Staff reports
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) now hosts a free Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP) instructional program mandated by the legislature as part of the Constitutional Carry Bill H. 3594, which is now state law.
The statute requires two free CWP courses to be taught in each county of the state every month by SLED, a certified CWP Instructor, or local law enforcement in that county. SLED partnered with certified instructors and select law enforcement agencies across the state to provide these classes free of charge to the citizens of South Carolina.
Requirements
• You must have a South Carolina driver’s license or own real property in South Carolina to be eligible to take a course.
• You must bring a handgun and 25 rounds of ammunition for the shooting portion of the class. You may make arrangements with the instructor ahead of time to rent a handgun to use during the course.
• You do not have to attend in the County you live in.
• You must be at least 18 years old to attend the course.
This program does not replace or change existing classes currently being taught by instructors across the state; it is the same CWP program only free for the instructional part of the course.
To register
• Visit SLED’s website at www.sled.sc.gov/cwp_courses.
• Select the County you wish to attend the course in and press the “Find Class Date” button.
• Submit your request to be added to the class by entering the date of one of the classes available on the schedule.
• Seven days before the class, you will be emailed class details and instructor information confirming your attendance.
Students will receive at least four hours of instruction on basic firearms safety, fundamentals, nomenclature, the law of self-defense, and laws related to carrying a firearm safely and legally in South Carolina. There is a 50-question, multiple-choice test and a 25-round qualification course of fire at the end of the course which must be passed with a 70% score or better to pass the course.
Students with questions can email cwptraining@sled.sc.gov.
