Before you can apply for a firearms licence, you need to pass the Canadian Firearms Safety Course. This guide covers what a PAL course costs in each province as of October 2026, how long it takes, whether you can do any of it online, why you can no longer challenge the exam, and how to choose a good instructor. If you want to see how ready you are before you book, start with the free PAL practice test.
A word on names. People say "PAL course", but the official name is the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC). The restricted course for an RPAL is the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC). The RCMP sets the national curriculum, and each province's Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) designates the instructors (rcmp.ca safety courses).
PAL course cost by province (October 2026)
Course fees are not set by the RCMP. In some provinces a single delivery agent publishes a standard price; elsewhere, private designated instructors set their own. The table below uses official delivery-agent prices where we could find them and flags provider-reported figures.
| Province | CFSC (PAL) | CRFSC (RPAL) / both | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $210 | CRFSC $170; both $380 (includes both tests, minimum 12 hours classroom) | FSESO course list, 2026. Excludes tax and manual |
| Quebec | $113 including tax, digital manual and exams ($116 in 2027) | Check FédéCP | FédéCP (Sécurité nature) |
| Nova Scotia | $90 + HST | Check SSNS | Safety Services Nova Scotia, effective April 2024 |
| British Columbia | Commonly about $190 to $235 | Combined courses commonly about $380 to $450 | Private instructors; not regulated, prices vary |
| Alberta | Not centrally published | Not centrally published | Delivery moved to Sherwood Park Fish and Game Association on 1 September 2026; ask the instructor |
| Other provinces and territories | Set by designated instructors | Set by designated instructors | Contact your CFO office |
College-run courses in Ontario, such as Sault College, have listed the CFSC at about $230. Across the country, the typical all-in range we see for one or both courses is about $190 to $450.
What the price should include
Ask before you pay:
- Are both tests (written and practical) included?
- Is the handbook included, or is it extra?
- Is the signed course report included?
- Is a retest included if you fail, or is it a separate fee?
- Are taxes included?
Key fact: The course fee is separate from the RCMP licence fee. As of October 2026 the licence costs $70.38 for a non-restricted PAL or $93.84 with restricted privileges (RCMP service fees).
Total cost example
| Item | Non-restricted PAL (Ontario) | RPAL (Ontario, both courses) |
|---|---|---|
| Course | $210 | $380 |
| RCMP licence fee | $70.38 | $93.84 |
| Approximate total before tax, photo and travel | $280 | $474 |
How long is the PAL course?
There is no single national length. The RCMP does not publish one. Provincial delivery agents set minimums:
| Province or agent | CFSC length | CRFSC length |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario (FSESO) | Minimum 8 instructional hours, not counting tests | Minimum 6 hours; 4 hours if taken back to back with the CFSC |
| Quebec (FédéCP) | 8 to 10 hours | Check FédéCP |
| Nova Scotia (SSNS) | About 11 hours | Check SSNS |
Common schedules
- One long day: classroom in the morning and afternoon, tests at the end. Tiring but quick.
- A weekend: CFSC on Saturday, CRFSC on Sunday, or both spread over two days.
- Evenings: two to four weeknight sessions, with tests on the last night.
Ontario's FSESO requires 100% attendance to sit the tests, and many instructors elsewhere do the same. If you have to leave early, you may have to rebook.
Exam tip: Do your reading before course day. Candidates who arrive knowing ACTS, PROVE and the storage rules use the classroom time for hands-on practice instead of catching up. Our ACTS and PROVE study note is free.
Can you do the PAL course online?
This is one of the most common questions, and the honest answer is not fully.
What the RCMP says
The RCMP describes the course as in-class instruction, after which you do a written test and a practical test. The practical test is hands-on: you load and unload real firearms with dummy ammunition in front of a designated instructor. That cannot be done remotely.
Blended and self-study options
Some instructors offer formats that move part of the learning out of the classroom, for example:
- sending you the handbook or study material in advance;
- shorter in-person sessions for students who have pre-studied;
- virtual theory sessions followed by an in-person practical and written test.
Whether a blended format is accepted depends on your province's CFO and how the instructor is designated. Before you pay, ask: "Is this format approved by the Chief Firearms Officer, and will I receive a signed CFSC course report?" If the answer is unclear, choose a different provider.
What you can do online
- Study. Read the handbook, study notes and practise exam-style questions. Our PAL practice test and topic drills work on any device.
