PDS1 Assessment day costs

[Mac78]

I'm thinking of doing the PDS1 online as they are still running the promotion for those residing in Scotland. Does anyone know how much the shooting assessment costs as it's extra? I'm in Perthshire, so I'd assume there's some verifiers local to me?

 

[mammoth200]

It's left entirely up to the approved verifier to set the cost of this part. I contacted a couple for quotations in my area, one was £90 to complete the assessment, another charged for rifle hire, ammunition, and a guided stalk for £150. Best bet is to call or email your nearest and see what they will charge, but unfortunately you won't get access to the list of assessors until you've paid up for the course.

 

[VSS]

It's left entirely up to the approved verifier to set the cost of this part. I contacted a couple for quotations in my area, one was £90 to complete the assessment, another charged for rifle hire, ammunition, and a guided stalk for £150. Best bet is to call or email your nearest and see what they will charge, but unfortunately you won't get access to the list of assessors until you've paid up for the course.

Charging for rifle hire isn’t legal, I don't think. But you can be charged for ammo used.

 

[mammoth200]

Charging for rifle hire isn’t legal, I don't think. But you can be charged for ammo used.

Indeed, a fair point! It was how their response was phrased, I went with a different assessor anyway! I wonder if perhaps I should let him know....

 

[Mac78]

It's left entirely up to the approved verifier to set the cost of this part. I contacted a couple for quotations in my area, one was £90 to complete the assessment, another charged for rifle hire, ammunition, and a guided stalk for £150. Best bet is to call or email your nearest and see what they will charge, but unfortunately you won't get access to the list of assessors until you've paid up for the course.

To be fair to the S&H Academy I did email them with my Postcode before signing up for the course, and they confirmed the nearest Authorised Verifier. Understandably, I didn't want to be travelling hours for the practical assessment.
I'm in Perthshire, so nearest AV to me is about an hour away.

 

[mammoth200]

To be fair to the S&H Academy I did email them with my Postcode before signing up for the course, and they confirmed the nearest Authorised Verifier. Understandably, I didn't want to be travelling hours for the practical assessment.
I'm in Perthshire, so nearest AV to me is about an hour away.

A sensible way to go about it, I wasn't sure if they were precious over the list of approved verifiers. I'd say get in touch with your chosen person and they'll soon say how much they intend to charge. Might also vary with perhaps cost of keeping the carcass, butchery, etc.

 

[monarman]

The varifiers can charge no more than £120 all in if i recall... (I signed up to be one but ended up moving and never followed through).

 

[Mac78]

It's left entirely up to the approved verifier to set the cost of this part. I contacted a couple for quotations in my area, one was £90 to complete the assessment, another charged for rifle hire, ammunition, and a guided stalk for £150. Best bet is to call or email your nearest and see what they will charge, but unfortunately you won't get access to the list of assessors until you've paid up for the course.

First AV I contacted came straight back to me and said the practical assessment would be free. Only charge would be for ammunition if using his rifle.
Definitely worth shopping around

 

[mammoth200]

First AV I contacted came straight back to me and said the practical assessment would be free. Only charge would be for ammunition if using his rifle.
Definitely worth shopping around

Spot on, exactly what you want! I happen to be fortunate enough to know my assessor, so mine was also free

 

[25 Sharps]

Charging for rifle hire isn’t legal, I don't think. But you can be charged for ammo used.

It is if it is for range use I believe, as the NRA do it at Bisley, for a stalking outing or loaning a rifle under the estate rifle clause, it is not.

 

[25 Sharps]

So if I am reading this correctly the PDS1 requires a witnessed stalk, is that so?

 

[Moose67]

So if I am reading this correctly the PDS1 requires a witnessed stalk, is that so?

PDS1 has a shooting assessment - not a stalk
Very similar to the DSC1 accuracy test

 

[25 Sharps]

PDS1 has a shooting assessment - not a stalk
Very similar to the DSC1 accuracy test

Ah ok, it was the guided stalk mentioned in post 2 that confused me!

 

[jcampbellsmith]

It is if it is for range use I believe, as the NRA do it at Bisley, for a stalking outing or loaning a rifle under the estate rifle clause, it is not.

Under the Firearms Act only an RFD can charge for the loan of a firearm. That is why a number of estates, and clay pigeon shoots, now have to be RFDs.

Regards

JCS

 

[25 Sharps]

Under the Firearms Act only an RFD can charge for the loan of a firearm. That is why a number of estates, and clay pigeon shoots, now have to be RFDs.

Regards

JCS

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[mammoth200]

Ah ok, it was the guided stalk mentioned in post 2 that confused me!

Whilst it isn't mandatory as part of the PDS1, the PDS1 comes with the Large Game Meat Food Hygiene Course, this requires you to demonstrate sufficient knowledge & skill in the following:

1. The normal anatomy, physiology, and behaviour of wild game.
2. Abnormal behaviour and pathological changes in wild game due to diseases, environmental contamination or other factors
which may affect human health after consumption.
3. The hygiene rules and proper techniques for the handling, transportation, evisceration, etc. of wild game animals after killing.
4. Legislation and administrative provisions on the animal and public health and hygiene conditions governing the placing on
the market of wild game.

To complete the course, you are then required to either:
1. Demonstrate your ability to inspect a shot carcass to an approved verifier
2. Inspection of a shot deer during the completion of a PDS2 witnessed stalk
3. Upload video footage of inspecting a shot deer

So it's a bit of a forgone conclusion you'll need to book a stalk if you intend to complete both elements of the PDS1 course and the Large Game Meat Food Hygiene Course. The assessors I spoke with rolled it into a whole session, so to do the shooting assessment, then head out for a stalk after.

I seemed to receive what appears to be conflicting information from one of the assessors I spoke with, as he mentioned charging for rifle hire (which others have already confirmed isn't legal).

 

[25 Sharps]

Whilst it isn't mandatory as part of the PDS1, the PDS1 comes with the Large Game Meat Food Hygiene Course, this requires you to demonstrate sufficient knowledge & skill in the following:

1. The normal anatomy, physiology, and behaviour of wild game.
2. Abnormal behaviour and pathological changes in wild game due to diseases, environmental contamination or other factors
which may affect human health after consumption.
3. The hygiene rules and proper techniques for the handling, transportation, evisceration, etc. of wild game animals after killing.
4. Legislation and administrative provisions on the animal and public health and hygiene conditions governing the placing on
the market of wild game.

To complete the course, you are then required to either:
1. Demonstrate your ability to inspect a shot carcass to an approved verifier
2. Inspection of a shot deer during the completion of a PDS2 witnessed stalk
3. Upload video footage of inspecting a shot deer

So it's a bit of a forgone conclusion you'll need to book a stalk if you intend to complete both elements of the PDS1 course and the Large Game Meat Food Hygiene Course. The assessors I spoke with rolled it into a whole session, so to do the shooting assessment, then head out for a stalk after.

I seemed to receive what appears to be conflicting information from one of the assessors I spoke with, as he mentioned charging for rifle hire (which others have already confirmed isn't legal).

I’d just stick with DSC1 personally.

 

[mammoth200]

I’d just stick with DSC1 personally.

Yeah that generally seems to be the consensus. Interestingly it seems that if you wanted to do the DSC1, you could then enrol for PDS2, but it's not readily apparent if the reverse is true.

 

[25 Sharps]

Yeah that generally seems to be the consensus. Interestingly it seems that if you wanted to do the DSC1, you could then enrol for PDS2, but it's not readily apparent if the reverse is true.

You neee to have completed DSC1 to to DSC2