Guide · checked October 22, 2026
How to get a CPL in Michigan
Take an 8-hour pistol safety course, apply in person with the clerk of the county you live in, get fingerprinted within 45 days, and the clerk mails your license within 45 days of the prints. You have to be 21 or older.
The four steps
Nothing here is complicated. The part people trip on is the order, and the two 45-day clocks.
- Take a pistol safety course of at least 8 hours, with at least 3 hours on a firing range and at least 30 rounds fired. The course must be within the 5 years before you apply.
- Apply in person with the clerk of the county you live in. Bring your course certificate and pay the $100 application fee.
- Get fingerprinted within 45 days of applying, for $15. Miss that window and the application is considered withdrawn. Where prints are taken depends on your county.
- The clerk issues your license, or a notice of disqualification, within 45 days of your fingerprints, and mails it to you.
Who can apply
You have to be at least 21. The other conditions are about criminal and mental health history, and they are listed on the State Police application. Read them before you pay the application fee, because the fee is not refundable.
If the card is late
If 45 days pass after your fingerprints with no license and no notice, state law makes your fingerprint receipt work as your license, carried with your driver's license or state ID, until the clerk issues one. Keep that receipt.
How long a license lasts
A license runs until your birthday that falls between 4 and 5 years after it is issued. You can renew up to six months before it expires.
Questions
Can I apply in a different county from where I live?
No. Michigan law says you apply with the clerk of the county you reside in, whatever county you took your course in.
How long does the whole process take?
The course is one day. After that the clock belongs to the county: up to 45 days after your fingerprints for the license to be issued and mailed.
Does my course certificate expire?
For a new application, the training has to be within the 5 years before you apply. After that you would take the course again.
Sources
- MCL 28.425b: applying for a license (Michigan Legislature)
- MCL 28.425j: the required pistol safety training (Michigan Legislature)
- MCL 28.425l: license term and renewal (Michigan Legislature)
- Michigan State Police: CPL application and instructions
Checked October 22, 2026. Rules and fees change; the linked sources are the final word. This guide is general information, not legal advice.