Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC)
The Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) is a requirement to upgrade your existing PAL licence to an RPAL firearms licence with the maximum civilian firearm ownership privileges with this RPAL course (CRFSC). Get your RPAL so you can collect and target shoot with more interesting Restricted Firearms. This also helps you meet requirements of many law enforcement and security job applications.
CRFSC course $150.00
CRFSC exams $60.00
CRFSC Total: $210 .
See our Course Schedule for the next Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) stand-alone course scheduled in Ottawa.
Combo courses are offered more often than CRFSC (RPAL) “stand-alone” courses due to high demand. When you choose to “upgrade” your PAL to an RPAL and no courses are scheduled, let us know you are interested and we will run an CRFSC standalone course as soon as there is sufficient interest.
Note: Take the pre-requisite CFSC (Non-Restricted PAL) course and exams or have a valid PAL licence to attend this course. (This course is always available as part of the combined course bundle).
UPGRADE YOUR PAL TO AN RPAL WITH OTTAWA FIREARM SAFETY
Students always get the best experience when high quality firearms are used and when there are enough firearms in the classroom for all of the students. Ottawa Firearm Safety will always offer both, so students won’t waste their time standing around waiting for a firearm to practice on.
Firearm handling time will never be rushed, and the firearms are clean, smooth handling and easy to use. Ensuring each students’ comfort and familiarity with all of the firearms by the end of the course, and results in very high practical firearms-handling exam scores.
Proper instruction of students from small class sizes enhances the student experience. Firearms Safety Instructors certified by the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) of Ontario deliver the CRFSC course material and exams.
Frequently Asked Questions About the CRFSC Course
Why should I take the CRFSC (RPAL) Course if I have no interest in restricted firearms?
There are many reasons to take the CRFSC, 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.
What if I am only interested in hunting and target shooting?
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.
Are all restricted firearms affected by the recent ‘handgun freeze’ regulations?
No. Only transfers of handguns have been affected by recent ‘handgun freeze’ regulations.All other restricted firearms transfers will continue to be transferred normally.
What is an Orphaned Student?
An “orphaned” student is someone who has completed the CFSC (Non-Restricted) but now needs to take the CRFSC (Restricted) as a standalone course later. Many students only come to realize, upon completing their CFSC course, that it did not offer the thorough training necessary for achieving maximum licence privileges. As a result, expectations are not met and the required qualifications remain unattained. These ‘orphaned students’ have a hard time to find a CRFSC standalone course.
Why does Ottawa Firearm Safety more Combo courses than CRFSC standalone courses?
We have limited resources and must offer the courses that are in highest demand. Our schedule reflects the current market demand in the region. To satisfy current market demand and provide our students with maximum licensing privileges, Ottawa Firearm Safety presently runs mostly Combo courses.
Ottawa Firearm Safety have invested the extra time, equipment, and advanced qualifications necessary to offer the complete Combined CFSC/CRFSC service. We believe in providing a ‘full-service’ experience and by offering both designations together. This ensures students leave our classroom with the highest level of certification available, avoiding the future frustration of trying to find a separate Restricted course (CRFSC) at a later time.
Are their jobs/careers that require CRFSC training?
Yes, there are a surprising number of exciting and interesting employment opportunities that either require maximum licensing privileges, or are where it is an asset that sets you apart from other candidates for employment. Read more here:
Why take the CRFSC course?
1.Not all handgun transfers have been frozen. The government has a list of exceptions where handguns transfers will still be granted;
2. You still require an RPAL licence for many employment purposes: Security, Law Enforcement, Border Services, Entertainment Industry, Federal Government jobs, Provincial Government jobs, Wilderness Protection, Fur Trapping, Firearms Retail, and surprising number of other employment opportunities);
3. You still require an RPAL licence to purchase restricted rifles/shotguns; Not all restricted firearms are handguns; only handguns are “frozen” at this time; all restricted rifles and shotguns are still available.
4. You still require an RPAL licence to borrow restricted firearms. Yes, you can still rent and borrow handguns from fiends and/or businesses;
5. You still require an RPAL licence to use restricted firearms at a range (handguns are still used at shooting ranges, and there are clubs that have handguns available for use); if the handgun freeze stays in place, even more shooting ranges will offer this.
6. The firearms laws in Canada are currently in an extreme state of flux. Many new changes to firearms laws have occurred recently and more and more changes keep being proposed. It makes sense in this climate to maintain the highest level of licencing privileges on your firearm licence. The government can re-classify your one-time non-restricted firearm into the restricted firearm category at any time (even without passing any new legislation); and
7. You also get a broader introduction to firearms safety training, and extra hands-on training time with firearms by attending the CRFSC. You should learn how to handle all firearms safely.
8. Many students come back later to upgrade their licence for personal or employment reasons. Do it all at once to be prepared for the future and take a combo course. Many people take the combo course because it is valid forever. Even if you don’t need it today, having it on your file prevents you from being disqualified from jobs in the future.
