Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) and Canadian restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) in Ottawa
Ottawa Firearm Safety continually adds Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) and Canadian restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) as they become available. Please check back for updates or click here to be notified when seats become available, or when new courses are posted to our schedule.
Last minute courses often get posted with shorter notice – watch for last minute ‘pop-up’ weekend/weekday evening courses!
Classes tend to fill very quickly, so register in a Canadian Firearms Safety Course today in order to guarantee a seat.
| Course Start Date | Description | Cost | Register | Space |
| May 1/213 – NEW! | CFSC/CRFSC Combo | $380 | Waitlist | FULL |
| May 8/9/10 – NEW! | CFSC/CRFSC Combo | $380 | Waitlist | FULL |
| May 15/16/17 – NEW! | CFSC/CRFSC Combo | $380 | Waitlist | FULL |
| May 22/23/24 – NEW! | CFSC/CRFSC Combo | $380 | Waitlist | FULL |
| May 29/30/31 – NEW! | CFSC/CRFSC Combo | $380 | Waitlist | FULL |
| June 5/6/7 – NEW! | CFSC/CRFSC Combo | $380 | Waitlist | FULL |
Registration is handled on a first-come, first-served basis and is only confirmed upon receipt of payment. Registered students get priority on the waitlist for cancellations if they wish to get a seat in an earlier course.
Click here if you might be interested in any new courses or seats that become available from student cancellations.
Before Registering for a CFSC Standalone (PAL Only) Course with any Provider
Considerations Prior to Registering: It is important to understand the implications of enrolling in a Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) as a Standalone course instead of a Combo course. Once you have completed the CFSC Standalone, it can be very challenging to find a Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) offered on its own at a later date. This is why our CFSC/CFSC Combo course is in such high demand.
NOTE BEFORE REGISTERING: To meet provincial and federal licensing standards, late arrivals are strictly prohibited and cannot be permitted into the classroom under any circumstances. Students must attend the 100% of the course hours. Students that do not show up on time forfeit their seat and cannot be offered a refund/reschedule.
The Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) is a prerequisite for the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC). Students must pass the CFSC portion of the course in order to attend the CRFSC portion of the course.
AFTER REGISTERING IN A COURSE:
There is a lot you can do to prepare yourself for the CFSC or CRFSC courses and exams by clicking here. There are also many things you can do to get started on your application process.
Frequently Asked Questions about the courses provided by Ottawa Firearm Safety
Are these courses beginner-friendly?
Yes. All of the CFSC and CRFSC courses at Ottawa Firearm Safety are designed for beginners, The courses come with clear instructions and hands-on guided learning.
What if I am only interested in hunting?
The Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) is the very minimum requirement for hunting with rifles and shotguns. However, once you get your firearms licence and purchase your first rifle/shotgun, you now face the challenge of finding a place to practice with your firearm before hunting. Finding a safe and legal place to shoot can be a real challenge in the Ottawa area.
For hunters near an urban center like Ottawa, the combo course is the most logical choice because it significantly expands your access to safe, legal places to practice. While a basic license meets the minimum requirement to hunt, many local shooting clubs require or prioritize RPAL holders for membership, making the restricted qualification a vital “key” to the ranges you need for sighting in and maintaining proficiency.
Target shooting and club membership goes hand-in-hand with hunting. Once you join a local club, you will be immersed into the environment of safety and the culture of pursuing excellence in marksmanship. There, you are much more likely to broaden your interest and to also strive for higher degrees of excellence in safety, handling, and marksmanship. The shooting range is also the best place to meet other hunters that often share tips on the best local hunting spots, tracking techniques, and reliable equipment.
Can I take the CFSC course now and take the CRFSC course later?
Yes, but It is usually quite difficult to arrange, expensive, and time consuming. It is highly recommended to take the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course at the same time you take the Canadian Firearms Safety Course.
Why does the Ottawa Firearm Safety schedule have so many Combo course offerings?
Combo courses are the highest in demand. Because the vast majority of our students now seek the maximum licences privileges (full RPAL designation), we prioritize Combined CFSC/CRFSC sessions to meet this high demand. Beyond better availability on our calendar, the combo course offers several key advantages over standalone sessions: it is more cost-effective, as you save on both course and application fees, and it is more efficient, leveraging the curriculum overlap to reduce your total classroom time. By completing both in a single weekend, you future-proof your license and avoid the frustration of trying to track down a less commonly available “restricted-only” seat later. We monitor demand for courses and base our schedule on the courses that are currently in highest demand. Our schedule reflects the current market demand in the region.
Why should I take the Combo course if I have no interest in restricted firearms?
There are many reasons to take the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) at the same time as your Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC), and we are encouraging students to continue forward obtaining their RPAL licence. If you are over 18, it is generally recommended to take the combined (Combo) course to avoid having to re-do the training process in the future.
Why don’t you offer more CFSC Standalone courses?
We focus our limited resources on the Combined CFSC/CRFSC because it is the most requested option by a wide margin. By prioritizing the combo, we satisfy the current market demand for full licensing while ensuring students don’t have to “start over” with a second application down the road or end up as an “orphaned student”.
While we have never had a student regret the extra training of a combo course, many standalone students end up “orphaned” and later struggle to find a “Restricted-only” seat to upgrade.
However, we continuously monitor demand, remain flexible, and will add more standalone CFSC dates if and when local demand shifts.
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