FAC = worthless, gets you nowhere, no safety course was required to get it.
POL = If a POL holder renewed it as needed he could keep it, if he let it expire then he needed to take/challenge the safety course and get a PAL.
As of Sept/15 valid POLs became PALs. A POL holder who maintained his POL is in good shape, he gets a PAL, no course needed.
Exception noted in this thread: anyone who, prior to Jan. 1/95, took a firearms safety course which was provincially approved satisfies the requirements for a safety course under the Firearms Act. I think Manitoba and Quebec had this in place.