FSC practice test
Free, unlimited practice for the written test every California buyer needs before their first firearm. 50 curated + 150 draft original questions written against the four subject areas in the DOJ study guide.
Most people pass. Here's how to walk in confident.
The Firearm Safety Certificate test is 30 written questions on safe handling, safe storage, California firearm law, and how firearms work. You need 75% (23 of 30) to pass, and it is open to retake if you miss. It is not a trick test. Read the study guide once, run this practice quiz until the wrong answers stop surprising you, and the real thing is a formality.
What the FSC actually is
- A certificate you need before you can acquire a firearm in California. It is a written test, not a shooting test.
- Given in person by a DOJ Certified Instructor - usually the dealer you are buying from. Bring ID.
- Good for 5 years and reusable across purchases, so this is a one-time errand, not a per-gun step.
- Separate from the safe-handling demonstration you perform at pickup, and separate from the 10-day wait.
Who is exempt
Most first-time buyers are not exempt and should plan on taking the test. The narrow exemptions include:
- Active-duty military, on presentation of orders
- Sworn and honorably retired peace officers
- Holders of a valid California license to carry a concealed weapon
- For long-gun purchases only: holders of a valid, unexpired California hunting license
- A handful of other narrow statutory categories (a dealer can tell you if one fits you)
30 practice questions, drawn fresh each attempt
Pulled at random from our bank of 50 curated + 150 draft original questions, so a retake is a different test. You see the right answer and the reason immediately after each one.
Practice bank expanded (draft questions included): 150 draft questions, written against the DOJ study guide and still pending editorial and legal review, now join the 50 curated ones. Every attempt keeps at least 15 curated questions, and each draft question is labeled when it appears.
Your answers stay in this browser. We never send them to our servers and you do not need an account.
These are our own practice questions, not the DOJ's test questions, and passing here does not certify you. The official test is administered in person by a DOJ Certified Instructor.