CCW CA + 38 States CCW Application - SCSO - Definitive resource guide & Timeline (2023-2024)

[USEC]

This case was under the Santa Clara County and sheriff office's (SCSO) jurisdiction for the CA part. Some of this may not apply to you.​

Timeline (2023 application)​

Besides the cost structure for CA, I am unaware of any significant difference between the 2023 and 2024 applications. Theoretically, the training requirements are different (8 vs 16 minimum mandatory hours). Still, during the interview, the SO I talked to (Mark) told me they allegedly requested 16 hours of training in 2023.

Date	Event	Cost ($)
September 27, 2023	Application submitted (Apt set for July 2, 2024)	(CA) 72.33
March 27, 2024	Automated Permitium Apt checking (2h)
March 28, 2024	Redacted - Personal call to SCSO CCW division
March 30, 2024	Applied for Arizona + Utah CCW Through ASDI, convenient (same day, in California) but poor content quality.	(UT) 139.99 (AZ) 80
April 23, 2024	- Received automated apt checker notification. - Appointment rescheduled to May 7, 2024. Won 2 months for CA. - Added a few more documents as an addendum to the application.
May 6, 2024	I received a letter from Utah BCI, but forgot to sign on the form so they couldn't use my credit card. This also means that ASDI did not review our packages as they said they would before sending them out, or they missed this.
May 7, 2024	Interview date, interview with SO named Mark. It's pretty straightforward stuff, and a bit of chit-chat before that. 30 to 60 days, apparently, to receive a psych exam email.
May 8, 2024	I mailed the signed package back to BCI in Utah	(UT) 7.96
May 13, 2024	BCI Utah received the mail
May 15, 2024	- Received the email “Action Required - New CCW Testing Appointment”. Sender: scheduling@acuityscheduling.com - Took first apt available on June 3 & paid fees - Sent an email to SCSO to ask a livescan scheduling question. - Sent an email to JRA to enquiry about getting my psych reports upon completion. - Utah BCI processed the live scan fees. I've probably only lost ~7 business day for UT. - JRA replied and informed that they only facilitate setting up testing for agencies, do not interpret test materials themselves, and have forwarded the inquiry to the appropriate agency, advising that test results are confidential and applicants must waive rights to access them prior to testing. - Still, I followed up with LEPS to clarify the situation and pursue original request. Never got a reply. - Filled 3 questionaire on quest.johnsonroberts.com: 1. WeProctor Remote Testing Agreement 2. LEPS - Disclosure - CCWv2 3. LEPS Supplemental PsyQ - CCW The 2. form kind of answer my question for the report as we're signing our right to access the result out.	(CA) 150(UT) 63.25

