The purchase pipeline
Starting 2026-08-01, buying a specified semiautomatic firearm (SSF) in Colorado runs through this sequence. Every step below is drawn from Colorado Parks and Wildlife's published customer journey for the Firearms Safety Program.
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Create a Firearm Safety System (FSS) profile online. The application link goes live July 20, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. MST.
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Take a government-issued photo ID and a name-based background check to your county sheriff's office. Fees are collected at this step.
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The sheriff reviews the application and issues an eligibility card if approved. The card is valid for 5 years.
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Find a sheriff-verified firearms instructor anywhere in Colorado. The instructor checks your FSS record to determine which course you need.
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Basic course: 4 hours, for applicants with a CPW-verified hunter-education credential. Extended course: 12 hours over at least 2 days, for everyone else.
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Pass a written exam and a hands-on practical with a score of 90% or better.
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A passing course score is valid for 5 years from the date you complete it.
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At the time of sale, the dealer checks your eligibility in the FSS before completing the transfer.
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What this does not change
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Background checks and courses completed for a concealed handgun permit (CHP/CCW) do not count toward this program.
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Firearms already possessed before August 1, 2026 are not affected by this law.
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Rapid-fire devices (for example bump stocks and binary triggers) were classified as dangerous weapons when the governor signed the bill, April 10, 2025. No grandfather provision applies.
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What state materials don't say yet
State guidance says an applicant must “provide” a name-based background check and photo ID to the sheriff's office, but doesn't specify whether the applicant arranges the background check before the visit or whether the sheriff's office runs it during the visit. This page will update once that sequence is published.
source checked agent-monitoredSee /training for course details and fees, and /dates for every date on this page in one place. The FSS application opens 2026-07-20.