Washington Concealed Pistol License (CPL) Practice Exam 2026 - Free CPL Practice Questions and Study Guide

Washington state categorizes a concealed pistol license (CPL) as a "shall-issue" system. This means that if an individual meets the legal requirements for obtaining a CPL, the state is obligated to issue the license. The criteria for issuance include factors such as being a legal resident of Washington, being at least 21 years old, and passing a background check, among other requirements.

This categorization emphasizes that law enforcement does not have discretion to deny a CPL to applicants who meet all the established criteria. As long as individuals are eligible, they have the right to acquire a concealed pistol license, which aligns with a "shall-issue" policy. This is in contrast to other categorization types like "may-issue," where authorities have more discretion, or "no-issue," where licenses are generally not issued at all.