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I have been trying (like so many of you) to get answers from DPS about my renewal. I have sent a number of emails, to no avail. This morning I sent this one:

The website says that you have received all of my documentation. I have not received notification of renewal classes and I am afraid that I will miss out on a class and not be able to renew my certificate by the end of the year.
Can you tell me when classes will be held and how I can sign up?
If I am missing anything that the website doesn’t show, can you tell me so I can send it to you?

I'll let you know if I get any response.

Well, I got a reply right back as follows:

Our department has received all of your paperwork for your Instructor application and nothing else is needed at this time. Once you are selected to attend class, you will be notified by email of the Date/Location options for the Instructor Renewal Class. These classes do fill up fast, so please respond via email regarding the class in which you would like to attend at your earliest convenience.


To which I sent the following reply:

As I travel in my work, the sooner that I can get notification of classes, the better the chance that I will have of scheduling one. If I wait too long, my work schedule may make it impossible for me to attend once I finally receive notification. In speaking online with a number of other instructors, many people have that same concern. Thank you for any help you can provide.
One final matter, should I send in my CHL 100 now showing that another instructor has supervised my range qualification, or should I bring it to the renewal class?
Thank you.

Will let you know what I hear from them.

WOW! You got a response! More than I can say. I have still not received any confirmation that they received my documents, that there are any renewal classes scheduled - nothing. Zippo, zilch, nada. The website says all documents have been received, just awaiting proof of training. And still I wait.

I know DPS has a bit on their plate right now, but really, don't you think that CHL instructor renewals would be pretty close to the top on the list? Since we ALL have just a little over 60 days left to get it done (except those newbies who were certified this year).

This may not be a huge thing for the majority of instructors, but for a few of us, this is a big chunk of our income! I am getting a bit nervous about their ability to accomplish this in the time left.

Any kind of response from DPS would be GREATLY appreciated!

I am in the same boat w/ Crossfire. CHL & Private Instruction are well over half of my income. Without CHL classes the Private Instruction will not be much I am afraid.
No work here either & I live in Deep East Texas. I had to drive just over 100 miles for my NRA class & @ least that far for the one day class.
Hoping for a Georgetown class so I can stay a night w/ my kids & GrandOnes.

Crossfire wrote:WOW! You got a response! More than I can say. I have still not received any confirmation that they received my documents, that there are any renewal classes scheduled - nothing. Zippo, zilch, nada. The website says all documents have been received, just awaiting proof of training. And still I wait.

I know DPS has a bit on their plate right now, but really, don't you think that CHL instructor renewals would be pretty close to the top on the list? Since we ALL have just a little over 60 days left to get it done (except those newbies who were certified this year).

This may not be a huge thing for the majority of instructors, but for a few of us, this is a big chunk of our income! I am getting a bit nervous about their ability to accomplish this in the time left.

Any kind of response from DPS would be GREATLY appreciated!

I'm with you. I don't do this for a hobby, it is one third of MY income. I also take training and arming the masses very seriously.

I feel sorry for you guys that make this part of your real living. It's just a paying hobby for me that let's me have some wiggle room in our budget (like helping pay for spikes in son's college text books). While I certainly won't miss a meal or a mortgage if I don't teach classes, it is an important part of my income for some of the little unexpected expenses. If I'm lucky I will only have to drive 300 miles to Mesquite (Nov. 18). I keep hoping they will open up a class in the panhandle. 600 miles round-trip, at least one night hotel, a day or two of vacation, and meals puts a pretty big dent in a paying hobby.

troglodyte wrote:I feel sorry for you guys that make this part of your real living. It's just a paying hobby for me that let's me have some wiggle room in our budget (like helping pay for spikes in son's college text books). While I certainly won't miss a meal or a mortgage if I don't teach classes, it is an important part of my income for some of the little unexpected expenses. If I'm lucky I will only have to drive 300 miles to Mesquite (Nov. 18). I keep hoping they will open up a class in the panhandle. 600 miles round-trip, at least one night hotel, a day or two of vacation, and meals puts a pretty big dent in a paying hobby.

??? Might want to look for a different college -- just say'n

sjfcontrol wrote:

troglodyte wrote:I feel sorry for you guys that make this part of your real living. It's just a paying hobby for me that let's me have some wiggle room in our budget (like helping pay for spikes in son's college text books). While I certainly won't miss a meal or a mortgage if I don't teach classes, it is an important part of my income for some of the little unexpected expenses. If I'm lucky I will only have to drive 300 miles to Mesquite (Nov. 18). I keep hoping they will open up a class in the panhandle. 600 miles round-trip, at least one night hotel, a day or two of vacation, and meals puts a pretty big dent in a paying hobby.

