In South Carolina, 1996:
Went to the Sheriff's office, and picked up the application, and took a class, 8 hours total. At the end of the 8 hour class, you were given a written exam (just used common sense and all is well), as well as a test, where you shoot 50 rounds into a man-sized silhouette paper target. At least half of those shots were from 7 yards or less. 35/50 is passing (I scored 50/50). After that was done, the instructor signed the application.
Then, I went and got fingerprinted by the sheriff's office, and mailed the applications, and the fee, to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and waited for 90 days, at the end of which, they finally sent back my application, claiming that my left ring finger's prints were unreadable. So, I got re-fingerprinted, and re-submitted the application, and after another 90 days, finally got the permit.
In Connecticut, 2001:
Took an 8 hour NRA safety course, then got the application from the Bristol, CT police department. This department made me get three letters of recommendation, one of which had to be from someone who knew me for over 10 years. None of the letters could come from family. Paid a fee, got fingerprinted at the PD, and after 8 weeks, got the local permit. That same day, I went to the DPS headquarters in Middletown, and got the full State Permit after paying a small fee, and filling out another application. I was in and out of the DPS building in 15 minutes, with my State permit. It's still good, even though I've moved to Alabama, and I can continue to renew it.
New Hampshire non-resident permit, 2001:
Download the form from the NH State Police website, fill it out, make a photocopy of my CT permit, enclose a check for 20 dollars, mail it off, and in 10 days, got my non-resident permit.
Alabama, 2002:
Went to the Shelby County Sheriff's office, asked the lady for a concealed firearms permit application, filled it out, let her conduct the background check, paid 20 dollars in cash, and was in and out of the Sheriff's department in 15 minutes.