May 23, 2024	SCSO replied: "The CCW process is done step by step, meaning Livescan should not be initial prior to being advised to do so". It does not seem like this would not change anything, worst case I would lose some money. Anyhow, I'll wait I guess.
June 3, 2024	LEPS exam: Did not happen, I did not received the zoom link. I called 45 minutes past the start, figured out they'll try to know why someone's missing and would email or something shortly after the start. Nope. I got someone on the phone and the reason I idid not receive the email is that I show as "documents need to be completed" on their end. They do matching by email and not by name. It is not written anywhere that during the whole process the email must match, so for me the email on LEPS was slightly different than the email on the 3rd party app acuityscheduling.com. Be advised. Due to this I was rescheduled to the next available spot that is a bit less than two weeks from now, they did not want to squeeze me in the next session. Do not use email tags and be sure to use the exact same address.
June 12, 2024	Received two LEPS emails: - One reminder for the date this Friday: Remote CCW Appointment Reminder: Remote CCW Testing is on <date> - One with the Zoom meeting link, which I did not receive the first time: LEPS ZOOM Link for Psych Testing
June 14, 2024	LEPS exam date - Privacy while is the Zoom meeting is questionable in the sense that everyone in the room can look at your camera feed and associated participant name. Which you have to set to your legal name. Conversely, you can do the same for theirs. - I received an email 2 hours or so after the end of the exam to schedule the Psych interview - The first available date was 27 days from now, bummer. Advising to monitor your email after the class to book immediately as people in the class will do it before you and you'll be pushed weeks after.
July 6, 2024	- Received Utah CCW card in the mail - Received notice of missing documents for Arizona this time. So much for "train ASDI" doing the submission for us if they forget to put documents in the envelope. - Sent the completed package back	(AZ) 12.44
July 8, 2024	Arizona Public Safety received the completed package
July 11, 2024	Psych Interview date - we reviewed a few questions for which she wanted to get a statement because some things were flagged on her side. - She told me she’ll send the report in, that the department should receive it today or tomorrow, and that I should look forward to the rest of the process, so based on that, I think it went alright.
July 17, 2024	Received email saying I can do the live scan.
July 18, 2024	- Livescan done this morning (ATI: Redacted). UPS clerk informed that it would take about 3 business days for it to clear. It's electronic - The price was not $20 as indicated on the doj website. See --->	(CA) 138
July 24, 2024	I chose to go with Saber tactics for the training. I called them to see if I could start now while waiting for the Firearm background check to clear. Since there's a lot of material to review, I figured I'd save some time that way. They said no problem, and I could do the firearm training later when I get the approval from the agency.	(CA) 399
August 7, 2024	Livescan rejected quality deemed too low. Lost 3 weeks + additional processing time this time around.
August 8, 2024	I re-submitted the Livescan in the morning (ATI: Redacted), same UPS location. Because it's a redo, they did not make me pay. They used Corn Huskers Heavy Duty Hand Treatment to make sure my prints were visible this time. Might be worth doing it the first time to avoid any risk of redo. - Uploaded copy of the receipt on Permitium - CA Cleared instantly - Waiting on Firearm	0
August 20, 2024	- Firearm background check completed - Waiting to hear about SCSO
August 30, 2024	I received a letter from the Arizona State dept that refused the case on 3 different bases: - NRA number of the instructor is not valid (???: See later review about ASDI...) - Need to file a new application (version P) - not eligible for non-US citizen or AZ resident. So to apply out of state you need to be a US citizen. Train ASDI said it would be fine. I called SCSO to inquire about background check status. They say they have nothing, perhaps it's coming through the mail instead of electronically which would be an issue if the clerk at UPS did not enter all the info correctly.

 

[USEC]

October 22, 2024	I received a text from Permitium at 3PM:SCSO Order Nbr: XXXXX needs add'l information. Please check your email for details. But I received no email, so I went on the web platform and saw: > You must be re-fingerprinted electronically at any live scan site. Your fingerprint submission was rejected (…) This was really disappointing and I started to make calls to UPS, SCSO etc. Later that night I received the email. The email said that the livescan was complete and to proceed with the 16-hour training. So basically their system is entirely out of sync, the status on permitium is not updated and does not reflect the latest of your application. It was still reflecting the status from the last document submission.
November 21, 2024	Live fire certification, incurred range fees	(CA) $40
November 22, 2024	Received the certificates from Saber Tactics as promised (kudos, they said they'll send them the next day after completion). Uploaded it on premium immediately and sent an email to SCSO on the email thread we had to let them know I did. Received a text shortly after so someone at the CCW division had a look and approved it: SCSO Concealed-Carry Application XXXXXXXX is APPROVED. Please check your email for instructions Again no email, so checked the Permitium web interface. And it says there are closing issuance fees that I need to pay to finalize the application. No idea what this is. I received another text to confirm they got the payment and to check my emails. Of course, no email. So now I'm waiting. Hopefully, the CCW division get in touch with me soon.	(CA) 271.96
December 3, 2024	I called to get more information, and I will pick it up tomorrow.
December 4, 2024	I picked up the card, chicken dinner
	Totals
1 year, 2 months, 8 days		1374.93

Resources​

SCSO (Santa Clara Sherif Office)​

• : SHF.SOCCW@shf.sccgov.org
• : CCW Division: 408-808-4942
• Daniel’s direct line: Redacted

DOJ Background check​

• ️ Status check
  • https://applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov/
• Approved vendors
  • Firearm training: See attachment: Office of the Sheriff, Approved vendors
• Livescan locations: https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations?county=Santa Clara

