In Pennsylvania, you apply to your County Sherrif's office for a CCW permit. They do a backround check and either issue or deny. I believe it takes somewhere around a month. It's not so much of an "I need it because"........thing. It's basically treated as a 2nd Ammendment right. I've had mine for around 15 or more years, I believe, and it has to be renewed every 5 yrs. if not revoked sooner because you flubbed up somewhere.
I also believe that the PA. Game Commission just changed the laws regarding carrying while bow hunting to permit it if you have the CCW. I think the spotting deer at night laws were changed in this regard too.