9. Club Requirements: Many gun clubs in Ottawa and elsewhere prefer or require all members to hold an RPAL for insurance purposes and to simplify range safety monitoring.
10. In summary, taking the comprehensive Combined CFSC/CRFSC course future-proofs a student for any firearms licensing requirements that they may need now, or in the future.
Recommendation: 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.
Is the government is still issuing RPAL licenses and is there a plan to stop issuing RPAL’s.
We have received confirmation from the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) of Ontario that the government is still issuing RPAL licences (PAL with restricted privileges) and there are no plans to stop issuing them in the future. The CFO has confirmed that students who successfully complete the CRFSC course and exam will still be able to apply for a PAL with restricted privileges.
RPAL Advantage
While a standard PAL may be enough at some ranges, having your RPAL (Restricted PAL) simplifies the application process at many Ottawa-area clubs and offers greater flexibility for club memberships and future equipment upgrades.
It can be very challenging to find a Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) offered on its own at a later date. This difficulty arises because most providers do not offer the CRFSC as a separate course; instead, they typically include it as part of a combined CFSC/CRFSC Combo course.
No, it is not easy to find a CRFSC course that is not part of a combo course
We are hearing from more and more students recently who have enrolled in CFSC Standalone courses with other providers. These students are under the impression that it is easy to find a CRFSC course at a later date. Please understand that this is not the case. And many people are finding themselves in a situation where they need to upgrade their licence and end up retaking the entire CFSC course as part of a combo course in order to get the CRFSC designation on their licence – which is very expensive and time consuming.
Demand Full Training Services from Your Provider
Whatever provider you choose, make sure your provider is actually equipped to deliver the courses they advertise before you enroll in a course. We are hearing from many students recently who realized after they took their CFSC from another provider that the course does not meet their needs.
Be particularly aware that there are providers that advertise Combo and CRFSC courses they cannot offer:
- do not be tempted to be diverted to less comprehensive CFSC training, and
- do not allow yourself to be convinced that you can upgrade later if you change your mind unless that provider offers the CRFSC and is personally assuring you a seat to you in that course.
Before you register with any provider, ensure they will support you in your full firearms training journey by verifying that they have the equipment to deliver all of the courses they advertise. Ask them before registering if they are genuinely capable of accommodating Combo course training or assisting you with upgrading your licence after you take the CFSC course.
Ottawa Firearm Safety has all of the equipment required to deliver all of the comprehensive CFSC/CRFSC Combo courses that we advertise. We are here to support you in your complete firearms safety training journey.
Upgrading your PAL Licence
If you intend to upgrade your Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) in the future, please be aware that the CRFSC Standalone course is longer than the CRFSC portion of a Combo course and the cost is higher than when taken as part of a combo course. In addition, it is not possible to simply attend only the CRFSC portion of a Combo course if you have already completed the CFSC Standalone.
As a result, you will likely have to repeat the CFSC course and invest additional time and resources should you wish to add the CRFSC training at a later date.
CRFSC Standalone Course Availability
Due to the intense demand for CFSC/CRFSC Combo courses, most training providers will offer the CFSC/CRFSC Combo course. It is uncommon to find providers in the region offering both CFSC & CFSC standalone options separately. Therefore, carefully consider your long-term licensing needs before registering for a CFSC standalone course. Also understand that many people initially didn’t expect themselves to be interested in, or require an RPAL licence, but then circumstances change where they want it, or need it later.
The CRFSC course is always available on our schedule as part of a Combo course, but you must attend the CFSC portion of the Combo course in order to attend.
The only possible exception: If you have taken your CFSC course within 30 days, it is possible to sit in on the CRFSC portion of a Combo course. Contact us if you are in this situation, and in rare circumstances, we may be able to assist you. However, if you took your CFSC over 30 days ago you must find a CRFSC Standalone course or take a Combo course.
Why don’t all providers deliver the CRFSC courses?
There are a few reasons: One is that an instructor requires more qualifications to deliver the CRFSC course, and not all instructors have the CFO designation to deliver both CFSC and CRFSC Courses. There are also much higher startup and overhead costs for a provider to obtain and maintain a fleet of the additional restricted firearms, and all the accompanying equipment that is also required to deliver the CRFSC and Combo course, plus there are additional insurance and other costs required to deliver the course. Finally, it takes more time investment from the instructor to deliver the Combo course than to deliver a CFSC course.
A provider can run two CFSC courses in one weekend, compared to only one Combo course in one weekend. By doing so, a provider can make more efficient use of premium rental space in a weekend by delivering two CFSC courses compared to one combo course (due to the reduced cost of the CRFSC course when delivered as part of a combo course).
Ottawa Firearm Safety has made a conscious decision to put in the extra investment in qualifications, time, and equipment, in order to provide the complete firearm safety service to our students.