People in Vancouver call our office asking where in the city they can take a PAL course, and the honest answer surprises some of them. The courses that serve Vancouver run a short drive or SkyTrain ride away: at Douglas College in New Westminster, at our home facility in Delta, and at The Range Langley. Since 1994 we have trained more safe firearms users than any other company in Canada, and a large share of them came from Vancouver proper.

Here is the whole path, start to finish, the way I would walk you through it at the counter.

Continue on the Silvercore Path

• How to Get Your PAL in Canada (start here)
• How Much Does a PAL Cost in Canada?
• PAL vs RPAL: Which One Do You Need?
• How Long Does It Take to Get Your PAL?

Step 1: Take the Canadian Firearms Safety Course

The CFSC is the federally required training for a non-restricted PAL, and the CRFSC adds the restricted side for handguns. There is no way to test out of either course. That option was removed years ago, and everyone takes the full in-person course regardless of experience. Anyone who tells you otherwise is wrong, and you should train elsewhere.

Most of our Vancouver students take the combined CFSC/CRFSC course: two consecutive days or three consecutive evenings, both exams included, $270 plus tax. Booked separately the two courses run $325 ($190 for the CFSC, $135 for the CRFSC), so the combined course saves you $55 and a second classroom day. If you are certain you only want long guns, the CFSC on its own is $190.

Book the combined CFSC/CRFSC course

Where the courses run near Vancouver

• Douglas College, New Westminster. The closest venue to Vancouver itself, and an easy SkyTrain ride from downtown.
• Silvercore Training Facility, Delta. Our home facility, where courses run most frequently.
• The Range Langley. For students east of the city.

See the PAL course page for Vancouver students for current dates and venue details.

Age requirements are straightforward: 12 and up for the non-restricted course (minors need written parent or guardian consent and may only take the CFSC test to apply for a minor's licence), and 18 and up for restricted. There is no live fire in the course. You train on deactivated firearms, and no live ammunition is permitted in class.

Step 2: Apply to the RCMP

After you pass, you submit your PAL application to the RCMP with proof of your course results. The application fees, effective March 31, 2026, are $70.38 for a non-restricted PAL and $93.84 for the full licence including restricted. Upgrading an existing non-restricted PAL to add restricted later is $46.92. Canadian residents can apply online; non-residents apply by mail.

You do not need to be a Canadian citizen. Permanent residents and other non-citizens can hold a PAL, and non-residents of Canada can absolutely take the in-person course here, which we see often with new arrivals to Vancouver. Full details in Can Non-Citizens Get a PAL in Canada?

Step 3: Wait it out (and what the wait really looks like)

There is a mandatory 28-day waiting period for first-time applicants before processing begins, and between applying, approval, and the card arriving in your mailbox, plan on 3 to 6 months in total. Your licence is then valid for 5 years. The full breakdown is in How Long Does It Take to Get Your PAL? and if your application drags, read Why Is My PAL Taking So Long?

How to pass the first time

The most expensive mistake a student makes is failing an exam and paying for a retest. Prepare before you attend. Our pro tips for passing the CFSC and CRFSC cover exactly what the examiners are looking for, and the optional Online Theory course, added at checkout, guarantees a free retest and consistently produces higher scores.

After the licence arrives

The licence is the beginning, not the end. For $59 a year, membership in the Silvercore Club includes Silvercore branded online courses free, member insurance, partner discounts on gear from optics to cases, and eligibility for an Authorization to Transport if you went the restricted route. It keeps you sharp and has your back.

Join the Silvercore Club

Travis Bader Silvercore Outdoors

FAQ

Where can I take a PAL course in Vancouver, BC? Silvercore runs RCMP-approved CFSC/CRFSC courses serving Vancouver at Douglas College in New Westminster, our training facility in Delta, and The Range Langley. New Westminster is an easy SkyTrain ride from downtown Vancouver.

How much does it cost to get a PAL in Vancouver? Budget roughly $260 to $275 all in for a non-restricted PAL: the $190 CFSC course plus the $70.38 RCMP application fee. The combined CFSC/CRFSC course is $270 plus tax and qualifies you for the full licence, with an RCMP fee of $93.84.

How long does it take to get a PAL in BC? Plan on 3 to 6 months from application to card in hand, including the mandatory 28-day waiting period for first-time applicants. The course itself takes two days or three evenings.

Can I get my PAL online or test out of the course? No. The RCMP requires the full in-person CFSC (and CRFSC for restricted) with written and practical exams. There is no challenge or test-out option, regardless of experience. Online study courses are preparation tools only.