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 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 Handgun Safety Exam is a 50-question written test administered by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management[2]. The exam covers safe handling practices, basic firearms operation, Rhode Island firearms laws relevant to handgun ownership, and storage requirements. The written exam is the objective-test route provided by Section 11-47-35(d) for people who 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). For the exam route there is no classroom component and no live-fire component. Applicants study independently using the "Today's Handgun Safety Basics" booklet provided by DEM. A passing score of 80% (40 out of 50 questions) is required. The exam is offered at multiple locations throughout the state on a regular schedule. 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 serves as proof that the holder has passed the required safety exam. It is not a license or permit. It does not authorize the holder to carry a handgun. It satisfies the prerequisite for purchasing a handgun from a licensed dealer or through a private transfer. 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. The Blue Card does not expire.
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, although DEM issues Blue Cards without the test to active law enforcement officers and, at its discretion, to former officers. Persons serving on active duty in the armed forces are not required to obtain the certificate under Section 11-47-35(g). Regardless of any exemption, every handgun purchase application is subject to a police background check under Section 11-47-35(a)(2).
Relationship to the Purchase Process
When purchasing a handgun from a licensed dealer, the buyer must present a Blue Card unless exempt under § 11-47-35.1. The dealer then initiates the required background check through the RI State Police. 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