TO RENEW YOUR HONORABLY RETIRED IDENTIFICATION CARD WITH
STATE AND/OR FEDERAL CONCEALED HANDGUN CERTIFICATIONS
Step One: Complete and Mail Application
Two weeks, (preferably four weeks), before you want to qualify, download and complete the application and either the declaration OR the affidavit for the certifications you are requesting (State, Federal or both). If you choose to complete the declaration, it does not need to be notarized. If you prefer to complete the affidavit instead of the declaration, you may either sign and have the affidavit notarized before you mail the documents or mail the unsigned affidavit and have it notarized at the Academy on the day you qualify.
(Click here to download the application and declaration/affidavit)
Please mail the original application and declaration/affidavit to:
Houston Police Academy
Attn: Retiree Certification Unit
17000 Aldine Westfield Road
Houston, Texas 77073
Step Two: Qualification & Photo
Please arrive 20 minutes prior to your qualification time. The outdoor range, is located on Aldine Westfield 500 ft North of the Academy main entrance, currently offers 6:30am, 8:00am and 10:00am qualification times and the indoor range offers a 9:00am qualification time. Before you leave for the Academy, please call (281) 230-4005 or (281) 230-2470 to verify qualifications times and to confirm the range is open.
After qualifying, the retiree should report to the RCU office located next to the outdoor range. Range personnel will complete the qualification form and fax it to the Retiree Certification Unit (RCU) office to be mated with the renewal application paperwork that was previously mailed in.
The RCU will assist you with a new photo for your ID, if a new one is needed, and notarize your affidavit, (if it was submitted by mail unsigned). A new ID photo is required every 5 years. For your ID photo, men should bring a coat and tie and women should bring a conservative shirt or dress.
Renewal identification cards are issued by the Retiree Certification Unit Monday through Friday, from 7:00am-11:00am and from 12:30pm-3:00pm.
Retirees outside the Houston area: HPD officers may qualify at any Sheriff's Department in the State of Texas or any of the following agencies in Texas: Austin, El Paso, San Antonio, Dallas and Fort Worth. You will need to print and take a copy of the outside Range Form to the outside range (Click Here For Range Form) (Click here for Letters of Agreements)
If you have questions about a renewal, please contact Officer John Devore at (281) 230-4024.
TO APPLY FOR A NEW HONORABLY RETIRED IDENTIFICATION CARD WITH
STATE AND/OR FEDERAL CONCEALED HANDGUN CERTIFICATIONS
Please visit the Employee Services Division located at 1200 Travis, 12th floor, Houston, TX 77002 to complete an application and have your photo taken. All applicants are required to wear business attire for their ID photo, this includes a coat and tie for men and a conservative shirt or dress for women.
If you have questions about a new handgun certification application, please contact Cindy Hale at (713) 308-1268.
TO APPLY FOR A NEW OR TO RENEW YOUR DPS CONCEALED HANDGUN LICENSE
The Houston Police Department can help active and retired HPD officers obtain a Department of Public Safety (DPS), Concealed Handgun License.
To apply for a new or to renew a DPS Concealed Handgun License, visit the Department of Public Safety's website at www.txdps.state.tx.us and click on the 'Concealed Handgun' link to complete your application. Once you have submitted the online application, you will receive an email receipt from DPS which will list additional items that you will need to submit to DPS in order for them to process your application. Please bring a copy of this receipt to the Employee Services Division located at 1200 Travis, 12th floor, Houston, TX 77002.
When you bring in your receipt, we will have you complete a short form (Download HPD's CHL form) and will help you obtain any additional items required by DPS.
If you do not have access to a computer, you may request a new or renewal application from DPS by calling 1-800-224-5744 or (512) 424-7294.
If you have questions about a concealed handgun license, please contact Cindy Hale at (713) 308-1268.
Frequently Asked Questions for State & Federal Certifications
Q: What forms should I fill out for the state/federal handgun certifications and where do I get the forms?
A: The same forms are used for both new applications and renewals. You will need to complete two pages, the application and either the declaration OR the affidavit, all of which can be downloaded here.
Q: Where do I mail the forms?
A: For new applications: For renewals:
Houston Police Department Houston Police Academy
Attn: Cindy Hale/Employee Services Attn: Retiree Certification Unit
1200 Travis, 12th Floor 17000 Aldine Westfield
Houston, TX 77002 Houston, TX 77073
Q: Do I have to have the affidavit notarized prior to mailing?
A: For new applicants, we prefer you visit the Employee Services Division at 1200 Travis to complete your paperwork prior to retiring. However, if you prefer to mail the forms, please complete the application and either the declaration OR the affidavit. If you decide to submit the affidavit, it should be signed and notarized prior to mailing.
For renewals, please complete the application and either the declaration OR the affidavit. If you choose to submit the affidavit, you do not need to have it signed or notarized prior to mailing. If you are unable to have it notarized, please DO NOT sign the form. Simply fill out the forms and mail them to the above address without a signature. Once you come to the Academy to qualify and pick up your renewed ID, we will have you sign the form in front of a Notary.
Q: For my renewal, do I have to send the forms in before I qualify?
A: No, although we do recommend it. For renewals we are required to conduct a background and TCLEOSE check. As you know, computers sometimes go down and we may not be able to conduct the requisite searches, requiring additional time to process.
Q: If I want to carry different handguns of the same type, do I need to qualify with each handgun?
A: You should qualify with the type of weapon that you would like to carry. For instance, if you qualify with a semi-automatic, your certification will cover all semi-automatics. If you want to carry revolvers and semi-automatics, you should qualify with one semi-automatic and one revolver. You do not need to qualify with multiple weapons of the same type.
Q: How often do I need to take an ID photo and what should I wear for the photo?
A: A new photo is required every 5 years or when an updated photograph is necessary. All applicants are required to wear business attire, this includes a coat and tie for men and a conservative shirt or dress for women.
Q: I retired from HPD but am now working as a commissioned officer for another agency, can I get a State and Federal handgun certification?
A: If you are currently employed as a commissioned officer for another agency, you are not eligible to receive the State or Federal handgun certifications.
Q: I live out of town, can I qualify at another police department's range?
A: Yes. In addition to any Sheriff's Department in the State of Texas, retired HPD officers may qualify at the following agencies in Texas: Austin, El Paso, San Antonio, Dallas, and Fort Worth. You will need to print, and take a copy of the outside Range Form to the outside range (Click here for this form)
Q: Do these police agencies know that I can qualify at their range?
A: We currently have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with these agencies. Copies of the MOUs, with signatures from the respective Chiefs, are available for you to download at www.hpdretired.com. (Click Here)
