NRA Instructor Certifications

[bradsteen]

I've decided to bite the bullet and try for some instructor certifications. Has anyone here gone through that process before?

• What was it like?
• Any pointers or recommendations on how best to prepare?
• Anything catch you off guard or surprise you?

Read More

 

[Tlock]

I did mine threw my last employer, 5 day class, 2 1/2 in class and 2 1/2 live fire. Pistol, rifle and shotgun was all pretty easy. No big surprises for me. The feds picked up the bill so I have no idea what the cost was

 

[TTSX]

I did mine threw my last employer, 5 day class, 2 1/2 in class and 2 1/2 live fire. Pistol, rifle and shotgun was all pretty easy. No big surprises for me. The feds picked up the bill so I have no idea what the cost was

Are you bubblegumting me? A 5 day course to become a professional fud???

 

[Tlock]

It was to government standards, you know how they like to waste time and money. Yes it was a joke and it didn't even get me a raise

 

[Certaindeaf]

They're pretty lame and easy but hey

 

[Nosferatu]

I've decided to bite the bullet and try for some instructor certifications. Has anyone here gone through that process before?

Yep. Shotgun and Handgun.

• What was it like?

Mostly like any other qualification course, but with a quiz at the end.

• Any pointers or recommendations on how best to prepare?

Shut your yap and open your ears. Do it THEIR way. They don't care what YOUR experience is.

Follow instructions and you'll be fine. You don't have to suck it all in hook, line and sinker, but to pass the tests, you'll have to pretend like they are the king of all kings.

• Anything catch you off guard or surprise you?

Not really. All the instructors are really there to help you and make sure you pass. Don't be a dick and you'll do fine.

 

[1911Fanatic]

I've been thinking about doing handgun safety and CCW, just to help my fellow medical zombies be able to take the class on night shift schedule. Range part would have to be during the day though. I'm not looking to do it for income just to help out friends and do individual or groups of q orv3 people.

 

[JDubDub]

I've decided to bite the bullet and try for some instructor certifications. Has anyone here gone through that process before?

• What was it like?
• Any pointers or recommendations on how best to prepare?
• Anything catch you off guard or surprise you?

Re-up my NRA Pistol Instructor cert last year. Two VERY long 10+ hour days. We covered all the instructor specific material, then team taught an actual NRA Basic Pistol class. Not much surprising in the course itself. The best prep would be to pick up the basic student handbooks and read through them again for specific terminology. Using the term "weapon" is frowned upon for example - pistol, rifle, handgun, etc - but not "weapon."

Biggest surprise was just how horribly some of the candidates shot. The final shooting test is relatively easy - just get a certain number of shots into a 4 in circle at 15 yards. Some of the candidates never made the requirement. One complained that the requirement wasn't realistic and that his brand new Sig 226 was broken (if you guessed that it "shoots low and left" you win a prize). Shot great for me on the 25 yard steel range. Simple recommendation - practice shooting until it LOOKS easy to your students.

Edited to add one more bit. Not really an issue with the class, but don't forget the cost of your insurance. Just re-upped my policy this month and it cost $390/year. My wife and I teach non-profit programs so we aren't trying to make money and most instructors will see little, if any, actual profit. You have to teach 2 NRA courses per year to keep your cert active, so there's some money coming in if you can find paying students, but not nearly enough to cover our expenses.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

Re-up my NRA Pistol Instructor cert last year. Two VERY long 10+ hour days. We covered all the instructor specific material, then team taught an actual NRA Basic Pistol class. Not much surprising in the course itself. The best prep would be to pick up the basic student handbooks and read through them again for specific terminology. Using the term "weapon" is frowned upon for example - pistol, rifle, handgun, etc - but not "weapon."

Biggest surprise was just how horribly some of the candidates shot. The final shooting test is relatively easy - just get a certain number of shots into a 4 in circle at 15 yards. Some of the candidates never made the requirement. One complained that the requirement wasn't realistic and that his brand new Sig 226 was broken (if you guessed that it "shoots low and left" you win a prize). Shot great for me on the 25 yard steel range. Simple recommendation - practice shooting until it LOOKS easy to your students.

Edited to add one more bit. Not really an issue with the class, but don't forget the cost of your insurance. Just re-upped my policy this month and it cost $390/year. My wife and I teach non-profit programs so we aren't trying to make money and most instructors will see little, if any, actual profit. You have to teach 2 NRA courses per year to keep your cert active, so there's some money coming in if you can find paying students, but not nearly enough to cover our expenses.

Yea and just think some of those candidates will be "instructors" in the near future. Scary that some ignorant people would pay to be "trained" by such inexperienced people.

 

[WAYNO]

 

[WillametteWill]

I've been an NRA instructor for a bit and became a training counselor earlier this year (so 'blessed' with the ability to train instructors). Perhaps anointed would be a better word . Happy to share after spending a week with the NRA brain trust in VA recently.

The shooting part varies by discipline (obviously). For handguns, where most other than BSA folks start, you fire 20 rounds into an 8" circle and 16 rounds have to be inside of a 'floating.' 6" circle. Sprinkle the bit of, "If you can't pass the shooting, you don't pass the class," stress and it is not easy for many. The NRA wants instructors who can actually shoot a group.

Safe gun handling is also emphasized. I've been in classes with the "I've been shooting since I was four" crowd, and they sometimes go home early because of terrible safety skills...right after they tell you how safe they are. The NRA wants instructors who are meticulous when it comes to safety.

