r/canadaguns • u/AutoModerator • Aug 14 '22

Weekly Newbies & FAQ Thread - Post your questions here for PAL/RPAL application, timelines, CFSC/CFSRC, references & requirements, or general new to firearms ownership -type questions

This thread will be used for the "new"-type questions, PAL/RPAL applications, references, CFSC/CFRSC requirements, storage/transport, or other general "new-to-me" firearms ownership questions.

In response to this thread, the community was quite positive for a thread to cover these subjects.

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u/BopplzLife British Columbia Aug 15 '22 edited Aug 15 '22

A Minor's Firearms License does NOT automatically upgrade to a PAL when you turn 18.

The license expires on the day that you turn 18 and you have to apply for the PAL just like everybody else, Minor's License or not. Only difference is you get to check the "I have a Minor's Licence and I request a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL)" box on the PAL application form which may get your application processed faster and you are exempt from the 28 day waiting period required by Section 5 of the Firearms Licenses Regulations.

The CFSC course report you got as a minor is still valid when you apply for your PAL and is good for life, just don't lose it (make a digital copy just in case), that is the proof you took and passed the course, I would assume just like everything to do with the CFP it would be a titanic hassle to get a copy of the course report from the CFO of the province you took the course in. (Do not send them the original course report you are given when you pass, send them an unaltered photocopy printed on plain white printer paper, the original you take home is your copy and your proof of passing the course, keep it just like you would the original of any important document.)

You can attend the CRFSC as a minor but you can't take the test so it doesn't count as passing the CRFSC as required to apply for an RPAL. It would be for educational purposes only and that one, you would have to pay for again when you turn 18 to be able to take the test and pass. To my knowledge you have to have taken the CFSC as a prerequisite prior to taking the CRFSC, some course providers may provide both and decide to bundle them together and you get a discount if you buy the bundle rather than buying both courses separately, although I have never heard of this being a thing. I don't see price being any less if you took them one after another as an adult rather than the CFSC as a minor and CRFSC as an adult. (Unless of course they change the price of the courses.) They also would not happen on the same day, they would happen separate days and with some providers the even just the CFSC is spread out between two days to get the minimum of 8 hours total required.

If you decide decide to apply for and get issued a minors license (I recommend that you do) and you wish to keep having a license as an adult you should send in your completed PAL application 6 months before your 18th birthday to prevent any lapse in being able to possess a firearm.

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u/iloveneuro Aug 15 '22

OP and you don’t mention provinces so don’t know if it’s different but in Ontario I was provided with 2 copies of the course results STAMPED by the FSEO. I was required to provide an original to CFP with my application. I don’t think you can send a photocopy but again, this was Ontario.

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u/BopplzLife British Columbia Aug 15 '22 edited Aug 15 '22

Don't know about ON, I know you guys have some weird thing with the courses that you have to wait and get a confirmation that the CFO has validated your course report or some shit so that probably is why you got two and had to provide an original. I'm in BC and you only are given one out of the three, the instructor sends an original to the CFO, and keeps one for himself I believe. I called the CFP before sending in my applications they said an unaltered copy is fine. Both myself and my mom sent in photocopies and we were both approved without any mention of the course report being an issue.

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u/SharkFriend15 Aug 16 '22

Im in Ontario, thank you for that info

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u/SharkFriend15 Aug 15 '22

Thank you so much for everything you've said! So you can send in a PAL application before you turn 18? Would it just not be accepted till my 18th birthday then? But it would also get rid of some of the waiting time I assume thst wat I could purchase firearms closer to when I actually turn 18. Again, thanks for all thst you said, I'll definitely use all you'd advice and looks like I'll plan on doing the minors

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u/BopplzLife British Columbia Aug 15 '22

I currently have my MFL so I have not gone through the process of getting my PAL yet so I am unable to answer with complete certainty but I was told by my CFSC instructor (who is a retired CO) to mail in my completed PAL form 6 months before my 18th birthday, and Ottawa Firearm Safety Education & Training (a CFSC & CRFSC provider) says on their website to do that as well. Common sense leads me to believe that the license application would be processed before you turn 18 and would not be mailed to you until after you turn 18 or something similar. If that is the case it would definitely get rid of a lot of the waiting time and you should be able to purchase firearms within probably 2 weeks of your birthday at least.

And about the cost difference in taking the courses one after another as an adult rather than the CFSC as a minor and CRFSC as an adult, I just found out that at least on provider, which leads me to believe more do as well, do offer a combined CFSC & CRFSC course which bundles both the Non-Restricted and Restricted courses into one weekend at a reduced cost compared to purchasing the courses separate. This is what I believe the other responding person was referring to although I cannot be sure on that but I see no other reason for the cost to be less or more in this context. The provider I took my course with does not provide this offer, they just do the CFSC for 150 and the CRFSC for 95.

I would recommend just taking the CFSC now as a minor, get your MFL, apply for a PAL 6 months before your 18th, take the CRFSC as soon after you turn 18 as possible, and put your application in the mail to upgrade to an RPAL after your receive your PAL in the mail. I believe that is the best and fastest way to go about it and that is what I will be doing.

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u/SharkFriend15 Aug 16 '22

Thank you for helping me out. That sounds like what the other guy was talking about yeah. So it sounds like thats what I'll do, even if it costs more definitely should he easier for rhe future! Thanks for helping me!

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u/Beretta_errata removeddit pro Aug 15 '22

faster

No, there is no faster

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u/BopplzLife British Columbia Aug 15 '22

Nothing is ever faster with the CFP, but you never know. Maybe they have to do less background or something if you had a valid MFL before applying for your PAL.