this page of the application and that to the best of my knowledge:
The information I provided on this page is true and correct.
The applicant completed a Powers to Arrest Training Course as prescribed by the Bureau.
The applicant completed the firearms classroom training as prescribed by the Bureau prior to
range training, and the applicant passed the Bureau-approved written firearms exam with a score of
85 percent or more.
The applicant qualified with a minimum score of 80 percent on a course of fire, having fired live
ammunition with the same caliber(s) of weapon as listed on this application.
________________________________________________________ ___________________________
Instructor Signature Date Signed
Rev. July 2020 Page 4 of 7
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING FIREARMS PERMIT INITIAL APPLICATION
Application Checklist
1. All sections of the Firearms Permit Initial Application must be completed with applicant and instructor
signatures provided. The applicant must fill out the first two (2) pages of the application. Only the Firearms
Instructor who completed the training is authorized to complete the Certification of Firearms Range
Qualification Training (Page 3).
2. Fee Amount Due: The application fee for an initial Firearms Permit is $100.00.
3. Fee Payment: An application received without payment of the full fee amount owed (see Item 2) will not
be processed and will be returned to the applicant. Make check payable to Bureau of Security and
Investigative Services or BSIS. Do not submit cash by mail. Application fees are non-refundable.
4. Provide fingerprints by one of the following methods:
Live Scan: DO NOT LIVE SCAN UNTIL YOU HAVE SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION. Submit
your fingerprints through a Department of Justice (DOJ) approved Live Scan Operator. Live Scan
locations can be found at
https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations.
You will need to submit fingerprints with the firearms permit application even if you previously
submitted fingerprints for a BSIS license you currently hold. If you are applying for both a qualifying
BSIS license and a firearms permit, you may submit a combination Live Scan form. With a
combination Live Scan form, you submit one set of fingerprints for the qualifying BSIS license and
the firearms permit. However, the DOJ does not release the results for the qualifying license and the
firearms permit until the FBI and DOJ criminal history responses AND the DOJ Bureau of Firearm
response are all complete. Please visit the Bureau’s website further instructions and for a list of Live
Scan forms: https://www.bsis.ca.gov/forms_pubs/livescan/criminalhistory_bgcheck.pdf
.
After submitting your fingerprints, you check the status of your background check results by visiting
https://applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov/
. Please note, you will need to provide the ATI number located at
the bottom of the Live Scan form and your date of birth to check on the status.
IMPORTANT: Unless the DOJ system specifically states that the “California/FBI responses were sent
to the agency,” the Bureau is still waiting for the results.
Hard Card Fingerprint Cards: If you are unable to submit fingerprints via a Live Scan operator or
live outside of California and cannot access a Live Scan Operator in this State, you must submit two
fingerprint hard cards. Instructions for completing and submitting fingerprint cards along with its
processing time are posted on the Bureau’s website at:
https://www.bsis.ca.gov/forms_pubs/livescan/criminalhistory_bgcheck.pdf
.
5. Mail your application, Hard Card Fingerprint Cards (if applicable), and check to:
Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
P.O. Box 989002
West Sacramento, CA 95798-9002
General Information
1. Firearms Assessment: A firearms permit applicant requesting to associate the permit to his/her security
guard registration must take and pass an assessment for the purposes of determining if he/she possesses, at
the time of the assessment, appropriate judgment, restraint, and self-control to carry a firearm while on duty
(Business and Professions Code Sections 7583.23 and 7583.47).
NOTE: IF REQUIRED TO TAKE THE
ASSESSMENT, BSIS WILL MAIL A LETTER ADVISING YOU TO SCHEDULE AN ASSESSMENT
APPOINTMENT WITH INFORMATION ON THE SCHEDULING PROCESS. THE COST OF THE ASSESSMENT
IS $60.00 AND IS PAID DIRECTLY TO THE VENDOR ADMINISTERING THE ASSESSMENT.
There are other situations when the association of a firearms permit to a security guard registration will
require the requestor to take and pass the assessment. For information about when the assessment is and is
not required, visit BSIS’ website: www.bsis.ca.gov/firearmsassessment
.
2. Allow 60 days to process your application. DO NOT contact the Bureau to check on the status of your
application unless it is over 60 days from date of submission. You will be notified in writing if your application
is deficient.
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3. Use the Firearms Permit Initial Application. An incorrect or outdated form is deficient and the completion
of a new application on the correct form will be required. Current forms are available on the Bureau’s website
at http://www.bsis.ca.gov
in Forms and Publications under the Licensees tab.
4. The range qualifications (50 rounds for practice and 50 rounds for score) for an initial Firearms Permit must
be completed by firing live ammunition; the use of a firearms simulator for range qualifications is prohibited.
