Prepared by: ATF Office of Enforcement Programs and Services
Last updated: August 10, 2023
Note: Notwithstanding the dates set forth below, permits qualify as alternatives to the background check requirements of the Brady law for no more than 5 years from the date of issuance. The permit must be valid under state law in order to qualify as a Brady alternative.
| State / Territory | Qualifying Permits |
|---|---|
| Alabama | None |
| Alaska | Concealed weapons permits marked NICS-Exempt |
| American Samoa | None |
| Arizona | Concealed weapons permits qualify. |
| Arkansas | Concealed weapons permits issued on or after April 1, 1999 qualify. * |
| California | Entertainment Firearms Permit only |
| Colorado | None |
| Connecticut | None |
| Delaware | None * |
| District of Columbia | None * |
| Florida | None * |
| Georgia | Georgia firearms licenses qualify. |
| Guam | None * |
| Hawaii | Permits to acquire and licenses to carry qualify. |
| Idaho | Concealed weapons permits qualify. |
| Illinois | None |
| Indiana | None |
| Iowa | Permits to acquire and permits to carry concealed weapons qualify. |
| Kansas | Concealed handgun licenses issued on or after July 1, 2010 qualify as alternatives to the background check. |
| Kentucky | Concealed Deadly Weapons License (CDW) and Judicial Special Status CDW issued on or after July 12, 2006 qualify. |
| Louisiana | Concealed handgun permits issued on or after March 9, 2015 qualify. Lifetime Concealed Carry Permits qualify for the initial five-year period beginning on the original issuance date. |
| Maine | None * |
| Maryland | None * |
| Massachusetts | None * |
| Michigan | Licenses to Purchase a Pistol (LTP) are the only permits that qualify as a NICS alternative. |
| Minnesota |
None |
| Mississippi | License to carry concealed pistol or revolver issued to individuals under Miss. Stat. Ann. § 45-9-101 qualify. (NOTE: security guard permits issued under Miss. Stat. Ann. §97-37-7 do not qualify). |
| Missouri | None * |
| Montana | Concealed weapons permits qualify. |
| Nebraska | Concealed handgun permit qualifies as an alternative. Handgun purchase certificates qualify. |
| Nevada | Concealed carry permit issued on or after July 1, 2011, qualify. |
| New Hampshire | None |
| New Jersey | None |
| New Mexico | None |
| New York | None |
| North Carolina | Concealed handgun permits qualify. |
| North Dakota | Concealed weapons permits issued on or after December 1, 1999 qualify. * |
| Northern Mariana Islands | None |
| Ohio | Concealed weapons permits issued on or after March 23, 2015 qualify. |
| Oklahoma | Self Defense Act Handgun Licenses issued after November 1, 2021 qualify (during the initial five-year period only) beginning on the original issuance date. |
| Oregon | None * |
| Pennsylvania | None |
| Puerto Rico | None |
| Rhode Island | None |
| South Carolina | Concealed weapons permits qualify. |
| South Dakota |
Gold Card Concealed Pistol Permits and Enhanced Permits to Carry a Concealed Pistol issued on or after January 1, 2017 qualify. Regular Concealed Carry Permits issued on or after July 1, 2018 qualify. |
| Tennessee | None |
| Texas | License to Carry qualify. |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | None |
| Utah | Concealed weapons permits qualify. |
| Vermont | None |
| Virginia | None |
| Washington | None |
| West Virginia | Concealed handgun license issued on or after June 4, 2014 qualify. |
| Wisconsin | None |
| Wyoming | Concealed weapons permits qualify. |
* While certain permits issued in these states prior to November 30, 1998 were “grandfathered” as Brady alternatives, none of these grandfathered permits would still be valid under State law as of November 30, 2003.