Become An Instructor
Since 1871, a major objective of the National Rifle Association has been to provide education and training in the safe and proper use of firearms. Knowing how to shoot is an important requirement for NRA instructors, but you will also need to know how to teach others to shoot. NRA Instructor Training Courses help you develop the additional knowledge, skills and techniques needed to organize and teach courses in the NRA Basic Firearm Training Program.
Description
NRA Instructor courses are discipline specific.
The first 6 hours of an NRA instructor course is NRA Basic
Instructor Training (BIT), utilizing the NRA Trainer’s Guide. During
this portion, candidates will learn NRA policies and procedures,
basic public speaking skills, training methodology, use of a
training team and training aids, organizing a course, building a
budget, and finally preparing to teach. The BIT is followed by
discipline specific training and will be 5 to 16 additional hours,
depending on the discipline. During this portion, candidates will be
provided the appropriate lesson plans and basic course student
packets. Role playing is a major part of an instructor course.
Candidates take turns working in teams, actually conducting portions
of the course to other candidates who play the role as basic
students.
Training Counselors will evaluate candidates’
performance based on their ability to handle the firearms with
confidence, use of appropriate training aids, following the lesson
plans and meeting all learning objectives, while utilizing the
teaching philosophies learned during the BIT. Candidates can also
expect to learn the NRA discipline specific instructional methods
and evaluating and improving the performance of beginning shooters.
Candidates will be provided with the NRA Trainer’s Guide,
appropriate Lesson Plans and Outlines, Basic Course Student
handbooks, certificates, basic student examinations, Winchester/NRA
Marksmanship Qualification Program booklet, Basic Firearm Training
Programs Brochure, Gun Safety Rules brochure, NRA Trainer’s
Examination and NRA discipline specific instructor examination
(minimum passing grade is 90%).
Instructor ratings are available to conduct the
following NRA courses:
- Basic Pistol Shooting
- Basic Rifle Shooting
- Basic Shotgun Shooting
- Home Firearm Safety
-
Range Safety Officer
Course Goals
- Conduct NRA Basic Courses in accordance with policies and procedures outlined by NRA
- Uphold the quality and integrity of national firearm safety and training standards established by NRA
- Promote firearm safety and the shooting sports
- Report training data to NRA
Prerequisites
- Candidates must possess and demonstrate a solid background in firearm safety and shooting skills acquired through previous firearm training and/or previous shooting experience. Instructor candidates must be intimately familiar with each action type in the discipline they wish to be certified.
- Candidates will be required to demonstrate solid and safe firearms handling skills required to be successful during an instructor training course by completing pre-course questionnaires and assessment exercises administered by the NRA Appointed Training Counselor.
- Candidates must satisfactorily complete an NRA Instructor Training Course in each discipline they wish to teach (e.g., NRA Basic Pistol Course), and receive the endorsement of the NRA Training Counselor conducting that training.