Getting your PAL in St. John's: the CFSC course, fees and a sample test

· 9 min read · Syed Omar Faruk Towaha

If you want to own, borrow or buy a non-restricted firearm in Canada, including most hunting rifles and shotguns, you need a PAL: a Possession and Acquisition Licence. And before the RCMP will even look at your PAL application, you need a certificate from the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC). This is how that works in St. John's, what it costs, and a practice test to get you ready.

Fees and dates change. The figures below are what the provincial and RCMP pages showed when I wrote this. Check the official pages before you pay for anything.

For a sense of timing: I took the course in 2019, and my PAL arrived about three months after I applied. Yours may be faster or slower, so apply early and don't book anything that depends on the licence.

The short version

  1. Take the CFSC (one day, classroom plus a written test and a practical test).
  2. Pass both tests and get your course certificate.
  3. Apply to the RCMP Canadian Firearms Program for a PAL, with the certificate, photos and fee.
  4. Wait. There is a mandatory minimum 28-day waiting period, and it often takes longer.
  5. Receive your licence in the mail. It is valid for five years.

Step 1: the course

In Newfoundland and Labrador the course is delivered through College of the North Atlantic (CNA) Continuing Education. You register through the CNA website or by phone (toll free 1-888-982-2268), and they list campuses and dates, including St. John's.

The provincial hunting guide lists these fees, all plus HST:

If you also plan to hunt, the combined course is the better deal, because Hunter Education is required for a hunting licence in the province. Anyone from age 12 can take the course with parental consent.

The course covers firearm safety, handling, storage, transportation and the law. It is one day of classroom instruction, then two tests:

Step 2: the PAL application

Once you hold the course certificate, you apply to the Canadian Firearms Program (RCMP). You will need:

Questions go to the Canadian Firearms Program on 1-800-731-4000. The application asks about your history, including mental health, criminal record and relationships, and the RCMP contacts your references. Be honest and complete, and give yourself time.

What the practical test looks for

The instructor is watching for habits, not speed. Every time you pick up a firearm, the sequence is the same:

The four rules you will hear all day are often taught with the acronym ACTION: Assume every firearm is loaded; Control the muzzle direction; Trigger finger kept off the trigger and outside the trigger guard; Identify your target, and what is beyond it; Only load when ready to use; Never use alcohol or drugs when handling firearms.

Storing, carrying and car rules

This is the part people get wrong, and it is also on the test. The rules below are for non-restricted firearms and come from the RCMP's storing, transporting and displaying page. Restricted and prohibited firearms have extra requirements, including an Authorization to Transport, so don't assume this applies to them.

Storing at home

Carrying and transporting

Leaving it in a vehicle

Hunting adds provincial rules, such as those about firearms in vehicles. Check the Newfoundland and Labrador hunting and trapping guide, and ask the Canadian Firearms Program (1-800-731-4000) if you are unsure. When in doubt, lock it, unload it and keep it out of sight.

Sample test

These are practice questions in the style of the written test, written by me from the course material. They are not the real exam.

1. A firearm should be treated as:

2. Where should your finger be when you are not ready to shoot?

3. True or false: the safety catch is a mechanical device that can fail, so it should never replace safe handling.

4. Before you shoot, you should be sure of:

5. When you hand a firearm to someone, you should first:

6. True or false: it is acceptable to use a small amount of alcohol before shooting if you feel fine.

7. When storing a non-restricted firearm at home, the law requires that it be:

8. Ammunition should be:

9. When you cross a fence or climb with a firearm, you should:

10. True or false: you should only use ammunition that exactly matches the calibre stamped on the barrel.

Answers

  1. b
  2. c
  3. True
  4. b
  5. b
  6. False
  7. a
  8. b
  9. b
  10. True

If you can answer all ten without hesitation, you are in a good place for the written test. The practical is mostly muscle memory, and your instructor will walk you through it.

Renewing your PAL

A PAL lasts five years, so put the expiry date in your calendar.

Where to practise afterwards

Passing the course and getting your PAL doesn't make you a confident shooter, so find a range and practise. Ranges around St. John's are mostly run by clubs, so expect to join, show your PAL and sometimes do a short orientation. I couldn't confirm current membership fees, hours or rules, so contact each place before you go.

One more thing: until your PAL arrives you can't transport or buy firearms, and once it does you still have to follow the transport and storage rules from the course on the way to the range.

Where to go next

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