If you already had your carry permit before January 1, 2020, that permit is now grandfathered into the new system as an Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit (the higher-level permit). You do not have to retake the training class or go through the application process a second time. Nor do you have to get an updated permit card. Since the changeover took effect on January 1, your existing permit is now recognized as an Enhanced Handgun Carry permit. There’s nothing more you have to do.

Concealed Handgun Carry Permit:

Permit holder’s gun must be concealed at all times.

Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit:

Permit holder has the option to carry either concealed or unconcealed (open carry).

Concealed Handgun Carry Permit:

With this permit, a person can carry “any handgun that [he/she] legally owns or possesses,” as long as that handgun is concealed. Permit holders are not limited to the handgun they used in any prior training class. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1366(d).

Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit:

With this permit, a person can carry “any handgun that [he/she] legally owns or possesses,” and it may be either concealed or carried openly. Permit holders are not limited to the handgun they used in any prior training class. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1351(n)(1).

Concealed Handgun Carry Permit:

The Department of Safety’s FAQ page provides this non-exhaustive summary of common places where permit holders cannot carry:

• TCA 39-17-1306 – Judicial proceedings.
• TCA 39-17-1309 – School property. Also see Attorney General Opinions 09-129 and 09-160.
• TCA 39-17-1321 – Possession of handgun while under influence.
  TCA 39-17-1359 – Prohibition at certain meetings.
• Attorney General Opinion 09-170 – Firearms on Leased Property.
• Airports, military institutions, and any other building/area prohibited by federal law.

Follow the links posted on the Department’s FAQ page or contact the Department for more information.

Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit:

Almost all of the restrictions for Concealed Carry permit holders (listed above) also apply to Enhanced Carry permit holders. The main difference only applies to a small set of people: employees of public colleges who have the Enhanced Carry Permit. As for those employees, the General Assembly provides this summary:

An enhanced handgun carry permit holder who is within or on a public park, natural area, historic park, nature trail, campground, forest, greenway, waterway, or other similar public place is generally exempt from the present law prohibition against carrying weapons on any property owned, operated, or while in use by any board of education, school, college or university board of trustees, regents or directors for the administration of any public or private educational institution. Such exemption will not apply to concealed handgun carry permit holders.

This summary is admittedly confusing, especially when read in conjunction with the relevant statutes. So, we contacted the Department of Safety for clarification. We were told that public college employees with Enhanced Carry permits can carry in parks while school activities are taking place, unless those activities include athletic events. If students are present for an athletic event, then carrying a firearm is prohibited, even for Enhanced Carry permit holders. For more information, see Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-1309(e) and § 39-17-1311(b)(1)(H), or email the Department of Safety to inquire further.

And again, this provision only applies if you’re a full-time (not part-time) employee (not a student) of a public (not private) college or university, and you have the Enhanced (not the Concealed) permit, and you’ve gone through all the steps for authorized campus carry under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-1309(e). So, this distinction probably won’t affect the vast majority of permit holders.

Concealed Handgun Carry Permit:

To be eligible for the concealed carry permit, Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1366(b)(4)(A) requires “demonstrated competence with a handgun.” The statute lists several ways a permit applicant can demonstrate competence, including by taking a hunter safety course or other private firearms training, by serving in the military, by completing security guard or law enforcement training, or even by taking an online course (if the course meets certain requirements). Concealed carry permit applicants must also sign a declaration “stating that the applicant has read and understands the current state law on carrying handguns.”

Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit:

To be eligible for the enhanced carry permit, Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1351(e) requires applicants to complete “handgun safety course” approved by the Department of Safety that includes “both classroom hours and firing range hours” (exceptions made for certain law enforcement and military personnel). The specific contents of the course are regulated by the Department of Safety.

Concealed Handgun Carry Permit:

Yes, online training is allowed for the concealed carry permit. In-person training is also allowed. CSA offers both online and in-person training for the Concealed Handgun Carry Permit.

Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit:

No. Training for the enhanced carry permit must be done in person. CSA will continue offering our standard eight-hour handgun permit course to meet the statutory training requirements for the enhanced permit.

We were leery of online training at first. But after further consideration, we had a change of heart and decided to develop our own virtual training hub. Here Tiffany’s thoughts on the pros and cons of training online.

Concealed Handgun Carry Permit:

No, there’s no lifetime option.

Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit:

Yes, you can get a lifetime Enhanced permit and not have to worry about renewing.

Concealed Handgun Carry Permit:

T.C.A. § 39-17-1366 allows either online training or in-person training. Online courses must be at least 90 minutes long. There is no statutory minimum length for in-person training courses. CSA’s online and in-person CCP courses are both about three hours long.

Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit:

T.C.A. § 39-17-1351 does not specify a minimum length of required training. However, state regulations mandate that the training course for the enhanced permit must be at least eight hours long. See TN Reg. Section 1340-2-3-.05.

Concealed Handgun Carry Permit:

$65

Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit:

$100

Concealed Handgun Carry Permit:

Eight years. There is no lifetime option for the concealed carry permit.

Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit:

At least eight years. Permit holders have the option of obtaining a lifetime enhanced carry permit for a higher fee ($300 for an original application or $200 for an upgrade upon renewing a previous eight-year enhanced carry permit). The Department of Safety will still conduct a criminal background check on all lifetime permit holders every five years to confirm the permit holder is still eligible.

This was a concern when the law first passed in 2020. But it turns out that for the most part reciprocity between states has been largely unaffected. However, there are a few states that recognize Tennessee’s Enhanced Carry Permit but do not recognize Tennessee’s Concealed Carry Permit. For details on which states recognize which permit, please visit the TN Dept. of Safety website.