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PAL (Possession and Acquisition Licence), is also called Firearms Licence in Canada. The Firearms Act requires that individuals wishing to acquire non-restricted firearms (long gun) must take the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) and pass the tests. Individuals who wish to acquire restricted firearms (hand gun) must also take the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) and pass the tests. If you want to own long gun and hand gun, you need to pass both courses.
Courses are two full days, we usually start at 08:00, first day ends at around 19:00 and second day ends at 17:00 (may vary by instructors). PAL is a federal license, it is valid across all of Canada.
We have weekends courses (Sat & Sun) and also weekdays courses. Usually weekends courses have a waiting list (because of the demand), if you want a course sooner or you work on weekends, then you could consider weekdays courses.
If you're also interested in hunting, you need to have a hunting license as well. Hunting license is a provincial license, it is independent from the firearms license. You don't need to have a PAL to hunt (e.g. bow and arrow hunting) or as a prerequisite to get your hunting license.
Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL), also known as Firearms License. You need to pass the firearms safety courses before you can get your PAL.
The Firearms Act requires that individuals wishing to acquire non-restricted firearms (long gun) must take the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) and pass the tests. Individuals who wish to acquire restricted firearms (hand gun) must also take the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) and pass the tests.
This is two-day courses, usually on Sat & Sun (two full days). We do have weekday courses as well to meet the requirement of a few people.
New applicants for a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) must successfully complete the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) and/or Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) course and exam prior to applying for their licence. Participation in classroom training is mandatory and applicants are no longer eligible to complete a challenge test.
FSESO instructors deliver the CFSC and CRFSC courses and exams in the province of Ontario. These courses are designed to familiarize students with the safe use, handling and storage of firearms and ammunition.
The courses are introductory and cover the basics of firearms safety including, but not limited to:
- Basic firearms safety practices
- Ammunition types and storage
- Operating firearm actions
- Safe handling and carry procedures
- Responsibilities of the firearms owner/user
- Safe storage, display, transportation and handling of firearms.
Hunting is an ancient tradition and an integral part of our cultural heritage. The ancestors of today’s human populations ensured our survival by hunting for food and clothing.
Today hunting is still an important activity for millions of people around the world. For many, it is still an important method of food gathering. For others, hunting is a recreational activity that provides an opportunity to further friendships and camaraderie, an opportunity to experience nature and relax in the outdoors and to make an important contribution to conservation.
Responsible hunters support the many rules that have been established to ensure that our wildlife populations are sustained and that hunting remains a safe activity.
The Ontario Hunter Education Program will assist you to understand the natural world and become a knowledgeable and responsible hunter. The program provides introduction information about:
- Ecosystems and wildlife management
- Hunting laws and regulations
- Hunter responsibilities
- Identification, biology, management of and hunting techniques for big game, small game and waterfowl.
- Hunting and survival equipment
- The hunter’s role in society.
The program also reinforces the firearms safety information contained in the Canadian Firearms Safety Course.
New hunters of all ages must take hunter education training and pass an exam before they can purchase their first hunting licence.
There are multiple disciplines for action shooting that we can introduce you to, such as IPSC (International Practical Shooting Confederation), IDPA (The International Defensive Pistol Association), PPC (Police Pistol Combat), CDP (Canadian Defense Pistol), Cowboy Action, etc.
- IPSC is a dynamic shooting sport where the principles of Accuracy, Speed and Power are balanced in a unique scoring system, it requires competitors to shoot fast and accurately.
IPSC is the most well organized shooting game, you can find a match close to you EVERY weekend of the year.
- IDPA is a shooting sport based on defensive pistol techniques, using equipment including full-charge service ammunition to solve simulated "real world" self-defense scenarios. Shooters are required to use practical handguns and holsters that are deemed suitable for self-defense use and concealment garment that can conceal the handgun from view of bystanders.
There are many matches out there as well for IDPA.
- CDP is essenc Canadian version of IDPA, it focuses on skills and safety. It is one of the most valuable holster certifications.
- PPC is a shooting sport focusing on precision shooting from a variety of stances (standing, kneeling, sitting and prone) at varying distances (3, 7, 15, 25 and 50 meters or yards), including shooting from behind an obstacle. The competition seeks to create a measure of similarity to real world situations, and is considered one of the forerunners of practical shooting.
1) You need to be 12 years old or above (12-17 will be junior permit, 18 and above is regular license).
2) You need to have proper English/French skills as the exam will be in English/French, no dictionary/translator allowed.
3) You need to join the firearms safety courses and pass the exams.
4) You don't have firearms prohibition order.
4) No citizenship nor Permanent Residence is required.
5) Firearms license is a federal license, you can use it in any place in Canada.
Firearms license includes Non Restricted (long gun) and Restricted (handgun). This will be 2-day courses, Day 1 usually 08:00-19:00 for Non Restricted, Day 2 usually 08:00-15:00 for Restricted. At the end of each day, you will have written exam and practical exam, you need to pass both at the same time. Also you need to pass Non Restricted first before you can join Restricted course.
Your exam report will be mailed to you after 2-4 weeks, then you can mail in your application form along with photo and exam report. Once RCMP receives your application, they will do background check then issue you the license if they see no problem, this will take another 2-3 months. So total time usually will be 3-5 months. Once you have your license, you can purchase firearms and start practice.
Just like your driver license, you need to renew your firearms license every 5 years, you can do it online.
For hunting license, it is one day course, and usually you can apply for hunting license at designated Service Ontario 5 business days after you pass the exam. You can renew it every 3 years, same as your fishing license.
Canada firearms has 3 categories: Non Restricted (long gun), Restricted (handgun), Prohibited. Your license will be able to purchase the first 2, which includes most rifle/shotgun/handgun. In another word, most guns you see in store you can buy them.
The Hunting License is different from firearms license. Hunting License is provincial license while Firearms License is federal license (which is valid in Canada coast to coast). They have no dependency (Target shooter doesn't have to hunt, Hunter doesn't need to use a gun to hunt --- they can hunt with bow/crossbow), so you can get them in any order.
Usually 5 business days after Hunting course, you will be able to apply and get your hunting license at participating Service Ontario.
As of Jul 2023, Firearms License courses (NR+R) is $450 for two days (all included), Hunting License course (Hunter Safety Course) is $210, one day. For Non Restricted only or Restricted only, one day for $258 (all included).
Please check this article about everything you need to know about firearms license: https://loadandmakeready.wordpress.com/2022/01/16/firearms-license-basics/
416-318-8891 (Text Preferred)
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620 Alden Road, Unit 208, Markham, ON. L3R 3L5
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