Rhode Island General Laws Section 11-47-35[1] requires a handgun purchaser to present a pistol/revolver safety certificate issued by the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) at the time of applying for the purchase. A purchaser earns the certificate by completing DEM's basic pistol/revolver safety course or by passing an objective test on the course material under Section 11-47-35(d). Proof of passing DEM's basic hunter safety course is an accepted equivalent under Section 11-47-35(c), and Section 11-47-35.1 exempts certain persons from the requirement entirely.
Exam Overview
The DEM test is an objective test, prepared by the department, on the subject matter of the handgun safety course[2]. The test covers the subject matter of the handgun safety course and is based on an instruction manual prepared by the department. The written exam is the objective-test route provided by Section 11-47-35(d) for people who have reason to believe they do not need the safety course. The statute alternatively provides a basic safety course of at least two hours of instruction under Section 11-47-35(b). The exam route consists of the objective test, and proficiency in the use of pistols or revolvers is not a prerequisite to the issuance of the safety certificate under Section 11-47-35(b). Applicants study the instruction manual the department prepares and makes available. A passing grade on the test is required. An applicant may take the test at the department or at any location where the handgun safety course is being given. There is no fee charged by DEM for the exam itself.
The Blue Card
Upon passing the exam, the applicant receives a handgun safety certificate commonly referred to as a "Blue Card." The Blue Card certifies that the holder has completed the basic pistol/revolver safety course, or has passed the objective test in its place. It is not equivalent to a concealed carry permit. It does not authorize the holder to carry a handgun. It satisfies the safety certificate requirement of Section 11-47-35 for purchasing a handgun from a licensed dealer or through a private transfer. The application, background check and waiting period still apply. After December 31, 2022, a Blue Card or a Rhode Island hunter education course card is also required to purchase ammunition under Section 11-47-64, subject to that section's exemptions, which include persons licensed to carry under Sections 11-47-11 and 11-47-18. Under Section 11-47-35(b), no person is required to complete the course more than once, but a person who is unable to produce the safety certificate must take the course again unless the person provides evidence to the department that the person has successfully completed the course.
Who Needs a Blue Card
A Blue Card, or the hunter safety course equivalent, is required for a handgun purchase unless a statutory exemption applies. Under Section 11-47-35.1, as amended effective June 26, 2025, the requirement does not apply to full-time members of the state police, the capitol police, or city and town police departments, to correctional officers, or to persons licensed under Section 11-47-11, the local concealed carry track. The exemption statute does not list retired officers or Attorney General permits issued under Section 11-47-18. Under Section 11-47-35(f), the DEM issues basic pistol/revolver permits to sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, the superintendent and members of the state police, prison or jail wardens or their deputies, members of the city or town police force, members of the park police, conservation officers, members of the airport police and officers of the United States government authorized by law to carry a concealed firearm and, at its discretion, to persons who formerly held those offices or were so authorized. Persons serving on active duty in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force or Coast Guard are not required to obtain the certificate under Section 11-47-35(g) so long as they remain on active duty. Under Section 11-47-35(h), persons serving in the active reserve components of those services and persons in an active duty paid status in the Rhode Island National Guard are not required to obtain the certificate so long as they remain in active status. A handgun purchase application is subject to a police background check under Section 11-47-35(a)(2), except where Section 11-47-35.1 exempts the purchaser from Section 11-47-35.
Relationship to the Purchase Process
When purchasing a handgun from a licensed dealer, the buyer must present a Blue Card, or proof of passing the DEM basic hunter safety course, unless exempt under § 11-47-35.1 or § 11-47-35(g) or (h). The dealer then forwards the application to the chief of police of the buyer's city or town, or to the Rhode Island State Police if the buyer resides in Exeter or out of state. A seven-day waiting period applies to handgun purchases under § 11-47-35. Persons licensed under § 11-47-11, the local track, are exempt from § 11-47-35, including this waiting period, under § 11-47-35.1. The exemption does not name Attorney General permits issued under § 11-47-18[3].
See also: New Gun Owners Guide to Rhode Island Law