CFSC & CRFSC Combo Course
One Combo Course is run over a 3 day period.
Weekend Course times:
Friday, 5:00pm to 9:00pm,
Saturday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, and
Sunday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.
Evening Combo Course times:
Monday, 4:00pm to 10:00pm,
Tuesday, 4:00pm to 10:00pm, and
Wednesday, 4:00pm to 10:00pm.
CFSC Standalone Course
The CFSC can be delivered in a 1 day or 2 day format. Two days is the typical delivery time to make it a more relaxing experience for students, but there are instances where condensing the course into one day is offered.
Weekend CFSC Standalone Course times (2 day course) (includes exam times):
Friday, 5:00pm to 9:00pm,
Saturday, 8:00am to 5:00pm
Weekend CFSC Standalone Course times (1 day course) (includes exam times):
Saturday, 8:00am to 8:00pm
Weekday Evening CFSC Standalone Course times (includes exam times):
Monday, 4:00pm to 10:00pm, and
Tuesday, 4:00pm to 10:00pm
Course Duration and Regulation
The requirement to complete the Canadian Firearms Safety Course is set out in Section 7 of the Firearms Act which delegates authority to the Minister of Public Safety. The specific details including the 8-hour length, the course content, and the examination standards are administrative requirements set by the RCMP Canadian Firearms Program (CFP) and administered by the Chief Firearms Office (CFO) of each province to ensure consistency and compliance.
Minimum Instructional Hours
Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC): The minimum instructional time required for the CFSC is eight hours. This time is dedicated exclusively to classroom instruction and hands-on firearm handling.
Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC): The minimum instructional time required for the CRFSC is six hours when delivered as a standalone course. If offered as part of a combined course with the CFSC, the minimum instructional time for the CRFSC component is reduced to four hours.
Scope of Instructional Hours
The instructional hour requirements apply solely to classroom teaching and practical handling sessions. Additional components such as meals, breaks, and mandatory written and practical examinations are not included in the instructional hour count. When these elements are factored in, a typical full day of instruction—including all required breaks and exams—generally extends to 10 to 12 hours in total.
Oversight in Ontario
In Ontario, the Chief Firearm Officer (CFO) strictly regulates the length of the Canadian Firearms Safety Course. All course providers within the province must adhere to these prescribed hours, ensuring that every course meets the required standards for duration and content.
Attendance and Examination Requirements
Due to the strict enforcement of these regulations, late arrivals are not permitted under any circumstances. Students must be present for the entire eight hours of instruction in order to meet the Section 7 of the Firearms Act requirements. The same requirements also require successful completion of the full CFSC course and passing its exams as prerequisites before attending the CRFSC course. These policies are mandated by both the RCMP Canadian Firearms Program and the Chief Firearms Officer of Ontario.
The process of obtaining a firearms licence in Canada is taken very seriously, and this is reflected in the strict requirements for course attendance and examination. Successful completion of the regulated courses and exams is essential for anyone seeking a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL).
Frequently Asked Questions About Course Hours
Can I arrive late for my Canadian Firearms Safety Course?
No, you cannot show up late to a Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC). Late arrivals are explicitly not permitted, and missing any portion of the training—which has strict, mandatory hourly requirements—will result in being turned away, losing your seat, and forfeiting your fees. Arriving late is the same as not showing up for your course.
Why Can’t I arrive late?
The CFSC requires a specific number of instructional hours (8 hours for non-restricted). Because of these strict requirements mandated by the RCMP and provincial authorities, you must be present for the entire course.
Instructors will not permit you to enter once the class has started, as you will have missed essential safety training. There are insurance and legal liabilities if a student enters late after missing identity verification and the safety briefing.
Can I reschedule to another course if I am late?
No. If you arrive late, it is the same as not providing sufficient notice and not showing up at all: you forfeit your seat and cannot be “rescheduled”. To attend another course, you will have to re-register in a new course and pay the full registration fee.
Can I get a refund if I am late?
No. If you arrive late, it is the same as not providing sufficient notice and not showing up at all: you will forfeit your seat and cannot receive a refund.
Why won’t the instructor let me into the classroom late?
Instructors have a duty of care to ensure all participants are equally trained in safe handling before any firearms handling begins. Missing the early student identity verification and the classroom and firearm safety protocols makes a late student a physical liability to others in the room.
