To renew a Maryland Wear and Carry permit, you complete an 8-hour state-approved training course with a live-fire qualification, then submit your renewal online through the Maryland State Police (MSP) licensing portal. Do it early. Miss the expiration date and there is no grace period: you start over as a new applicant. This guide walks through the whole process, the deadlines that trip people up, and how to avoid a gap in your legal ability to carry.
TL;DR
- Renewals are for 3-year periods, and the renewal fee is $75. Confirm the current amount in the portal before you pay.
- You need an 8-hour MSP-approved course with a live-fire qualification and a signed MSP 29-14 score sheet.
- Submit at least 14 days before expiration, and ideally about 90 days out, so you do not lose the right to carry while the application is pending.
- An expired permit cannot be renewed. You would redo the 16-hour initial course and fingerprints.
- Maryland honors no out-of-state carry permits, so your MSP card is the only thing that counts.
Table of Contents
- How long a Maryland Wear and Carry permit lasts
- The renewal requirements at a glance
- Step-by-step: renewing your permit
- The 14-day rule that catches people
- What if your permit has already expired?
- Common renewal mistakes
- Renewal is also your yearly skills check
- Where you can carry after renewal
- Our perspective: renew early, train honestly
- Train with Trouble Defense
- FAQ
- Sources
How long a Maryland Wear and Carry permit lasts
Your first permit is valid for two years, plus the months left until the end of your birth month. After that, each renewal runs for 3 years, according to the Maryland regulations on renewal. So your expiration date is not simply two or three years from the day you got your card. Look at the date printed on it, then count backward.
A practical habit: put three reminders in your calendar. One at roughly 120 days before expiration to book a class, one at 90 days to submit, and one at 30 days as a last-chance check. Classes fill up, ranges close for weather, and instructors get booked around holidays. A permit that expires in January should not wait until December.
The renewal requirements at a glance
| Requirement | What Maryland asks for |
|---|---|
| Training | 8-hour state-approved Firearms Safety Training Course, completed within 2 years before you apply, unless you are exempt |
| Live-fire | Qualification with a minimum score of 70% |
| Paperwork | Signed MSP 29-14 Certified Qualification Score Sheet |
| Fee | $75 for the renewal |
| Fingerprints | Not required again for renewal |
| Character references | Not required again for renewal |
| Application | Online, through the MSP licensing portal |
The training rules come from the MSP firearms safety training page, which lists 16 hours for new Wear and Carry applicants and 8 hours for renewals. The no-new-fingerprints point comes from the MSP Wear and Carry page, which also explains the application steps.
If you think you are exempt from the training, check the MSP training page for the exemption categories and have your documentation ready to upload. Do not assume an old course or a certificate from another state counts.
Step-by-step: renewing your permit
1. Find your expiration date and set your deadline
Read the date on your card. MSP advises starting about 90 days before it. Treat the date 14 days before expiration as your hard stop, not a target. More on why below.
2. Book your 8-hour renewal class
Choose a class taught by a Qualified Handgun Instructor whose course MSP approves. The class includes classroom instruction and a live-fire qualification. Because the state requires in-person instruction and shooting, a fully online course will not satisfy the renewal.
When comparing classes, ask a few direct questions:
- Is the instructor a Maryland Qualified Handgun Instructor, and is the course MSP-approved?
- Where is the live-fire portion held, and is the range fee included?
- Do I need to bring my own handgun and ammunition, or can I use yours?
- How soon will I get my signed MSP 29-14 after I qualify?
- What happens if I do not reach 70% on the first try?
That last question matters more than people expect. A supportive instructor who coaches you through grip, sight picture and trigger control is worth more than one who simply runs you through the line.
3. Pass the live-fire qualification
You must score at least 70%. Most renewing shooters pass without trouble, but shooting under a timer with a score sheet in front of you is different from casual range time. If you have not fired your carry handgun in months, book a private session first. Even one hour of dry-fire and live practice can settle your nerves.
4. Collect your signed MSP 29-14
Your instructor certifies and signs the score sheet. Check that your name matches your permit exactly, that dates are filled in, and that the signature is there. A small clerical error can slow the entire application. Scan it clearly before you upload.
5. Submit online and pay the fee
Log into your licensing portal account, complete the renewal application, upload the MSP 29-14 and a current photo if the portal requests one, and pay the $75 fee. Keep the confirmation. Fees and portal screens can change, so rely on what the portal shows on the day you apply.
Our Maryland concealed carry permit guide covers the original application process if you are helping a friend or family member who is starting from scratch.
The 14-day rule that catches people
This is the part we most want you to remember. If you do not submit your complete renewal, training documentation included, at least 14 days before your permit expires, you lose the legal authority to carry while the application is processing. That holds even if you are well inside the 90-day window described by MSP guidance.
In other words, 90 days is the advice and 14 days is the cliff. A late-but-complete submission leaves you with a pending application and no card that authorizes carry. Submitting an application also does not authorize you to carry by itself: you must have the approved permit card.
