CPL for non-resident

HiredGoon · Mar 8, 2010

Hello, all!

As a resident of Pennsylvania I understand that I may apply in person for a WA CPL.

Is the Law Enforcement Support Agency:

Records Public Counter
930 Tacoma Avenue South, Room 239
Tacoma WA 98402

the best/easiest/closest place for me to apply when I'm in the Lakewood area?

As I understand it from the website, I hand in the app, pay the fee, get fingerprinted and then wait for my CPL, if approved, in the mail back in PA.

Does the $55.25 fee cover the fingerprinting or is that extra?

And it does not seem like a photo is taken there or needs to be supplied by me?

Any other potential hitches for an out- of-stater? I do have my Pennsylvania carry license, so there should be no problem with the background check.

Thanks!

JuiceBox · Mar 8, 2010

55.25 does cover finger printing, no photos.

BigStick · Mar 8, 2010

That is where I turned in my app. The line was a little long, but not too bad. Try to avoid lunch time or after work starts getting out because there will be a lot more people then. The fingerprinting is electronic, so no extra cost, and there is no photo associated with WA licenses. Make sure you bring check or cash. And there is only one window, so the line doesn't move very fast.

HiredGoon · Mar 9, 2010

Not done by mail...correct?

Does anyone know of a WA sheriff who will accept a CPL application by mail from a non-resident? I know, probably not, but thought I'd ask anyway.

Dodgeramstein · Apr 23, 2010

HiredGoon said:
Does anyone know of a WA sheriff who will accept a CPL application by mail from a non-resident? I know, probably not, but thought I'd ask anyway.

Nope they won't, but occasionally you can find a Utah CPL seminar that allows you CPL in the majority of states.

benja455 · Apr 26, 2010

HiredGoon, WA CPLs are not like PA LTCFs...WA CPLs look like permission slips. Mine - issued by the Seattle PD wasn't even laminated. It was just a scrap of paper. PA LTCFs are much more professional. I was shocked that they didn't require a picture when I got here last summer and applied for a CPL.

HiredGoon · Oct 14, 2010

I finally applied.

Was in the Lakewood, WA area last week and made a trip to the Law Enforcement Support Agency in Tacoma to apply for my CPL. They said it should arrive in my mail in about 30 days :mfclap:

benja455 · Oct 14, 2010

Bah! HiredGoon, you should have messaged me! We could have had a nice little chat. I've seen you post a lot on PAFOA.

HiredGoon · Oct 16, 2010

benja455 said:
Bah! HiredGoon, you should have messaged me! We could have had a nice little chat. I've seen you post a lot on PAFOA.

Sorry... I was lucky I had time to make the trip to LESA...was extremely busy helping to move a family member back to PA my whole time there in Lakewood. Coordinating the movers, estate sale, banks, etc.

But I was determined to apply for the WA CPL while out there. Parking was a bit of a hassle...parked on street to the left side of the building...wheels to curb of course.

Actual procedure was fairly pain free. (Too bad Lakewood PD wouldn't do it for me).

BTW, what's with all the people hanging around outside the courthouse there??

Homeless? Waiting for a bus? Or just like to sit/lie on the ground in front of a government building?

benja455 · Oct 17, 2010

Oh well...if you're ever out here again, let me know. I'm from Pittsburgh originally. I moved here last summer.

HiredGoon · Oct 26, 2010

Got it in the mail yesterday.

Less than 3 weeks turnaround from when I applied for my WA CPL at LESA in Tacoma :mfclap:

benja455 · Oct 27, 2010

Nice! Now you can carry in OH.

BigStick · Oct 29, 2010

HiredGoon said:
Less than 3 weeks turnaround from when I applied for my WA CPL at LESA in Tacoma :mfclap:

Glad it worked out for you.

Paul Wall · Apr 28, 2011

Only takes a week or so in the Tri-Cities, my experience is that lineups are fairly short. Renewals can be done any time,but originals are on Wednesday only in Kennewick.

HiredGoon · Jun 4, 2015

Wow! Almost 5 years already.

Hard to believe it is almost time to renew my CPL. Unfortunately, I will not be back out west anytime soon.

I guess I cannot renew by mail? Anybody hear of this being possible?

My WA will just expire in October I guess