- Apply for the licence. After you pass, eligible applicants can apply to the RCMP online (rcmp.ca apply for a firearms licence).
Can you challenge the PAL exam?
Not as a new applicant. Until 2015, some people could get a licence by passing the tests without completing the course. Bill C-42, the Common Sense Firearms Licensing Act, removed that option for new applicants: you must now successfully complete the course and pass its tests (Firearms Act s.7). Ontario's delivery agent states that challenge tests are no longer permitted.
Why you still see "challenge" advertised
- Hunter education exams in some provinces can be challenged. For example, BC's CORE hunter exam has a self-study and challenge route. That is not the CFSC.
- Retests after a failed attempt are sometimes loosely called challenges.
- Some older web pages were never updated after 2015.
A few narrow exceptions to the course requirement exist in the law, such as alternative certification for some long-time owners and sustenance hunters under 18. They are listed on the RCMP safety course exceptions page.
What happens on the course
A typical CFSC day follows the nine official topics:
- Evolution of firearms, major parts and classes.
- Basic safety: ACTS and PROVE.
- Ammunition.
- Operating actions: bolt, lever, pump, break and semi-automatic.
- Safe handling and carries.
- Firing techniques.
- Care of firearms.
- Responsibilities of the owner and the law.
- Storage, display and transport.
Then come the tests. CFO delivery agents state an 80% pass mark on both the written and the practical. The RCMP does not publish the number of written questions; instructors commonly use about 50, and our mocks use 50. See the PAL test format guide for detail and the PAL practical test guide for each action.
The CRFSC follows eight topics focused on handguns and restricted-firearm law: registration, transfers, the Authorization to Transport and stricter storage and transport. The CRFSC exam guide summarizes them.
If you fail a test
Retest rules are set by your province's delivery agent. A common rule is one retest, with failure on the retest meaning you take the course again. Ontario's FSESO requires retests within 30 days. Ask about retest fees before you book.
How to choose a PAL instructor
Only instructors designated by your province's CFO can run the official tests. Start at the RCMP's Find an instructor page, which lists each province's delivery agent or CFO contact.
What a designated instructor has done
Per the RCMP's instructor requirements, designated CFSC instructors must have held a PAL for at least three consecutive years, pass background and vulnerable sector checks, complete training with a master instructor, and keep teaching a minimum number of courses each year. Designation is a baseline. Teaching quality still varies.
Questions to ask before booking
- Are you designated by the CFO in this province? Ask for the designation or the delivery agent's confirmation.
- How many students per class? Smaller groups mean more hands-on time with each action.
- How many firearms and action types will we handle? You want all five long-gun actions, more than once.
- What is included in the price? Tests, handbook, course report, retest, tax.
- What is the attendance rule? And what happens if you are sick on the day?
- What language is the course in? Courses run in English or French.
- Is the CRFSC available the next day? Back-to-back courses save time and money.
Signs of a good course
- The instructor watches muzzle direction constantly and corrects you early.
- You get time to load and unload each action yourself, not just watch.
- Storage and transport rules are explained with scenarios, not just read aloud.
- Questions are welcome.
Key fact: Reviews mean less than designation. A course that is not run by a CFO-designated instructor will not give you a valid course report, and you cannot apply without one.
Does the PAL course expire?
The RCMP pages we checked do not print an expiry date for a CFSC course report. That does not mean you should wait. Apply within weeks of passing, while the course is fresh and before any rule changes. Keep the signed report and a scan of it: it is your only proof of passing. For the full application, see how to get a PAL.
Booking tips: when and how to book
Courses fill up at predictable times, and a little planning saves weeks.
Book early before hunting season
Late summer and early fall are the busiest months, because new hunters need the CFSC before their seasons open. If you want to hunt in the fall, aim to take the course in spring or early summer. That leaves time for the 28-day minimum licence wait, and for any delay in screening.
Pair it with hunter education
In several provinces the CFSC and hunter education are offered together or by the same organizations. In Ontario, a combined hunter education and CFSC weekend is common. In BC, the CFSC course report exempts you from the CORE practical handling test. Ask whether a combined package is available and whether it costs less.
Minors and families
Anyone 12 or older can take the tests, and young people aged 12 to 17 use the course report to apply for a minor's licence. Some instructors run family or youth sessions. Ask whether a parent must attend and whether youth pricing applies.
French-language courses
The CFSC and CRFSC are offered in English and French, and the handbooks exist in both languages. In Quebec, FédéCP runs the courses in French. Elsewhere, ask the delivery agent for French dates.