So plan like this:
- Take your class no later than about 4 months before expiration.
- Submit within days of getting your score sheet.
- Never let “I’ll do it next week” push you past the 14-day mark.
What if your permit has already expired?
There is no grace period. An application after the expiration date is rejected as a renewal, and you must reapply as a new applicant. That means the full 16-hour initial training course, new LiveScan fingerprints and everything else the first application required. Compared to one 8-hour class and a $75 fee, it is a costly mistake in both time and money.
If you are close to the date and unsure where you stand, call MSP licensing before you spend money on anything else. And if you are already past it, do not carry. Start the new-applicant path, and our guide to what firearms safety training is required for the Maryland Wear and Carry permit lays out what that involves.
Common renewal mistakes
- Waiting for the last month. Classes and processing both take time.
- Using an old training certificate. The course must fall within the 2 years before you apply, unless an exemption applies.
- Uploading an unsigned or incomplete score sheet. Check every field before submitting.
- Assuming a pending application lets you carry. It does not once you have crossed the 14-day line.
- Assuming another state’s permit fills the gap. Maryland does not recognize other states’ carry permits, so a Virginia or Florida permit does not authorize carry in Maryland.
- Forgetting that Maryland also has location rules. Your card does not make every place lawful.
More of these are collected in our list of common mistakes that delay or deny Maryland carry permit applications.
Renewal is also your yearly skills check
It is easy to treat renewal as paperwork. Try not to. Every three years you get a structured chance to revisit safe handling, holster work, legal updates and accuracy under mild pressure. The state requires the hours for a reason, and the best way to use them is to pick a course that teaches rather than merely signs forms.
Before class, do a few things:
- Clean and function-check the handgun you plan to carry.
- Bring the holster and belt you actually wear, if the range allows it.
- Review your permit’s restrictions and the current list of prohibited places.
- Practice a smooth draw and presentation with an unloaded firearm at home, following safe-handling rules.
Where you can carry after renewal
A renewed permit does not end the location question. Maryland law restricts where handguns may be carried even for permit holders, including sensitive places such as government buildings and schools. Because court challenges have affected these rules, check the current MSP list before you assume a location is fine, and talk with a qualified attorney if you have a specific situation. Our breakdown of where you can and cannot carry with a Maryland permit is a good companion read.
If you live in the DMV and cross into Virginia or DC, remember that each jurisdiction has its own rules. Maryland’s permit is not a national license. Our Multi-State CCW Reciprocity Package is priced at $500 one-off for people who want to add permits beyond a single state.
Our perspective: renew early, train honestly
We are a veteran-owned academy in Fairfax, VA, and a large share of our students live or work across the DMV, which means Maryland paperwork comes up constantly. Here is what we have learned from teaching people at every level.
The students who renew with the least stress are not the best shooters. They are the ones who treat the deadline as real. They book early, they ask questions, and they show up having practiced. The ones who struggle are usually capable people who simply waited too long and ran into the 14-day rule.
We also believe the classroom should feel supportive. Some students have not touched a firearm since their last class three years ago. Some are nervous about the live-fire test. Some have a disability, or are blind or low-vision, and want training adapted to them. Our certified instructors teach without judgment, so you leave not just with a signature but with more confidence than you came in with. That is the standard we hold ourselves to, and it is why we encourage you to treat renewal as training and not as a chore.
— Dee Parker
Train with Trouble Defense
We teach Maryland Wear and Carry training, Virginia concealed carry classes, DC concealed carry classes, women’s firearm training, adaptive training for blind and low-vision students and private instruction. If you want one-on-one time to sharpen your shooting before your qualification, our Private Firearm Training starts from $80 per hour. For class dates, Maryland course details and questions about your own timeline, contact Trouble Defense and tell us your permit’s expiration date. We will help you work backward from the deadline.
FAQ
How often do I have to renew my Maryland CCW permit?
Every 3 years after your first permit. The initial permit lasts two years plus the months until the end of your birth month, and later renewals run 3-year periods. Always rely on the expiration date printed on your card.
How many hours of training do I need to renew?
Eight hours, including in-person instruction and a live-fire qualification with a minimum score of 70%, unless you qualify for an exemption. The MSP training page lists the current rules. A new applicant needs 16 hours.
Do I need new fingerprints to renew?
No. Renewals do not require new LiveScan fingerprints or character references. You still need your signed MSP 29-14 score sheet and the renewal fee.
Can I still carry while my renewal is pending?
Only if you submitted a complete application at least 14 days before your permit expired. After that point you should not carry until the new card arrives. If in doubt, contact MSP licensing.
What happens if my permit expires before I renew?
You cannot renew. You apply as a new applicant, which means retaking the 16-hour course and submitting new fingerprints.
Sources
- Wear & Carry Permit, Maryland Department of State Police
- Firearms Safety Training, Maryland Department of State Police
- Prohibited Places to Carry a Firearm, Maryland Department of State Police
- COMAR 29.03.02.12 Renewal, Library of Maryland Regulations