Legally Mandated Hours: Under Section 7 of the Firearms Act, the RCMP requires a minimum of 8 hours of instructional time for the CFSC. If you miss the beginning, the instructor cannot legally certify that you completed the full program, which is a prerequisite for taking the exams.
Audit and Licensing Risk: Instructors and training centers are heavily regulated by the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO). If they are audited and found to be letting students skip portions of the mandatory hours, they risk losing their professional designation and license to teach.
Safety and Continuity: The course starts with critical safety fundamentals and handling protocols. Missing the early minutes makes you a safety risk to the rest of the class and a legal liability as you haven’t been briefed on the class’s specific safety protocols.
Documentation and ID Checks: Instructors are required to verify government-issued photo ID and complete mandatory RCMP paperwork before instruction officially begins. Arriving late prevents the instructor from completing this necessary verification without stopping the class for everyone else.
Insurance and Liability: Training facilities have insurance policies that strictly cover students only during supervised, scheduled instructional hours. Entering a room where firearms are present without having received the initial safety briefing can create a major liability risk for the instructor.
Classroom Disruption: Because firearms safety courses are lasting 10 to 12 hours when exams are included—instructors follow a tight, meticulously planned schedule to ensure the class finishes on time. A late arrival requires stopping the lesson to catch the student up, which is unfair to the students who arrived early. (Paperwork is completed in the 15 minutes prior to class start. A late entry would delay the rest of the class by 15 minutes for the instructor to explain the paperwork and verify it before resuming class).
Logistics and Waitlists: These courses often have long waiting lists. “Late arrival” is treated the same as a “no-show,” and because your seat cannot be filled at the last minute, you forfeit your course fee.
Why do you have a policy of not providing refunds or reschedules for students that are late or do not show up to class?
This is the industry standard because these courses have very high operating costs and a full course is required to cover the expenses. Your course fees are forfeited when you arrive late or do not show up to class because that seat could have been filled by another student from a lengthy waiting list. If a student does not show up to class or arrives late, the cost of the provider to deliver the course is not reduced. Not showing up to your class is similar to buying a ticket for a concert and not attending. Arriving late to class is similar to arriving late to the airport for your flight, once the plane has left the terminal you have missed your flight.
Is it common for students to cancel at the last minute or arrive late for class?
No. Fortunately, most people understand the seriousness and responsibility of firearm ownership and licencing in Canada. The courses are also recognized for their high cost, limited availability, and the strict policies regarding attendance. In our experience students rarely fail to provide sufficient notice for cancellations and even more rarely arrive late.
Are these policies on course hours unique to Ottawa Firearm Safety?
No. Our policies are in line with all other CFSC/CRFSC providers in Ontario. All providers must have strict policies in order to adhere to strict regulatory requirements and to cover the high operating costs of CFSC course delivery. Instructors lack discretion on course hours due to the strict regulatory requirements.
Will other CFSC providers permit late entry into class?
No. While many providers fail to emphasize this before you register—leading to “bad surprises” on the day of the course—no provider is legally allowed to admit late students due to RCMP Canadian Firearms Program requirements.
At the risk of turning away potential customers, Ottawa Firearm Safety remains committed to transparency about these terms throughout our website and correspondence. We would rather you be fully informed of these Chief Firearms Officer requirements before you register than have you face a frustrating surprise on the day of your course.
Why are the courses designed to be so strict on punctuality?
The RCMP considers punctuality to be the first true test of a student’s safety mindset, dedication, and responsibility. The logic is simple: if an individual cannot adhere to a mandatory arrival time, it raises questions about their ability to strictly follow critical laws governing the storage, transport, and safe use of a firearm.
Why is Ottawa Firearm Safety so vocal about its late arrival policy?
Because we value your time and investment. While federal regulations from the RCMP strictly prohibit late entry for all providers, not everyone makes this clear during registration. We choose to be more upfront than the industry standard. Even though being so direct might discourage some from signing up, Ottawa Firearm Safety believes in total honesty. We want to ensure there are no surprises and that every student is fully prepared for a successful, stress-free certification day.
Is my classroom conduct and behaviour in class being assessed?
Yes. The Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) of Ontario is the provincial authority responsible for conducting your background check and approving your firearms licence. Because CFSC instructors act as the CFO’s designated examiners, they will be assessing your safety habits and conduct from the moment you enter the classroom until the course concludes.
Recommendation: Arrive at least 15 minutes early to complete necessary paperwork.
Here is the refund policy: https://ottawafirearmsafety.ca/faq/#refund