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Who needs to take a Parenting After Separation course

Last updated on August 10, 2026

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When a Parenting After Separation (PAS) course is required

If you are going to Provincial Court, you have to complete a Parenting After Separation (PAS) course unless you have an official exemption.

If you are going to Supreme Court, the judge may suggest you complete a PAS course, but it is not mandatory.

Parents may go to either Provincial Court or Supreme Court with an application about a family law matter. To determine which court you should go to, we recommend you talk to a lawyer. A Family Justice Counsellor can also provide you with information about your options. Learn more about going to court.

Provincial Court requirements

In all Provincial Court locations, you are required to complete a PAS course before you can move forward with an application about a family law matter. This includes applications about:

The Provincial Court cannot deal with other property or debt division, except in certain circumstances.

You must complete a PAS course before attending your first court date, unless you receive an exemption. The first court date is also known as a family management conference.

You can choose to take:

A Certificate of Completion is provided at the end of all of the PAS courses. You can provide the certificate to the Provincial Court to confirm you have met the requirement.

To learn more, contact the nearest Family Justice Centre or Justice Access Centre and speak with a Family Justice Counsellor.

Qualifying for an exemption

You may not have to take a PAS course if:

  • You have completed a PAS course within the past 2 years
  • The family law matter is property division about a companion animal
  • The family law matter is about spousal support and not about children
  • Every child involved in the family law matter has reached 19 years of age
  • You can’t access the course online
  • The course isn’t offered in the language you’re most comfortable with
  • You can’t complete the course because of literacy challenges
  • You have a serious medical condition
  • You and the other parties are filing a consent order

To learn more, contact the nearest Family Justice Centre or Justice Access Centre and speak with a Family Justice Counsellor.

 

Access free family justice services in person or virtually at Family Justice Centres and Justice Access Centres. See the list of locations to find the one closest to you.

Staff can help you understand your options in a separation or divorce. They can talk with you, assess your needs and provide information about:

Learn more about family law and companion animals.

Find more family law information and legal help:

  • Visit Clicklaw for practical legal information and organizations that provide free or low-cost legal services
  • Visit Family Law in BC from the Justice Education Society (JES) for information about family law issues
  • Contact the BC Legal Referral Service to consult a lawyer for free
  • Visit Legal Aid BC for free legal help for B.C. residents.

Learn more about Separating Finances and Moving Forward Financially from the JES.

In a joint divorce, you and your spouse apply together for a simple, uncontested divorce. You both agree on all family law issues that affect your family and only need to apply for a divorce order.

Apply for a joint divorce

B.C. has a central authority that helps parents when someone takes their children to another country without permission. For details and contact information visit the International child abduction page.