If you’ve been thinking about applying for your shotgun certificate but keep putting it off, consider this your sign to get that application in!
I applied for mine through Gloucestershire Constabulary back in September 2024, and nearly two years later, it has finally arrived.
Yes — nearly two years.
Gloucestershire Constabulary currently acknowledges that it is working through a backlog of new firearms and shotgun certificate applications, so my biggest piece of advice is: don’t wait until you decide you want to buy a gun before applying.
You don’t need to own a gun to apply
This is something I think puts quite a few new shooters off.
You do not need to already own a shotgun before applying for your shotgun certificate. In fact, that’s rather the point — your certificate is what allows you to go on to possess, purchase or acquire one.
You also don’t need to rush out and buy a gun cabinet simply because you’ve submitted an application. Secure storage does become important if you’re actually going to keep a shotgun at home, and your firearms enquiry officer will discuss suitable security arrangements with you as part of the process.
So if you’ve recently started shooting and know it’s something you’d like to continue with, you can get the application process underway and then take your time with everything else.
And believe me, if your application takes anything like as long as mine did, you’ll have plenty of time to browse!
I was lucky with the timing…
One thing I am very grateful for is that I applied in September 2024, before the big increase in licensing fees.
At the time, a new shotgun certificate application cost £79.50. Fees increased significantly in February 2025 and have risen again since; Gloucestershire Constabulary currently lists the cost of a new shotgun certificate at £200.
There was an additional cost involved in getting the medical information required for my application. From memory, my doctor’s certificate/proforma cost me around £60–£80, so that’s another expense worth factoring in when you apply.
Gloucestershire currently requires applicants to submit a completed GP proforma alongside their application.
But the statistic that really surprised me…
The other day I came across a statistic suggesting that only 6.54% of shotgun certificate holders were female.
I genuinely couldn’t believe how low it was.
The newest Home Office statistics give a very similar picture: as of 31 March 2026, women accounted for just 7% of people holding a firearm certificate, shotgun certificate, or both in England and Wales — 30,808 women compared with 439,977 men.
Seven per cent!
Ladies, we need to change that.
One of the whole reasons behind She Shoots Collective is to make shooting feel more accessible to women. You don’t need to come from a shooting family. You don’t need to already know everything about guns. You don’t need to own all the kit. And you certainly don’t need to feel as though you have to be an expert before getting your own certificate.
Start shooting. Learn. Ask questions. Meet people. Find a ground where you feel comfortable.
And if you know that you’d eventually like the freedom of having your own gun, get your application in.
Don’t rush into buying your first gun
Getting your certificate doesn’t mean that you need to go straight out the following weekend and buy a shotgun either.
Actually, I think there’s something really lovely about taking your time over your first gun.
Try different makes and models. Shoulder as many as you can. Work out what fits you. Ask instructors and people you trust for advice. Visit gun shops and don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t really know what I’m looking for yet.”
A gun that is perfect for somebody else isn’t necessarily going to be perfect for you.
I spent time looking for mine and had a huge amount of help from Steve at the Ian Coley Gun Shop, who was brilliant at helping me find the right gun for me.
So a massive shoutout to Steve — thank you for your patience, advice and for helping me find my perfect first gun! 💗
After almost two years of waiting, being able to finally say I have my own shotgun certificate and my own gun feels incredibly exciting.
And hopefully, over the next few years, we’ll see a lot more women able to say the same.
So, ladies: get those applications in. 🎀🔫
Note: licensing requirements, fees and processing times can change and differ between police forces, so always check the current guidance from your local firearms licensing department before applying.