5. Firearms Permit/Qualifying License Association Information: A BSIS firearms permit authorizes the
permit holder to carry an exposed firearm while performing the duties of only those license types listed on
the firearms permit itself. For example, a permit holder who only has a security guard registration listed on
his/her firearms permit and who also holds a private investigator (PI) license cannot work armed while
carrying out the duties of a PI licensee. The firearms permit card must list the private investigator license
for the permitholder to work as an armed PI licensee.
Applicant Information
1. The applicant must fill out the first two (2) pages of the application. Applicants are not permitted to complete
ANY portion of the Certification of Firearms Range Qualification Training (Page 3).
2. Date of Birth: Due to a change in the law, firearms permit applicants must be at least 21 years of age
(Business and Professions Code sections 7542.2, 7583.23, and 7596.3).
3. Email Address: While optional, providing an email address may expedite the Bureau’s
communication with you if additional information is required to process this form.
4. Address Information: By law, an applicant is required to provide their residence address. The residence
address can be designated as the Address of Record or the Confidential Address.
Address of Record (AOR): This is the address that will appear on your permit and where the Bureau will
mail your permit and any future correspondence relating to your permit. The AOR is also the address that
will be disclosed in response to public records requests and/or public sales requests. If providing a Post
Office Box or an address other than your residence address as your AOR, you must provide your
residence address as a Confidential Address.
Confidential/Residence Address: If AOR is not your residence address, you must provide your residence
address.
5. Type(s) of License Currently Held Complete requested information for each license type you hold or are
applying for that you wish to have associated with your firearms permit. The application will not be processed
unless you are applying for and have been approved or currently hold a valid license as a private investigator
(PI), private patrol operator (PPO), or alarm company operator (ACO); you are a qualified manager
associated with a valid PPO or PI licensee; you possess a valid certificate as an alarm company operator
qualified manager; or possess a valid registration as a security guard or alarm agent. NOTE: You can only
carry a firearm while performing the duties of the license associated with the firearms permit. Also, officers
of a PPO or PI licensee organized as a corporation, or members, managers, or officers of a PI licensee
organized as limited liability company (LLC) are not a licensee; they are agents of the licensed corporation
or LLC. Officers, managers or managing members who wish to hold a firearms permit must themselves hold
a qualifying license.
6. Active Duty Peace Officer If you are an active duty peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5, (commencing
with section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code or a federal qualified law enforcement officer as
defined in section 926B of Title 18 of the United States Code, you may be exempt from completing a BSIS
firearms training course by providing proof of your peace officer status and proof of having completed a
course of study in the use of firearms. (BPC 7583.22 and 7542). Verification of your active duty status can
be satisfied by providing a legible copy of the front and back of your peace officer identification card.
Acceptable proof of having completed a course of study in the use of firearms include a copy of your POST
profile, a copy of your Basic/Specialized Basic POST course completion certificate, or a letter signed by your
agency’s Range Master or Commanding Officer attesting to your completion of a firearms training course.
NOTE: This exemption does not apply to applicants who are only associating the firearms permit to a license
issued under the Alarm Company Act. See BSIS website for additional information at
www.bsis.ca.gov.
Instructor Information
1. Only the Bureau-certified Firearms Training Instructor who provided the training to the applicant is
permitted to complete the Certification of Firearms Range Qualification Training (Page 3).
2. Caliber Boxes Draw a line through unused caliber boxes in the Applicant Training Information Table to
prevent the addition of information after you have signed and released the form.
Rev. July 2020 Page 6 of 7
3. Do not make revisions to the form. If you need to change information, start a new form. The Bureau has
no way of knowing if the change was made by the instructor or someone else.
4. Citizenship or Permanent Resident Verification -- Provide specific information regarding the document
presented by the applicant. For example, if a passport is provided, indicate the country of issuance (e.g., U.S.
Passport, Canadian Passport, etc.). Also, “Citizenship Certificate” is not an actual document issued by the
U.S. government. Indicate the specific title for the document (e.g., U.S. Citizen Identification Card, Certificate
of United States Citizenship, Certificate of Naturalization). Indicating a general document title is a deficiency
and will delay the processing of the application. See Attachment I of Firearms Training Manual for acceptable
documents to verify citizenship/residency and the corresponding title of each document.
5. Written Firearms Exam Scoring Instructions The BSIS Firearms Training Written Examination is worth
52 points. There are 50 written questions worth one-point each plus two handgun diagrams with each diagram
worth one-point each. The applicant must correctly label each part of a handgun diagram to receive the one-
point credit for that diagram. If one item is incorrectly labeled, the applicant does not get a point for the
diagram. To pass the exam, the applicant must obtain a score of 85% or higher. An 85% score equals 44
correct responses. To determine an applicant’s percentage score, divide the total number of correct
responses by 52.
