Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about licensing, courses and firearms ownership in Canada. Still stuck? Reach out.
PAL stands for Possession and Acquisition Licence (formerly the FAC). It is required to own and register a firearm in your name.
Your firearms licence is valid for 5 years, then renewed like a driver's licence. You do not need to retake the firearms course upon renewal.
Through a federally certified CFSC/CRFSC instructor anywhere in Canada. Contact us at 604-562-7546 to register, or call 1-800-731-4000 for instructors in your area.
The non-restricted licence (PAL) lets you buy and sell most shotguns and rifles. The restricted licence (RPAL) adds handguns and restricted firearms. You must complete the non-restricted course first.
Non-restricted runs roughly 8–12 hours; restricted about 4–6 hours; each split into theory and practical. We offer weekend, weekday and weeknight formats. Licensing paperwork can take 90 days or more after mailing.
You must be 18+ for the PAL/RPAL firearms courses. CORE is open to BC residents 14 and up.
Our prices (in Canadian dollars) are: Non-Restricted (PAL) $165, Restricted (RPAL) $110, the Combined PAL + RPAL $235, and C.O.R.E. $165. You can register and pay online on our Courses page.
We run PAL, RPAL and CORE courses at our facility in Surrey, BC, and welcome students from Langley, Cloverdale, Delta, White Rock and across the Greater Vancouver and Lower Mainland area — about 35 minutes from downtown Vancouver.
Yes. Our Combined course covers both the Non-Restricted (PAL) and Restricted (RPAL) certifications in one streamlined weekend, weekday or weeknight block — it's the most popular and best-value path.
Just bring a piece of government-issued photo ID and something to write with. We provide the manuals, deactivated training firearms and all course materials.
Take the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (and the restricted course for an RPAL) with a certified instructor, pass the written and practical tests, then submit your application to the RCMP Canadian Firearms Program. We handle the training and testing — call 604-562-7546 to book.
The Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education program is British Columbia's hunter education program. BC residents 14+ who want a hunting licence must complete CORE, which includes a practical firearms test and a written exam.
Yes, as long as you are under the direct supervision of an adult (18+) who holds a firearms licence for the category of firearm you wish to shoot.
An Authorization to Transport (ATT). You need a valid firearms licence and a membership to a government-approved range or club. Apply through your provincial CFO at 1-800-731-4000.
An FAC (Firearms Acquisition Certificate) was required to purchase a firearm in Canada until 1994, when it was replaced by the PAL.
For official, up-to-date regulations, contact the Canadian Firearms Program at 1-800-731-4000. This page is a general guide, not legal advice.