Accessibility
If you need accommodation for reading, hearing or mobility, tell the instructor when you book. Ask in advance, not on the day, whether options such as extra time or an oral test are possible; the answer depends on the instructor and the province's delivery agent.
Should you take both courses?
If you are certain you only want ordinary rifles and shotguns, the CFSC alone is enough. If there is a chance you will want restricted privileges, taking the CRFSC back to back is usually the cheaper and shorter route. Since 21 October 2022, most individuals cannot acquire handguns, so read our PAL vs RPAL comparison before deciding. Province-specific options are in how to get a PAL in Ontario.
Your study plan
- Book a course through the RCMP instructor list, using the questions above.
- Before course day, read the free CFSC exam guide and the ACTS and PROVE note.
- Take the free PAL diagnostic to see which topics need work.
- Take the free full PAL mock: 50 questions, 60 minutes, 40 correct to pass on our mock.
- For more timed mocks, topic drills and every study note, see Pro. This site is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with the RCMP or any course provider.
- On course day, ask to handle each action more than once. The practical rewards habits you build in the room.
10 free PAL (CFSC) practice questions with answers
Try each one, then open the answer. For a timed experience use the free mock exam.
1. What do the 'shell stops' (shell latches) in a pump shotgun do?
- A. Hold the barrel firmly onto the receiver
- B. Stop the fore-end from sliding at all
- C. Hold shells in the tube until one is fed
- D. Stop the shot pattern from spreading
Show answer
C. Hold shells in the tube until one is fed
Shell stops keep shells in the tube until the action releases one onto the carrier. Pressing them is also one way to unload the magazine (CFSC Handbook, Module 6).
2. When deciding eligibility, which past court order involving an intimate partner must a CFO take into account?
- A. A parking ban at a condominium
- B. A family court order on child support
- C. A firearms ban after violence to a partner
- D. A civil judgment for unpaid rent
Show answer
C. A firearms ban after violence to a partner
Firearms Act s.5(2)(e) directs the CFO to consider whether, in respect of an offence involving violence against an intimate or former intimate partner, the person was previously prohibited by a prohibition order from possessing firearms and other weapons.
3. A cartridge is described as '6.5 mm'. What does the number refer to?
- A. The barrel length in inches
- B. The case length in centimetres
- C. The rough bullet diameter in millimetres
- D. The number of cartridges per box
Show answer
C. The rough bullet diameter in millimetres
Metric calibres give the approximate bullet or bore diameter in millimetres. Case length, capacity and barrel length are other measurements.
4. When firing a shotgun, where should your body weight be?
- A. On the back leg
- B. On the leading leg
- C. Evenly on the heels
- D. On the toes of the back foot
Show answer
B. On the leading leg
When firing a shotgun, shift your body weight to the leading leg, with the leading hand on the fore-stock pointing naturally at the target.
5. For a right-handed shooter in the standing position, how is the body placed?
- A. About 45° to the right of the target
- B. Square to the target
- C. Back to the target
- D. About 90° to the left of the target
Show answer
A. About 45° to the right of the target
In the standing position, a right-handed shooter turns about 45° to the right of the target with the feet about shoulder-width apart.
6. You are hunting alone and come to a barbed-wire fence. What is the safest way to cross?
- A. Unload, slide it under the fence, cross away from the muzzle
- B. Climb over holding the loaded rifle
- C. Lean the loaded rifle on the fence and climb
- D. Cross with the safety on and finger outside the guard
Show answer
A. Unload, slide it under the fence, cross away from the muzzle
Unload the firearm and PROVE it, place it on the far side or slide it under the fence with the muzzle pointed away from where you will cross, cross at a different spot, then pick it up by the stock and check the bore before reloading.
7. You sell your non-restricted rifle to a licensed buyer who lives in another province. What is required?
- A. A registration certificate
- B. The buyer's licence and a valid reference number
- C. Nothing extra; out-of-province sales are unregulated
- D. A permit from both provinces
Show answer
B. The buyer's licence and a valid reference number
Firearms Act s.23 applies to any non-restricted transfer in Canada: the buyer must hold a licence to acquire it and you must obtain a valid reference number from the Registrar. Licences are valid throughout Canada (s.63). Shipping must follow SOR/98-209.
