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.

These threads will be stickied for a week, renewing every Sunday @ about 0600 AST. Previous threads here. Take a look, your question may have been answered!

If you have any suggestions for this thread, please feel free to ask here, or send the Mods a message.

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u/SharkFriend15 Aug 15 '22

I'm 16 and an thinking of getting the minors license as it automatically upgrades once I turn 18 to my understanding. I also want to do the RCFSC course but since I need to wait to be 18, I'm wondering if it costs the same to do the non restricted course then do the restricted once I'm old enough. I asked a few people and didn't get a very straight answer, but would it cost more to wait and do the restricted? Someone told me you have to redo the CFSC so you pay more. So basically, if you do the minors license, then wait and do the RCFSC are you paying the same or more vs waiting to be 18, and doing both RCFSC and CFSC. Hope that made sense

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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