Firearms
The Colorado SB25-003 Firearm Safety Course Eligibility Card and SB 25-205 firearm serial number checks for licensed dealers.
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Firearm Safety Course Eligibility Card (SB25-003)
Colorado SB25-003 specified semiautomatic firearms and the Firearm Safety Course Eligibility Card — applications open August 1, 2026.
Jump to sectionFirearm Serial Number Checks for Licensed Dealers (SB 25-205)
Effective July 1, 2026, Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) can request a firearm serial number check before purchasing a firearm from a private individual.
Jump to sectionFirearm Safety Course Eligibility Card (SB25-003)
Which firearms are covered?
The Colorado Department of Revenue's Firearms Dealer Division publishes guidance to help determine whether a specific make and model is a specified semiautomatic firearm under SB25-003.
View the Specified Semiautomatic Firearms GuidanceThe Firearm Safety Course Eligibility Card application process is not yet available.
Applications will be accepted beginning August 1, 2026. Please check back at that time to access the online application and begin the application process. For information on becoming a firearms safety course instructor and for the latest updates regarding SB25-003, please visit Colorado Parks and Wildlife: https://cpw.state.co.us/specified-semiautomatic-firearms.
How to Purchase a Specified Semiautomatic Firearm: Customer Journey
Step 1: Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Application
The process begins by accessing the Firearm Safety System application link on the CPW website. Customers will create a user profile, complete the application, and provide Hunter Education information if applicable. Once submitted, the application is routed to the customer's county Sheriff's Office queue, and the account remains accessible for updates throughout the process.
Step 2: Sheriff's Office Application
The applicant must provide the required documentation to the Sheriff's Office for review and processing. Fees are collected at this step, including the $52 CPW program administration and operations fee, as well as any additional fee(s) established by the Sheriff's Office.
Step 3: Sheriff's Office Review & Application Decision
The Sheriff's Office reviews the submitted documentation, determines eligibility, and approves or denies the Firearm Safety Course Eligibility Card. The eligibility card information is entered into the Firearm Safety System, and the applicant will receive notification of the decision. If approved, the applicant must pick up the card in person.
Step 4: Course Enrollment & Exam
The applicant enrolls in and completes a firearms safety course with a Verified Firearms Instructor in Colorado. The instructor verifies eligibility, determines the appropriate course level (Basic or Extended), and enters the applicant's exam and practical evaluation results into the Firearm Safety System. A passing score of 90% or higher is required, and the system will generate a certificate of completion. The certificate is valid for five years for the purchase of specified semiautomatic firearms (SSF).
Step 5: Firearm Purchase & FFL Verification
The customer selects a firearm from a Federal Firearms Licensed (FFL) dealer, who verifies eligibility through the Firearm Safety System and initiates the purchase process. The FFL confirms required information, including successful completion of the firearms safety course and exam, and submits the information through the InstaCheck system for final review.
How to Apply
To apply for a Firearm Safety Course Eligibility Card, you must submit an application through the License Director Application Portal.
You must provide and submit all required documentation, as well as complete all required attestations and acknowledgments as part of the application process.
Required Documents
Please have the following documents ready before submitting your application:
Government-Issued Photo Identification
Examples include:
- Driver's license
- State identification card
- Passport
- Military identification card
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Application
Upload a copy of the application you submitted to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).
Name-Based Background Check
Applicants must provide a name-based background check completed by a third-party vendor that includes:
- National criminal history
- Colorado criminal history
- Judicial database records
- Vendor attestation confirming the background check was completed
Current Photograph
Upload a current photograph of yourself. The photo must clearly show only the applicant and be taken against a plain, solid-colored background.
Fees
Firearm Safety Course Eligibility Card
The following fees are due at the time of application.
Please note: All application fees are non-refundable, including if your application is denied.
After You Apply
Approval
If your application is approved, you will receive notification from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. Your Firearm Safety Course Eligibility Card must be picked up in person at:
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Records Unit
200 Jefferson County Parkway
Golden, CO 80401
Further instructions will be provided during that step of the process.
Denial
If your application is denied, you will receive notification from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office via email and mail.
If applicable, additional information regarding the reason for the denial and any available next steps will be provided as part of the notification process.
Revocation
Pursuant to Colorado Revised Statute, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is required to revoke a Firearm Safety Course Eligibility Card if:
- The Sheriff's Office becomes aware that the cardholder is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm; or
- There is a reasonable belief, based on documented behavior, that the cardholder poses a danger.
Questions
Additional information and instructions will be provided as you progress through each step of the application process.
Important: Throughout the application process, please monitor your email regularly, including your Junk and Spam folders, to ensure you do not miss important updates, requests for additional information, or notifications regarding your application.
Firearm Serial Number Checks for Licensed Dealers (SB 25-205)
Effective July 1, 2026, Colorado Senate Bill 25-205 ("Firearm Serial Number Check Request Procedure") allows a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) to request a firearm serial number check from local law enforcement before purchasing a firearm from a private individual. For firearms dealers located in unincorporated Jefferson County, those requests come to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Records Unit.
The check indicates whether a firearm has been reported stolen, lost, or is involved in an open criminal investigation. The Sheriff's Office will complete each request within three (3) business days.
How to Submit a Request
Submit your request through the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office online portal. Choose the Firearm Serial Number Check (Multiple) order type — you can include multiple firearms in a single request. We will complete your request within three (3) business days.
What You'll Need
Have the following ready before you begin your application:
- Your business information — business name, FFL number, address, phone, email, and contact person
- The serial number, make, model, caliber/gauge, and type of each firearm
- A clear photo of the serial number on each firearm
Questions?
Having trouble submitting your request? Call the Records Unit at (303) 271-6475.