Prior to purchasing or acquiring a handgun, unless exempted, you must have a valid Handgun Safety Certificate (HSC). You must present your HSC to the firearms dealer at the time you begin a transaction to purchase/acquire a handgun.

To obtain a Handgun Safety Certificate (HSC) you must score at least 75% (23 correct answers out of 30 questions) on the Handgun Safety Certificate Test covering handgun safety and basic firearms laws. The true/false and multiple choice test is given by Department of Justice Certified Instructors who are generally located at firearms dealerships.

The fee for taking the Handgun Safety Certificate Test and obtaining a Handgun Safety Certificate (HSC) is twenty five dollars ($25). The $25 fee entitles you to take the test twice if necessary.

The only requirements are that the Handgun Safety Certificate (HSC) applicant must be at least 18 years of age and must present clear evidence of identity and age by presenting a California Driver's License or California Department of Motor Vehicles Identification Card.

The best way to prepare for the Handgun Safety Certificate Test is to read the Handgun Safety Certificate Study Guide. The study guide contains all the information necessary to pass the test. The Handgun Safety Certificate Video Guide is also a good supplemental study tool.

Handgun Safety Certificate Study Guides are available from licensed California Firearms Dealers or DOJ Certified Instructors at $.50 each. You can also order a study guide with a Department of Justice downloadable order form, FD040  [PDF 20 kb / 2 pg]. You can also view or download the Handgun Safety Certificate Study Guide  [PDF 977 kb / 20 pg] for free on this website.

Handgun Safety Certificate Videos are available from licensed California Firearms Dealers and some DOJ Certified Instructors at $5.00 each. You can also order a video with a Department of Justice downloadable order form, FD040  [PDF 25 kb / 1 pg].

Yes. The $25 fee entitles you to take the test twice if necessary. If you fail the test the first time, you may retake another version of the test from the same DOJ Certified Instructor without any additional fee after 24 hours have elapsed. The Certified Instructor is required to offer or make available to you the Handgun Safety Certificate Video Guide.

A Handgun Safety Certificate (HSC) is valid for five years from the date of issuance.

There are a variety of Handgun Safety Certificate requirement exemptions. It should be noted that these exemptions are not identical to the former Basic Firearms Safety Certificate (BFSC) certification exemptions. Two general BFSC exemption categories, persons who hold a valid hunting license issued by the State of California and persons who were honorablydischarged from the military, do not qualify as exemptions from HSC certification requirements.

Yes. There are no "grandfathering" provisions in the statute ending the Basic FirearmsSafety Certificate (BFSC) program and initiating the Handgun Safety Certificate (HSC) program. Anyone wishing to purchase or acquire a handgun needs an HSC, regardless of whether he/she possesses a BFSC.

Yes. A replacement Handgun Safety Certificate (HSC) is available only through the DOJ Certified Instructor who issued your HSC. The HSC replacement cost is $15. The replacement HSC will reflect the same expiration date as your original HSC.

Yes. Prior to taking possession of the handgun, you must havea valid Handgun Safety Certificate (HSC).You must also report the transfer to DOJ, pursuant to Penal Code section 12078(c)(2)(A), within 30 days of the transfer. You may obtain Form FD4544A  [PDF 28 kb / 2 pg] for this purpose on this website.

No. Mere possession/ownership of a personally-owned handgun does not require a Handgun Safety Certificate (HSC). However, you do have to present your HSC to the firearms dealer at the time you begin a transaction to purchase/acquire a handgun.

It depends on the specific circumstances. Generally, a person being loaned a handgun must have a current Handgun Safety Certificate (HSC). However, an HSC is not required when the loan does not exceed three days in duration and the person loaning the handgun is at all times within the presence of the person being loaned the handgun.

No. Mere possession/ownership of a personally-owned handgun does not require a Handgun Safety Certificate (HSC).

No, you do not need a Handgun Safety Certificate (HSC) for the purpose of moving into California with your handgun. However, pursuant to Penal Code section 12072(f)(2), there are important personal handgun importation responsibilities that are explained on this website.

The safe handling demonstration is a statutory requirement mandating handgun purchasers/recipients to execute a series of specific steps related to loading and unloading the handgun safely. The safe handling demonstration must be performed under the supervision of a DOJ Certified Instructor, and the purchaser must sign an affidavit attesting completion of the safe handling demonstration. The performance steps of a successful safe handling demonstration can be found beginning on page 45 of the Handgun Safety Certificate Study Guide.  [PDF 977 kb / 20 pg]

The safe handling demonstration must be performed on or after the date the Dealer Record of Sale (DROS) is submitted to DOJ, and prior to the delivery of the handgun. You may find it helpful to perform the safe handling demonstration prior to actually initiating the DROS to ensure that you will be able to take possession of the make and model you select.

The exemptions to the safe handling demonstration include all the exemptions from the Handgun Safety Certificate requirement.

The HSC program also provides for an exemption when physical disability deprives an individual the necessary agility to execute the demonstration. A signed, written letter from a licensed physician attesting that a physical disability precludes an individual from being able to perform the safe handling demonstration is required for this exemption. This exemption applies to the safe handling demonstration only. There is no exemption from the Handgun Safety Certificate requirement based on physical disability.