What you'll learn
- Recognise a commercial electronic message under CASL
- Tell express consent from implied consent and track both
- Include the identification and unsubscribe details every message needs
- Process unsubscribe requests within 10 business days
- Apply the exemptions correctly
- Understand penalties and how to reduce risk
Course overview
Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation applies to commercial electronic messages sent to or from Canadian computers, including email, text and social media direct messages. Businesses can face administrative monetary penalties of up to $10 million per violation.
This online course explains what counts as a commercial electronic message and the three core requirements: consent, identification and an unsubscribe mechanism. You learn when implied consent applies, how long it lasts and how to record express consent so you can prove it.
Practical lessons cover exemptions, referrals, installing computer programs and the steps to take when you buy or merge an email list.
The course ends with a checklist your team can use before every campaign.
Course curriculum
Module 1: CASL basics
- What CASL covers
- Commercial electronic messages
- Who enforces CASL
Module 2: Consent
- Express consent
- Implied consent and time limits
- Proving consent
Module 3: Message requirements
- Identification details
- Unsubscribe mechanism
- Ten-business-day rule
Module 4: Exemptions and special cases
- Exemptions
- Referrals
- Software installation
Module 5: Managing risk
- Penalties and enforcement
- Pre-send checklist
- Final assessment
Who is this course for?
- Marketing, sales and customer success teams
- Small business owners who send newsletters
- Agencies sending messages for Canadian clients
- Compliance and legal teams
Prerequisites
No prior experience required. Lessons start from the basics and build towards practical application.
Assessment
Short quizzes throughout the course. Pass mark: 70%, with up to 3 attempts.
A Certificate of Completion from Charter Compliance Academy
Complete all lessons and score 70% or more in the final assessment, and your Certificate of Completion is issued instantly in your account. Issued by Charter Compliance Academy, it shows your name, the course title, the issue date and a unique certificate ID, as an A4 page you can print or save as PDF. Use it for your learning records and HR files, or share it with your employer or on LinkedIn. It records that you completed this on-demand online course; it is not a professional licence, designation or accreditation.
All course content is written and owned by Charter Compliance Academy, an independent provider of on-demand online courses. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by FINTRAC, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, any provincial ministry of labour, the WSIB, CCOHS or any other government body or standards organisation.
- 1Complete the lessons
- 2Pass the final (70%+)
- 3Get your Certificate of Completion
Frequently asked questions
Does CASL apply to businesses outside Canada?
Yes, if you send commercial electronic messages to recipients in Canada.
Does it cover text messages?
Yes. CASL applies to email, text messages and other electronic messages.
Is this legal advice?
No. The course explains the rules in plain English. For specific situations, speak with a lawyer.
Can my marketing team take it together?
Yes. Request a team quotation from the team page.
Enrolling a team?
We offer company pricing with progress tracking for your staff and a Certificate of Completion for every learner.
