Do I Retake the Michigan CPL Course Each Time I Renew My License?

Concealed Pistol License (CPL)
Michigan Concealed Pistol License (CPL)

Michigan – -(Ammoland.com)- Q: Do I have to retake the one-day CPL course and get a new certificate when I renew my Michigan CPL?

A: According to MCL 28.425l(7): “The educational requirements under section 5b(7)(c) for an applicant who is applying for a renewal of a license under this act are waived except that the applicant shall certify that he or she has completed at least 3 hours’ review of the training described under section 5b(7)(c) and has had at least 1 hour of firing range time in the 6 months immediately preceding the subsequent application.”

This means that, not only do you not have to re-take the entire course, you do not even need a formal review of the legal portion of the training for your renewal.

However, I feel the need to point out that you are responsible for knowing of changes to the law as they occur. In fact, one of the main purposes of this article is to alert readers to such changes as they occur. For example, in October of 2006, there were significant changes to the law, including Stand Your Ground (no more duty to retreat outside the home so long as lawful force is used in legitimate self-defense), Qualified Civil Immunity (Plaintiff pays Defendant’s actual attorney fees in a civil suit when Defendant shows that his/her use of force was lawful self-defense), and the presumption that one who breaks into an occupied home or car means to do great bodily harm.

Therefore, I do recommend that CPL renewal applicants take the time to sit through the legal portion of a CPL class prior to renewal. Since we are all tasked with keeping up on changes to Michigan law, it is better to rely on a competent professional trainer for your review, and perhaps supplement that session with some “homework,” than to simply do three hours of self-study.

When I do the legal portion of CPL classes, I find that there is a great benefit to the classroom discussion that occurs and I can see that attendees are thinking through the “what ifs” of various situations and then discussing issues that might not have occurred to them doing solo research in a library or online. Find a good trainer whom you respect, and pay the small fee for sitting in on at least the legal portion of a class.

As an attorney who practices in this area, I can attest to the fact that an ounce of prevention is indeed worth at least a pound of cure when it comes to the law.

Steve Dulan (www.StevenWDulan.com) is a member of the Board of Directors of the MCRGO and the MCRGO Foundation, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the MCRGO Foundation. He is an attorney in private practice in East Lansing and Adjunct Professor of firearms law at The Thomas M. Cooley Law School. as well as an Endowment Member of the NRA.

Michigan Legislative Review: Relevant to the above Q&A
Senate Bill 0525 – Signed by Governor 2/29/2012. Now Public Act 32 of 2012 (effective date Feb 28, 2012) The bill will allow CPL holders to apply to renew a license up to six months before the current license expires and establishes an effective date for the renewed license … read PA 32.


About Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners

The Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. Formed from just eight people in 1996, we now have thousands of members and numerous affiliated clubs across the state. We’re growing larger and more effective every day. Our mission statement is: “Promoting safe use and ownership of firearms through education, litigation, and legislation” Visit: www.mcrgo.org

Michigan Coalition For Responsible Gun Owners

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fred

is a class required for renewal of a ccw in Michigan

Terry

For the most part you are okay within 12 mo of the expiration date. Get the instructions and form off http://www.michigan.gov/firearms.

Don’t wait until the last minute.

Terry

In MI……You can renew it up to 12 months after the cpl has expired but you better not wait until the last minute. However, your expired cpl and your receipt will not allow you to purchase a gun without having a permit to purchase and ackground check. It probably wouldn’t be a good idea to get caught carrying or transporting a loaded gun with an expired cpl.

Please do not count on my thoughts though.

Get the instructions and application off http://www.michigan.gov/firearms.

dp_mich

You have one year after the expiration date, so you are good. I waited too long, and, I think the one year time frame is new, so I’m wondering what you have to do if you are outside the window?

Dan Stolarcz

I don’t have your answer, but have a similar question.
I found your response while researching my question.
My cpl expired Nov 2015. I don’t recall getting any notifications in the mail. I just now realized it is expired. I wonder what I need to go through to get it renewed and exactly how much that costs…

Dan

rogelio

My cpl expired last September 2015. Can I still renew it or do I have to apply for a new one?