Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act ID Card
The Maryland State Police Licensing Division assists eligible former Maryland State Troopers and Deputy State Fire Marshals obtain or renew a Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act ID Card (LEOSA). LEOSA is a federal law that allows qualified separated or retired law enforcement officers to carry a concealed firearm nationwide.
Members of other Maryland law enforcement agencies or non-Maryland law enforcement agencies seeking a LEOSA identification card should contact their respective agencies or contact the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission at 410-552-6300.
Process changes/updates
There have been no changes to the application or the process in the last 12 months.
Who can apply
If you’re a former (separated or retired) Maryland State Trooper or Maryland Deputy State Fire Marshal you may be eligible to apply for or renew your LEOSA card. Former law enforcement officers must meet the following requirements to be eligible:
- Separated in good standing from service with a public agency as a law enforcement officer;
- Before such separation, was authorized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of, or the incarceration of any person for, any violation of law, and had statutory powers of arrest;
- (A) Before such separation, served as a law enforcement officer for an aggregate of 10 years or more; or
(B) Separated from service with such agency, after completing any applicable probationary period of such service, due to a service-connected disability, as determined by such agency; - During the most recent 12-month period, has met, at the expense of the individual, the standards for qualification in firearms training for active law enforcement officers, as determined by the former agency of the individual, the State in which the individual resides or, if the State has not established such standards, either a law enforcement agency within the State in which the individual resides or the standards used by a certified firearms instructor that is qualified to conduct a firearms qualification test for active duty officers within that State;
- (A) Has not been officially found by a qualified medical professional employed by the agency to be unqualified for reasons relating to mental health and as a result of this finding will not be issued the photographic identification; or
(B) Has not entered into an agreement with the agency from which the individual is separating from service in which that individual acknowledges he or she is not qualified for reasons relating to mental health and for those reasons will not receive or accept the photographic identification; - Is not under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating or hallucinatory drug or substance; and
- Is not prohibited by State and Federal law from receiving a firearm.
Required training
You may contact your local Maryland State Police Barracks to make arrangements to complete the training and firearm qualifications. Alternatively, you may contact the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission (MPCTC) Firearms Training Facility which offers annual LEOSA qualification programs. You must receive the firearms qualification through a Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission certified firearms instructor. Any qualifications received that are not certified by a Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission certified instructor, will not be accepted.
How to apply
- Apply online using the Maryland State Police eMDSP services page (eMDSP).
- Attach the following to the Documents section of the online application:
- A front and back photocopy of your Maryland Department of State Police issued separated/retiree photo identification card
- A photocopy of your driver's license identification card
- For initial applicants only, a Form 29-40C - Certification of Prior Law Enforcement Employment
- Form 29-40E, A Certificate of Firearms Training
- Self-certify under penalty of perjury that you meet both federal and state requirements to carry a firearm and qualify under LEOSA.
- Electronically pay the application fee and submit the application.
- You’ll receive your LEOSA ID card via U.S. Mail within 10 - 14 business days after submission. The card will include your details, firearm type, expiration date, and the notation “LEOSA”
Renewal information
Your LEOSA ID card is valid for one year from the date that you met the active duty firearm qualification standards for your specific firearm type. You are responsible for re-qualifying before your LEOSA ID card expires.
When renewing your LEOSA ID card, remember to
- Go to your user account on Maryland State Police eMDSP services portal
- Provide a copy of your updated 29-40E range Certificate of Firearms Training form.
- Provide a copy of your Retired Identification Card and Driver's License (Front & Back)
- The required documentation should be uploaded to your electronic application. Any issues with this process can be addressed by email to [email protected].
Application fees
Acceptable methods of payment include Visa or MasterCard. Application fees are non-refundable.
All application fees are collected electronically in the Licensing Portal. Application fees do not include fingerprint fees.
Original/Initial application: $8.00
Renew application: $8.00
Application timeline
- Applicant: After the applicant has completed their training and qualification course, the online application can be completed within 30 minutes.
- Licensing Division Processing Time: Once the Licensing Division electronically receives the completed LEOSA application and the required application fee, the applicant will receive their LEOSA card within 10 - 14 business days.
- Incomplete Applications: Applications received by the Licensing Division will typically be reviewed for completeness within 1-5 business days. Applicants who submitted incomplete applications will be notified of the status of their application via email within 5 business days of the review.
FAQs
LESOA FAQs
Yes you will need to remember your log on and password for future renewal applications.
From the licensing tab click on the LEOSA tab at the left of the screen. Go to the very bottom and click on the Law Enforcement Safety Act Online Link. This link will take you to all the online forms that require a eMDSP account. Go to the very bottom of the page and look for “If you have not registered, and are applying for the LEOSA Permit, please click here to register (or click the register a person link on the left).” This will prompt you to create a log on name and password.
You may write in your country if it is not listed in the drop down box.
It is recommended that the L.E.O.S.A identification card be carried by the separated law enforcement officer along with his/her retired Maryland State Police credentials whenever the separated officer is wearing, carrying or transporting a handgun. However, the separated officer may carry a copy of his qualification score sheet signed by the MPCTC certified firearms instructor in lieu of the L.E.O.S.A identification card. In every case, the Maryland State Police credentials must be carried in conjunction with either the score sheet or the L.E.O.S.A identification card to be in compliance with federal law HR 218.
Please email all questions [email protected].
Yes, login to your Maryland State Police eMDSP services portal (eMDSP) account.