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

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[u/SharkFriend15]

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

[u/BopplzLife → u/SharkFriend15]

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.

[u/Beretta_errata → u/BopplzLife]

faster

No, there is no faster

[u/BopplzLife → u/Beretta_errata]

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.