6. Due to changes in the law and Bureau operations, this application is periodically updated. Please
routinely check the Bureau’s website so that you are using the most current version.
Important Information Once Firearms Permit is Issued
1. Address Change: You must notify the Bureau of any change in your address of record or residence address
within 30 days from the date of change. Failure to provide timely notice may result in the issuance of fine.
An address change may be completed online via BreEZe if you have a BreEZe account, or via an Address
Change (Personal) form. The form may be emailed to bsis@dca.ca.gov
or mailed to Bureau of Security and
Investigative Services, P.O. Box 989002, West Sacramento, CA 95798-9002. See Item 3 under Applicant
Information for address requirements.
2. Proof of Permit Issuance: Holders of a firearms permit associated with a Security Guard registration may
work with a print out of the approved permit from the Department of Consumer Affairs’ License Search
website at www.search.dca.ca.gov
along with a valid picture ID while waiting to receive the hardcopy permit
in the mail.
Important Information for Renewing a Firearms Permit
1. A renewal reminder will be mailed to your address of record approximately 90 days prior to your
firearms permit’s expiration. Please note that the reminder is not a firearms permit renewal application.
2. Renew timelyBy law, the renewal application must be submitted at least 60 days prior to expiration, and
a firearms permit cannot be renewed after expiration. Failing to submit your application at least 60 days
before expiration may result in your firearms permit not being renewed before expiration of the current
permit’s term. NOTE: Applications received more than 90 days before expiration will be returned.
IMPORTANT: A firearms permit cannot be renewed after expiration. If a complete renewal application is not
received by the expiration of your current permit, you will need to apply for a new initial firearms permit. (BPC
7542, 7583.32 & 7596.7).
3. Range Qualification Requirement - To renew a firearms permit, the permitholder must have completed
four range qualifications as follows: two (2) range qualifications during each 12-month period of the current
permit’s two-year term with no two (2) range qualifications completed closer than four (4) months apart. Also,
only one qualification in each twelve-month period may be completed by firearm simulator, and only a
simulator that complies with the requirements listed below may be used for a qualification. NOTE: Failing to
adhere to the required qualification schedule and/or firearm simulator use limitation will result in the
permitholder being ineligible for renewal and the need to apply for a new initial firearms permit.
See suggested range qualification schedule below.
Firearm Simulator Requirement: The firearm simulator MUST meet all the following requirements: (1)
Provide a realistic imitation of the operation of an actual firearm including the weight, recoil, action, flash, and
Rev. July 2020 Page 7 of 7
sound of a firearm at discharge, (2) Have the ability to match the caliber of the actual firearm the individual
is qualifying to carry, and (3) Simulate the loading and reloading of an actual firearm. (Title 16, Division 7,
Section 631 of CA Code of Regulations).
4. Range Qualifications - As each range qualification is separate, you may complete each one with a single
Bureau-certified firearms instructor and firearms training facility or with multiple instructors and facilities.
5. Two-Hour Training Course Requirement: Prior to each of the four (4) Range Qualifications, applicant must
have completed the training course on use of force and de-escalation of the use of force. (Title 16, Division
7, Section 633 of the California Code of Regulations)
6. Written Firearms Examination Requirement: A condition for renewal is the applicant passing the written
Firearms Examination in the BSIS Firearms Training Manual with a score of 85% or greater. The law does
not specify during which qualification the applicant must complete the written exam. The Bureau
recommends the applicant take it in the second 12-month period of the current permit term.
7. For additional information regarding firearms permit renewals, see the Bureau’s Firearms Permit Renewal
Application Form and the Bureau’s website at www.bsis.ca.gov
.
Suggested Range Qualification Schedule
As a courtesy, the table below provides suggested range qualification schedules for renewal of a firearms permit.
Adherence is not a mandatory provision for renewal, but a suggestion by the Bureau of typical schedules that
satisfy the requirements for renewal and allow for timely renewal of the permit. To use the table, first check the
expiration date on your firearms permit, find your permit’s expiration month on the table, and follow the schedule
detailed in the row. Each schedule provides sufficient time to submit your firearms permit renewal application at
least 60 days before expiration, as required by law.
Expiration
Month
First Range
Qualification
Second Range
Qualification
Third Range
Qualification
Fourth Range
Qualification
January
May-June
October-November
April-May
September-October
February
June-July
November-December
May-June
October-November
March
July-August
December-January
June-July
November-December
April
August-September
January-February
July-August
December-January
May
September-October
February-March
August-September
January-February
June
October-November
March-April
September-October
February-March
July
November-December
April-May
October-November
March-April
August
December-January
May-June
November-December
April-May
September
January-February
June-July
December-January
May-June
October
February-March
July-August
January-February
June-July
November
March-April
August-September
February-March
July-August
December
April-May
September-October
March-April
August-September