8. When may you load one barrel of a double-barrelled percussion shotgun?
- A. Only with both hammers cocked
- B. Only after the other barrel's cap is off
- C. Only after firing both barrels
- D. Any time, if the muzzle is up
Show answer
B. Only after the other barrel's cap is off
Do not load one barrel of a double-barrelled muzzleloading shotgun unless the percussion cap on the other barrel's nipple has been removed.
9. Why should you never shoot at flat, hard surfaces or at water?
- A. The noise is much louder
- B. It damages the barrel's rifling
- C. Bullets can ricochet unpredictably
- D. It is only a problem with shotguns
Show answer
C. Bullets can ricochet unpredictably
Projectiles striking water, rock or other flat, hard surfaces can glance off (ricochet) at unpredictable angles and carry dangerous energy a long way. The CFSC teaches choosing targets with a safe backstop that will stop projectiles.
10. What is the 'hammer' on a firearm?
- A. The part that strikes the firing pin or primer
- B. The sling attachment at the butt
- C. The part used to clean the bore
- D. The part that holds the magazine
Show answer
A. The part that strikes the firing pin or primer
The hammer is a spring-powered part that, when released by the trigger, strikes the firing pin (or directly the primer in some designs) to fire the cartridge. It may be exposed or internal.
Frequently asked questions
+How much does a PAL course cost?
Course fees are set by instructors and delivery agents. As of October 2026, Ontario's FSESO lists $210 for the CFSC and $380 for both courses, Quebec's FédéCP lists $113 including tax, and Nova Scotia lists $90 plus HST. Private instructors in other provinces commonly charge about $190 to $250.
+Can you do the PAL course online?
Not entirely. The RCMP describes the CFSC as in-class instruction followed by a written and a practical test. Some instructors offer blended formats with study materials or theory sessions in advance, but the practical handling test, and normally the written test, are done in person with a designated instructor.
+How long is the PAL course?
It depends on the province and instructor. Ontario's FSESO requires at least 8 instructional hours for the CFSC, not counting the tests. Quebec lists 8 to 10 hours and Nova Scotia about 11 hours. Most courses run over one long day, a weekend or a few evenings.
+Can I challenge the PAL exam without taking the course?
No, not as a first-time applicant. Bill C-42 removed the challenge route in 2015. You must attend the full course and pass the written and practical tests.
+Does the PAL course expire?
The RCMP pages we checked do not print an expiry date for a CFSC course report. Rules can change, so the safe approach is to apply for your licence soon after you pass and keep your signed course report somewhere safe.
+Is it worth taking the CFSC and CRFSC together?
If you think you may want restricted privileges, usually yes. Back-to-back courses are shorter and cheaper than two separate bookings; in Ontario the CRFSC drops to a 4-hour minimum when taken right after the CFSC. Read our PAL vs RPAL guide first because the 2022 handgun freeze changed what an RPAL is useful for.
+How do I find a certified PAL instructor?
Use the RCMP's Find an instructor page, which lists each province's delivery agent or Chief Firearms Officer contact. Only instructors designated by your province's Chief Firearms Officer can run the official tests.
+What should I bring to the PAL course?
Government photo ID, payment, the handbook if it is not included, a pen and anything your instructor lists. Do not bring your own firearms or ammunition unless the instructor tells you to. Some courses require 100% attendance to sit the tests.
Study offline on your phone too
The Canada Licence Prep app has the same questions with audio, French explanations and an ACTS & PROVE coach.
Keep reading
- How to Get Your PAL in CanadaThe 5 steps to a Canadian firearms licence: course, exams, RCMP 5592 application, references, and wait times. Includes RPAL and minors.
- PAL vs RPAL: What's the Difference?PAL covers non-restricted rifles and shotguns; RPAL adds restricted firearms. Compare courses, exams, fees, storage rules and 2026 handgun limits.
- Free PAL Practice Test (CFSC)Free 50-question CFSC mock exam for the PAL test: 80% pass mark, timed like the real thing, scored instantly with explanations. Start with a diagnostic.
- How Many Questions Are on the PAL Test?The CFSC written test is reported at about 50 questions with an 80% pass mark, plus a practical test. Format, timing, fees and what each part covers.
- How to Get a PAL in OntarioOntario PAL guide: approved CFSC courses, typical course prices, the Ontario CFO, processing times, minimum age and pairing it with hunter ed.
- PAL Practical Test: What to ExpectWhat the CFSC practical exam checks: safe muzzle direction, PROVE on each action type, loading, unloading and ammunition ID. Step-by-step checklist.