Psych exam (inventory)​

• Administered by LEPS, facilitated by JRA-Assessment
• JRA Contact email: office@jra-assessment.com
• LEPS Contact email: records@lepsinc.com
• LEPS Phone number: (408) 356-9696
• Composed of 1013 questions, it's actually four different inventories:
  • CPI-260-PPSR The California Psychological Inventory (CPI) is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure normal-range human behavior.
  • PAI-344 The Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) is a self-report questionnaire designed to evaluate personality and psychopathology. It consists of 344 items that are answered on a four-alternative scale, with the response options False, Slightly True, Mainly True, and Very True.
  • PsyQ-340 The Psychological History Questionnaire (PsyQ) is a self-report questionnaire that collects behavioral and psychological history information that is pertinent to the evaluation of applicants for public safety positions. This information is used by the examining psychologist to determine the extent to which the findings from psychological testing are corroborated by an applicant's actual behavioral history.
  • STAXI-69 The State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) is a self-report questionnaire that focuses on anger expression. It measures both the current (or state) anger of the applicant, and the generally characteristic (trait) anger level. It consists of 69 items that reflect anger-related behaviors, and which are answered on a four-alternative scale reflecting the frequency of exhibiting these behaviors: Almost Always, Often, Sometimes, and Almost Never.

Forms​

• Request for live scan service
• See attachment CCW Proficiency Form 12.22.22 …

Laws​

• CCW Policy manual - Santa Clara County.pdf
• NYSRPA v Bruen Footnote number nine
  Relevant extract on lengthy & onerous process. That said, because any permitting scheme can be put toward abusive ends, we do not rule out constitutional challenges to shall-issue regimes where, for example, lengthy wait times in processing license applications or exorbitant fees deny ordinary citizens their right to public carry.

Additional Tips​

• Smile. Be nice. Yes it is the SO’s job to get the job rolling but being rude or hasty won’t get you anywhere. The guy that interviewed me and saw me for pickup was very nice and 2A friendly.
• Be honest (obviously) on your LEPS, because they’ll ask you about your responses later on.
• Have at least 3 mags for the guns you qualify for so you don’t have to hand load mid-qualification.
• If you anticipate that you will pass your LEPS exam, get your Livescan before LEPS. Mines was relatively fast but I know some people that waited months before being able to start live training because they were waiting for their Livescan to clear.
• If you’re impatient while you wait for everything, apply for your AZ and UT licenses too.

 

[USEC]

Live fire training​

All in a Standard B-27 target, all from drawing from the holster.
For more detail see CCW Proficiency Form, essentially:

• 5 rounds at 15yd in 20s
• 5 rounds at 7yd in 15s, twice
• 5 rounds at 5yd in 10s, twice

️ Reviews​

Train ASDI ️​

The instructor would probably get a NAY on the psych eval. He mentioned he doesn't have it in CA because … then I couldn't understand, but he mumbled something. Probably related to the fact that he'd shoot anyone in his house before thinking about the situation?
The situation at hand a student asked in the class if I remember correctly was: "you hear a noise at night, wake up grab your gun and when you get in the living room, you see a guy sitting in your sofa with a beer in his hand. What do you do?"
This was after the instructor gave the feeling to the class that he wasn't too bright, so the student was trying to find out if he'd switch his weapon light out, assess the situation quickly, yell an order, or anything. The instructor said 3 in the torso, lol. No questions asked. He concluded that he'd "rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6". The class was hilarious, honestly, but it's too bad we had to pay for it.

ASDI instructor gave me this kind of vibe https://www.reddit.com/r/GunMemes/s/VRS0IWMOQI

Live fire training place ️️​

• Range: Worst weather ever, I didn't get a good experience at all due to that and the fact that I was qualifying for only one gun, and we were not allowed to wait in our car while everyone else was qualifying on 3 guns (SF + San Mateo + Santa Clara). So I shot for 2min, waited for 2hr+ in the rain & cold.
• Saber tactics: Solid, would recommend

SCSO ️️️️​

This one is comical because it's not like we have a choice. However, I had no unpleasant interactions; everything was handled professionally and on time. Kudos to Mark and Daniel, who I talked to.

LEPS ️️​

It is a very clunky process with outdated software and ways of dealing with things (email, communication, etc).

 

[Sparky11]

I don't believe I read this WHOLE thing... And I live in San Diego!!!

 

[Malibu]

Thank you for the interesting education on your experiences.
As I have said for years, this kind of timeline and associated hoop-dancing is PROOF that the entire concept of “permits” to exercise a constitutional right is blatantly criminal in of itself. To somehow even remotely think that all this will either reduce crime of accidents with firearms is laughable if it wasn’t so sad.
A friend once told me that he thought folks wanting to carry weapons should be “vetted”; my reply was that criminals and others who simply ignore government mandates don’t bother, and simply do as they please, while those who follow along and jump through hoops end up getting the shaft and wait years generally.
It’s long past time that our entire country gets “constitutional carry”.
End of rant….