Phalanx Defense

What Happens After Your Class

You have finished your class. Here is how to turn your training into a Maryland permit or license, step by step.

Once you have your training paperwork from us, the rest of the process is handled by the Maryland State Police (MSP). Choose the one that fits you:

Wear and Carry Permit HQL Renewals After you are approved

This page summarizes the MSP's published guidance and was last reviewed on October 13, 2026. Fees, forms, codes and timelines can change, so confirm on the MSP website before you pay or apply. It is general information, not legal advice.

Where to go online

These are the official Maryland State Police sites you will use. Each opens in a new tab.

Look for the web address to end in mdsp.maryland.gov (Licensing Portal) or mdsp.org (eMDSP). Never pay a third-party site to submit an application for you. The MSP charges its application fee only inside the official portal.

Find a fingerprinting location

Both the Wear and Carry Permit and the HQL require LiveScan fingerprints from an approved provider, and the prints are valid for 12 months. Bring a valid photo ID, your printed LiveScan pre-registration form, and a card or check (cash is not accepted).

This opens Google Maps in a new tab. We do not store your ZIP code. Map results are not an approved list, so make sure your location appears on the state's list of approved providers: Maryland approved LiveScan providers. Also see the MSP fingerprinting page.

Wear and Carry Permit

  1. Check your paperwork. You should have your signed MSP 29-14 Certified Qualification Score Sheet from your class. You will upload it with your application, so keep it safe.
  2. Get fingerprinted. Use an approved Maryland LiveScan provider (out-of-state providers are not approved). You must sign the FBI Privacy Act Statement before your prints are submitted. Wear and Carry codes published by the MSP: Agency Authorization Number 9400082484, Agency ORI MDMSP6000, reason: Maryland Public Safety Article §5-305. Find a location.
  3. Take a passport-style photo. You will upload a color, passport-style photo.
  4. Apply online. Create an account in the MSP Licensing Portal and complete the application (step-by-step user guide, PDF). Plan on about 1.5 to 2 hours. Upload your fingerprint receipt, your MSP 29-14, and your photo.
  5. Pay the fee. The MSP publishes an original application fee of $125, not including fingerprint fees. Fees are non-refundable and paid online by Visa or MasterCard.
  6. Wait for the decision. The MSP says it will issue a final decision within 90 days. If something is missing, your application is returned to you in the portal to correct.
  7. Do not carry yet. Submitting an application does not allow you to carry. You may carry only after your permit has been issued, and you must have it with you.

Official MSP Wear and Carry Permit page

Handgun Qualification License (HQL)

In Maryland, an HQL is required before you purchase, rent or receive a handgun. It is not required to possess a handgun you already legally own, or to fire at a range. It does not allow you to carry. That takes a Wear and Carry Permit.

  1. Keep your training certificate. Your 4-hour course must have been completed within 3 years before you submit your application.
  2. Get fingerprinted. HQL codes published by the MSP: Agency Authorization Number 1300004845, Agency ORI MD920511Z, reason: Maryland Public Safety Article §5-117.1. Find a location. Fingerprints are valid for 12 months.
  3. Apply online in eMDSP. Choose “Initial Application” and the license type “HQL Standard,” unless you qualify for an exemption. Upload your fingerprint receipt. The MSP says the application takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Need help? See the HQL user guide or email msp.hql@maryland.gov.
  4. Pay the fee. The MSP publishes an original application fee of $50, not including fingerprint fees. Fees are non-refundable.
  5. Wait for the decision. The MSP notifies you within 30 days after it receives your complete application and fee.
  6. Good to know. An HQL is valid for 10 years from the date it is issued.

Official MSP HQL page

Renewals

Wear and Carry Permit

  • Start your renewal 90 days before your permit expires, in the MSP Licensing Portal.
  • Renewal requires an 8-hour training course, unless you are exempt. The MSP publishes a renewal fee of $75.
  • If you renew at least 14 days before expiration, you may keep carrying while the MSP decides.
  • If your permit has already expired, you must apply as a new applicant.

HQL

  • The MSP publishes an HQL renewal fee of $20, and no new firearms safety course is required to renew.
  • Start before your license expires, in your eMDSP account. See the official MSP HQL page above for the current steps.

Questions about renewal classes? Contact us.

After you are approved

Training and a permit are the start. A few habits make the difference between owning a firearm and being a responsible gun owner:

  • Carry your permit with you. Whenever you are carrying, the permit must be on your person.
  • Keep learning the law. Where you may and may not carry is detailed and changes over time. Stay current, and when in doubt, do not carry there.
  • Know that permits do not travel everywhere. Maryland does not recognize other states' carry permits, and not every state honors Maryland's. Check before you travel with the USCCA reciprocity map and the destination state's official site.
  • Store firearms securely at home. Keep them locked and out of reach of children and anyone not authorized to use them.
  • Keep practicing. Regular range time and safe dry-fire practice keep your skills sharp. Consider a refresher class from time to time.
  • Consider self-defense legal coverage. If you ever have to use a firearm to defend yourself, the legal aftermath can be long and costly, even when you did everything right. Self-defense legal plans can help pay for an attorney, bail and related costs, and some also include civil liability coverage. Plans commonly run about $10 to $50 per month (roughly $120 to $600 per year), depending on how much they cover. Compare what each plan covers, whether you can choose your own attorney, and what happens if an incident is found not to be justified, and read the fine print. Prices and terms change.
  • Put your renewal date on your calendar. Set a reminder well before your permit or license expires.

Questions along the way? Call or text 301-337-9050 or email info@phalanxdefensemd.com.