Pennsylvania operates its own state-level background check system that works alongside the federal NICS system. Understanding how Pennsylvania's system interacts with federal requirements is essential for PA dealers.
Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS)
Pennsylvania operates PICS, administered by the Pennsylvania State Police. Pennsylvania is a point-of-contact state — dealers contact PICS rather than directly contacting federal NICS. PICS conducts both the federal NICS check and the Pennsylvania state check simultaneously.
PICS and NICS are not the same. A PICS approval satisfies both the federal and state background check requirements. PICS may flag buyers who would not be flagged by a federal-only NICS check due to Pennsylvania-specific disqualifiers.
Handgun Transfers: Additional Requirements
Handgun transfers in Pennsylvania require the buyer to complete both the federal Form 4473 and a Pennsylvania State Police SP4-113 form. The SP4-113 is submitted to the Pennsylvania State Police, and dealers must retain copies.
Form 4473 Compliance for PA Dealers
The additional documentation requirements in Pennsylvania — the SP4-113 for handguns, the PICS transaction number — create more moving parts in the transfer process. PA dealers with high handgun volumes especially benefit from systematic 4473 review processes.
Know Every Form Is Clean Before Your Next ATF Audit
4473 Pro audits every field on every Form 4473 — Sections A through E. Catch errors before an ATF auditor does..
Get Started ›