??? Might want to look for a different college -- just say'n

I know you haven't been to school since they were chiseling out stone tablets, but, just so ya know... books are EXpensive now!

Crossfire wrote:

sjfcontrol wrote:

troglodyte wrote:I feel sorry for you guys that make this part of your real living. It's just a paying hobby for me that let's me have some wiggle room in our budget (like helping pay for spikes in son's college text books). While I certainly won't miss a meal or a mortgage if I don't teach classes, it is an important part of my income for some of the little unexpected expenses. If I'm lucky I will only have to drive 300 miles to Mesquite (Nov. 18). I keep hoping they will open up a class in the panhandle. 600 miles round-trip, at least one night hotel, a day or two of vacation, and meals puts a pretty big dent in a paying hobby.

??? Might want to look for a different college -- just say'n

I know you haven't been to school since they were chiseling out stone tablets, but, just so ya know... books are EXpensive now!

Must be -- the books didn't have spikes in them back when I was studying under Aristotle.

UC Sunnydale?

Well, after waiting a seeming eternity, things have started happening quickly. Saturday afternoon around 4:00 I got the following email from DPS:

CHL Instructor Renewal Update

This email confirms receipt of your CHL Instructor renewal application and supporting documentation.

In order to complete the renewal process, you will be required to attend a one day Instructor renewal class. We currently have the following dates/locations available:


October 22, 2013 – Houston, Texas
October 23, 2013 – Houston, Texas
November 5, 2013 – Georgetown, Texas
November 6, 2013 – Georgetown, Texas
November 12, 2013 – Georgetown, Texas
November 13, 2013 – Georgetown, Texas
November 18, 2013 – Mesquite, Texas
November 19, 2013 – Mesquite, Texas
November 20, 2013 – Mesquite, Texas


In order to reserve your placement in class, you must respond with the date and location you wish to attend. Please reply to: RSD_LRS_CHL@dps.texas.gov. Include your full name, CHL Instructor certificate number and a daytime telephone number. Once the response has been received, an email confirmation and additional information will be sent to you.


Regulatory Services Division
Licensing and Registration Service



Needless to say, I immediately responded that I would take the October 23 class in Houston. About 8:00 Saturday night I got the following confirmation email:




This email serves as your confirmation to attend the CHL Instructor renewal class on October 23, 2013.



Class will be held at the Texas Department of Public Safety office located at 12230 West Road, Houston, TX 77065. Click here for directions. (Please do not contact the Houston DPS office for information about this class. Any questions should be directed to this email address.)



Registration will be held at 7:45am. You must present a state issued driver license or state issued ID card. Class will begin at 8:15am. We anticipate class to end at approximately 6pm; however, the time could vary. Students will be required to attend all of the class and pass a written examination. We will not be conducting proficiency demonstration at this time. You will be permitted to demonstrate proficiency with any certified Texas CHL Instructor at a later date. Further instruction regarding proficiency demonstration will be provided during the class.



Only those receiving this confirmation email are registered to attend. Guests (including other CHL instructors) are not permitted to attend this class. Students are expected to adhere to the following rules:



• No audio or video recording

• Be ON TIME for the class - This includes the break periods

• Be alert and give your attention to the instructor - (not on laptops, cell phone, or personal conversations)

• Turn cell phone to ‘vibrate’ or ‘off’

• If you need to take an urgent call, please do so during breaks

• Smoking is allowed only in designated areas (this includes electric)





Regulatory Services Division

Licensing and Registration Service


It took awhile, a lot of frustration, a number of emails, but it looks like I might make it in under the wire after all.

I'm curious about the capacity of these venues. 11 classes, 1,800 renewing instructors? = some classes may exceed 200.

I hope some will share their experiences. Now, we know the class will run from 8 - 6, double+ what they were in the past.

I'd like to know if you really learn anything. :) In the past, the administrative details could have been distributed in an email or newsletter or posted to the website. I really don't recall anything that would have needed password protection.

Why do we have to wait until we've attended class to shoot for proficiency? The weather is a lot nicer now on my outdoor range than is likely in late Nov.

Are they going to have a class in Lubbock/panhandle? I have a friend that would prefer NOT driving to DFW. :)

Looks like it will be easier to get these answers here than by email DPS.

I agree that we will probably learn very little. My initial week long DPS instructor's class could have easily been two days or even less. Much of what we covered in the instructor's class I had already learned in my regular CHL class, and in less time.
I guess they have to make a show for the media that they are requiring strict guidelines for the program.