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Courses will be held when enough demand is reached. Cost will be $200.
Getting a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) is a legal requirement in Canada to buy, own, or inherit non-restricted firearms, such as most rifles and shotguns, and to legally purchase ammunition. Beyond basic ownership, a PAL is your gateway to participating in hunting and target shooting. Even if you only plan to shoot occasionally with friends, completing the required safety course provides excellent practical knowledge, allowing you to handle firearms safely, confidently, and independently.
Despite Canada’s national handgun freeze, an RPAL is still worth getting; it is legally required to purchase and own restricted long guns, such as certain short-barreled rifles. It also allows you to borrow restricted firearms including handguns. It is mandatory for some careers and gives you broader safety training to keep your options open against future legislative changes.
Canadian Firearms Safety Course
Canadian Firearms Safety Course
The CFSC is the foundational course required for anyone seeking a standard Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL).
Purpose: It allows you to legally purchase and possess non-restricted firearms, which generally includes standard sporting shotguns and rifles used for hunting and target shooting.
What you learn: The course covers basic firearms safety (like the ACTS and PROVE safety principles), basic mechanics and action types, ammunition types, safe handling, storage, and transportation laws.
Who can take it: Anyone 12 years of age or older can take the course (though you must be 18 to get a full PAL; minors can get a Minor's Licence).
The course will be 8 hours of instruction, plus a written and practical exam.
Restricted Canadian Firearms Safety Course
Restricted Canadian Firearms Safety Course
This is the secondary course required for a Restricted Possession and Acquisition Licence (RPAL).
Purpose: It allows you to legally purchase and possess restricted firearms. This category primarily includes handguns and certain restricted long guns. Note that recent Canadian legislation has placed a national freeze on the sale, purchase, and transfer of handguns, but the RCFSC is still required for specific professions (like armored car guards, law enforcement, or film industry armorers) and for the restricted long guns that remain legal.
What you learn: It builds on the CFSC but focuses specifically on the mechanics, handling, safe storage, and much stricter transportation laws associated with restricted firearms.
Who can take it: You must be at least 18 years old to take the RCFSC, and you must have already passed the non-restricted CFSC.
The course will be 6 hours of instruction, plus a written and practical exam.
How to get certified:
Both courses are typically taught over a weekend (one day for each) and involve classroom instruction, followed by a written multiple-choice test and a hands-on practical exam using deactivated firearms. You must score at least 80% on both exams to pass. Once you have passed, you use the course reports to apply for your license through the RCMP.
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