Exam guide: CFSC tests and the PAL application
641 words · checked 2026-10-03 · Free
At a glance
| Item | What to expect (checked 2026-10-03) |
|---|---|
| Who sets the course | RCMP Canadian Firearms Program (national curriculum); delivered by instructors designated by your province's Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) |
| Legal basis | Firearms Act s.7(1): pass the CFSC tests to be eligible for a non-restricted licence |
| Format | Classroom instruction, then a written test and a practical handling test (no live fire) |
| Pass mark | 80 % on the written test and 80 % on the practical test (stated by CFO delivery agents; not printed on rcmp.ca) |
| Number of written questions | Not published by the RCMP. Many instructors use about 50 multiple-choice and true/false questions - our mock exams use 50 |
| Time limit | Not published nationally; set by the instructor/agent |
| Minimum age | Anyone 12 or older may take the tests (younger children may attend for education only) |
| Challenge test | Not available to new applicants since 2015 - you must take the course |
| Language | English or French |
Key fact: The practical test checks that you apply ACTS and PROVE every time you pick up, pass or put down a firearm. One unsafe muzzle sweep can cost you the practical test.
What the written test covers
The nine official RCMP topics (see the syllabus): evolution and classes of firearms; basic safety (ACTS, PROVE); ammunition; operating actions; handling and carrying; firing techniques; care; owner responsibilities and the law; and storage, display and transport of non-restricted firearms. Legal storage/transport rules and licensing facts generate many questions.
What the practical test looks like
Expect to identify action types and safeties, and to load and unload several common actions (bolt, lever, pump, break, semi-automatic) with dummy ammunition, PROVE each firearm, pass firearms correctly (open and unloaded), demonstrate safe carries and apply a secure locking device.
Booking and fees
- Find a course through the RCMP "Find an instructor" page or your provincial delivery agent (e.g. FSESO in Ontario; in Alberta, delivery moved from AHEIA to the Sherwood Park Fish & Game Association on 1 September 2026).
- Course fees are set by instructors/agents (for example, Ontario FSESO lists CFSC $210 in 2026). Ask what is included: handbook, both tests, the course report form.
- Bring government photo ID and anything your instructor lists. Some courses require 100 % attendance.
Failing a test
Rules for retests are set provincially. A common rule is one retest; failing the retest means taking the course again. In Ontario, FSESO allows retests within 30 days. Ask your instructor before the course.
After you pass: applying for the PAL
- Your instructor gives you the signed course report (keep it - it is your proof of passing).
- Apply for a Possession and Acquisition Licence (form RCMP 5592) with a photo, guarantor and references; current and recent former partners are notified if they do not sign.
- Fee (until 30 March 2027): $70.38 for non-restricted ($93.84 if you also passed the CRFSC). From 31 March 2027: $72.35 / $96.47.
- First-time applicants wait at least 28 days before a licence can be issued (SOR/98-199 s.5). Many applications take longer.
- The licence is valid for 5 years; report address changes within 30 days.
Ages 12-17 apply for a minor's licence instead; you may apply for the adult PAL up to six months before turning 18.
Study plan using this app
- Read the free ACTS/PROVE note and this guide.
- Work through each topic note and its practice questions; focus on storage/transport tables and the legal note.
- Take the three exam-style practice papers (50 questions, 80 % to pass) under time pressure.
- Practise unloading real actions under an instructor - the app cannot replace hands-on handling.
Key fact: Check rcmp.ca and your CFO before the course - classification and licensing rules have changed often since 2020.