The biggest challenge (the part the catches most off guard) that most people have is with the concepts of teaching others and not just talking. You can be amazing at ________ (fill in the blank with any topic, including shooting), and totally suck at teaching others. A big part is understanding and applying the ability to involve students in their learning so they retain more and not just talk at people. I've been training adults for going on 35 years and have mentored many new instructors in various fields. It's a lot of work to develop the skills and take the time to incorporate adult learning concepts and keep up with finding new ways to do this. It's relatively easy to click PowerPoint slides and tell stories. Hence, the term death by PowerPoint. We might not have it initially, but a good instructor develops three to five different ways of explaining how to do something. This takes thought, time, experience, and reflection.

There are good NRA instructors and marginal NRA instructors. Just like plumbers, programmers, and cops. If you have an open mind and a good instructor, it can be a valuable experience. IMHO The most important part is what you choose to do with it as an instructor. I think having the heart of a teacher and wanting to help others shows in our work.

Feel free to message me with any follow ups if you like, or happy to answer here.

 

[JDubDub]

Yea and just think some of those candidates will be "instructors" in the near future. Scary that some ignorant people would pay to be "trained" by such inexperienced people.

On the flip side, having loads of experience and tons of shooting talent doesn't automatically make a great instructor. Last month I watched another instructor giving a private non-NRA class for 2 newish students. The instructor is an experienced competitive shooter and a far better shot than I am. Unfortunately he spent the entire class shooting while his students watched. It quickly became very obvious that it was more of an ego stroke than an opportunity to teach and help a new shooter. At the end of the class he ran a series of timed drills and crowed every time he shot a better string. At least an NRA course offers specific materials for a less experienced instructor to follow so the students get some value from the class.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

On the flip side, having loads of experience and tons of shooting talent doesn't automatically make a great instructor. Last month I watched another instructor giving a private non-NRA class for 2 newish students. The instructor is an experienced competitive shooter and a far better shot than I am. Unfortunately he spent the entire class shooting while his students watched. It quickly became very obvious that it was more of an ego stroke than an opportunity to teach and help a new shooter. At the end of the class he ran a series of timed drills and crowed every time he shot a better string. At least an NRA course offers specific materials for a less experienced instructor to follow so the students get some value from the class.

Totally agree. Proficiency with a firearm may have nothing at all to do with their ability to teach. Willamette will said it best at the end of his post. Teachers first, but who know what they are doing or something like that. Have to be both. Rob Laetham is the best I've ever seen at both. Tremendous teacher.

 

[WillametteWill]

Rob Laetham is the best I've ever seen at both. Tremendous teacher.

Someone like this is a unicorn. This might be why he is one of the few 'guest' instructors that schools like Gunsite allow to teach at their schools.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Someone like this is a unicorn. This might be why he is one of the few 'guest' instructors that schools like Gunsite allow to teach at their schools.

Lol, pretty sure every granny pulling crossing guard duty is NRA certified ffs.

 

[WillametteWill]

Lol, pretty sure every granny pulling crossing guard duty is NRA certified ffs.

Sorry, I'm not catching the connection between Rob Leatham, NRA instructors, octogenarians, and crossing guards. But I try and not drink until at least five (PM).

 

[Certaindeaf]

Sorry, I'm not catching the connection between Rob Leatham, NRA instructors, octogenarians, and crossing guards. But I try and not drink until at least five (PM).

Lol, I saw no mention of Leatham in this thread.. someone may have me on ignore. I thought you were denigrating a school where they deigned hire instructors without NRA certifications and it's my opinion that NRA certifications are easily gotten and extremely common in that particular sphere.

 

[WillametteWill]

Lol, that context helps. No, not bashing any school at all, especially Gunsite (I was there last week for the Revolver Roundup, and we are part of the Raven family). Definitely not bashing Leatham either; my comments were sincere that not only is he a legendary shooter, I have heard he is a gifted communicator. (And have found this in his videos.)

I get that there are NRA instructors that are sub-par. But I appreciate that they are trying to set some standards and improve the quality of firearms teaching. If you actually look at the material, much of it is solid. They have a large emphasis on teaching skills (most of the training counselor workshop was dedicated to this). There are still plenty of legacy instructors out there that are old school and not in a good way. It's not perfect, but I think it helps.

Oregon is somewhat unique in that one of the groups of people who can teach concealed carry classes are NRA instructors. In my pistol instructor class, there were 16 candidates. 15 had no intention of ever teaching an NRA class (this was asked of all of us in class). I was the only one who planned on teaching 'NRA' materials. There were some good folks in the class that I'm guessing are solid instructors, but there were others who were pretty new to shooting mixed with some who had no idea how to teach. Another had serious safety issues, and I hope he did not pass for the sake of others. But we all have to start somewhere.

Someone might be a sucky instructor, but I don't think this is BECAUSE they are an NRA instructor.

 

[titsonritz]

NRA instructions courses are the beginning of the journey, there's a lot more room to grow. Case in point and speaking of Gunsight…

Cougar Mountain Solutions – Erick Gelhaus – Red Dot Instructor Course, MeadHall Range

DESCRIPTION This course focuses on teaching the optic for reactive and proactive use, instead of being another shooting class.

meadhallrange.com

 

[WillametteWill]

NRA instructions courses are the beginning of the journey, there's a lot more room to grow. Case in point and speaking of Gunsight…

Cougar Mountain Solutions – Erick Gelhaus – Red Dot Instructor Course, MeadHall Range

DESCRIPTION This course focuses on teaching the optic for reactive and proactive use, instead of being another shooting class.

meadhallrange.com

Erick is a great guy and instructor. I've had the fortune of training with him. He has the heart of a teacher and the experience/shooting credentials to back it up. He will be doing some classes in the Northwest next year, not sure if they will be 'instructor' classes but still can be valuable.