Certain law enforcement officers, active and retired, may apply for an exemption from the initial training requirement to obtain a permit. These include:

• Active duty Arizona POST certified peace officers (and firearms certified County Detention Officers after August 11, 2005). Submit an application, fingerprint card, letter from your agency and a money order or certified check in the amount of $65 to the CWPU. Letters from your agencies will be on official letterhead and shall include the applicant’s name, grade/title, dates of employment, employment status, and a point of contact within that agency who can verify the applicant’s employment status. A blank form letter is available below. The department may require or allow the applicant to produce other specified evidence of employment.

• Honorably retired state or local peace officers with a minimum of 10 years of service. "State or local peace officers" includes out-of-state officers. Submit an application, fingerprint card, letter from your agency and a money order or certified check in the amount of $65 to the CWPU. Letters from your agencies will be on official letterhead and shall include the applicant’s name, grade/title, dates of employment, employment status, and point of contact within that agency who can verify the applicant’s employment status. A form letter is available below. The department may require or allow the applicant to produce other specified evidence of employment.

• Active or honorably retired federally credentialed peace officers. Due to the wide variety in federal law enforcement positions and duties, an applicant seeking exemption as a federally credentialed peace officer shall meet the following requirements:

1. Is an active or honorably retired federally credentialed law enforcement officer. (Retired require at least 10 years of service);

2. Is employed or retired from a federal law enforcement position whose duties are or were primarily the investigation and apprehension of individuals suspected of offenses against the criminal laws of the United States;

3. Is or was authorized by a federal agency to carry a handgun while on duty and qualified with that handgun at least annually; and

4. Submits an application, fingerprint card, money order or certified check in the amount of $65 and a letter from a federal agency with whom the applicant is or was employed that states the applicant meets the above requirements. The letter shall be submitted on the agencies letterhead and shall include the applicant’s name, grade, job series code, job series title, dates of employment, employment status, and a point of contact within that agency who can verify the applicant’s employment status. A form letter is available below. The department may require or allow the applicant to produce other specified evidence of employment.

• Posse, do not qualify.

A blank CCW request for law enforcement exemption letter is available here.

A blank LEOSA certificate form letter is available here.

A blank LEOSA application is available here.

Note:  There are no further exemptions for law enforcement personnel unless you are an active duty AZ POST certified peace officer or an active firearms certified County Detention Officers. Officers who allow their permit to expire beyond 60 days will be required to complete the 8 hour initial training course before another permit is issued. This training must occur in Arizona.

Applications may be obtained from CCW organizations or the CWPU.