Dude, I highly recommend that you utilize the online CHL application service. This allows you to fill out the application digitally, pay up-front via credit card, and receive the pre-filled application directly from DPS (thus, no issues with bad handwriting). I did the online thing on 25 June, and received the hard copy back from DPS on 29 June.stormbringerr wrote:please tell me what to do and in what order to get my chl with the least amount of confusion...
Another benefit to the online application is that you receive your pin# with the pre-filled application that DPS sends you back, so you can begin obsessively checking your status immediately after sending your packet off to Austin!
I've seen people on this board state that DPS takes between 2-3 weeks or longer to send pin #'s to people that completed standard apps. It's important to point out that if you choose to utilize the online app., you should wait to receive the hard copy back from DPS before attending a CHL training course. CHL instructors will have blank, standard apps on-hand for folks that didn't do theirs beforehand via the online system. You won't need to mess with most of the forms if you simply wait for DPS to send your pre-filled materials.
Here's the link for the online application portal: https://www.texasonline.state.tx.us/NAS ... AppManager
P.S., I also recommend that you attend an all-inclusive CHL training course (i.e., one that provides students with passport photos, on-site fingerprints, immediate access to a firing range on the day of training, etc.). There are plenty of CHL instructors all around Texas that offer these complete courses, so save yourself some trouble and get squared-away at one of these.