The Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education (CORE) Program is British Columbia's Hunter Education Program. It is also a great program for anyone interested in outdoor recreation.

The CORE Program consists of a practical firearms handling test, and a written examination on all of the following subjects:

• Outdoor ethics and game care
• Firearm handling and archery equipment
• Hunting regulations
• Animals of British Columbia
• Birds of British Columbia
• Outdoor survival, first aid & field craft
• Hunter heritage, conservation and wildlife management

The CORE Manual and the Hunting and Trapping Regulation Synopsis are the resource manuals used to learn these subjects.

The Examination Process

Prior to starting the examinations, the CORE Examiner will have you complete a registration form. Until both exams have been successfully completed, the registration form may be kept by the student to be shown to an examiner each time an examination is taken, otherwise the record of the successful completion of a test may be lost.

Two Tests Required

The written examination consists of 75 multiple-choice questions based on the CORE Manual and the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis.

You must obtain at least 56 points overall (75%) in order to pass the written examination. Supplemental information from the CORE Manual is not tested.

The practical firearms handling examination requires the safe handling of two of the five types of firearm actions, including the identification and loading/unloading use of dummy ammunition. A minimum score of 21 out of 27 is required for a pass. The examiner will provide the firearms.

Individuals who have satisfactorily completed the Canadian Firearm Safety Course (CFSC) need not complete the CORE practical firearm-handling examination.

You must provide the CORE Examiner with either the completed CFSC report form showing successful test completion, or a Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC) issued after January 1, 1995 or a Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) to be exempted the practical firearms handling examination.

A Possession Only Licence (POL) is NOT acceptable for the exemption to the CORE practical firearms handling exam.