NRA Certified Instructor

[William B.]

I am considering trying to become an NRA certified handgun instructor. I am in the military, I have been around the military since I was 10, and my wife comes from a military family. While I would promote the Second Amendment and firearms training to all responsible citizens, my ultimate hope would be to provide affordable or even free handgun training to military spouses in my area. I know that it gives me peace of mind to know that my wife is proficient with firearms and could use one to defend herself if I was on deployment and this is what I want for all military families.

I'm hoping to get some feed back on a couple of things from NRA instructors that are members of this forum. How much freedom do you have as an NRA instructor to conduct your own courses? Do you have to coordinate them through NRA headquarters? Can you conduct classes at a range of your choice? Do you have a lot of freedom in developing your own curriculum?

I'm not looking to conduct a high-speed tactical class or anything. I just want to give a crash course on the basics of handguns, get people proficient with their firearms of choice, get people over their fears and misconceptions about firearms, and promote the Second Amendment. I'll probably think of some more questions later. Thanks in advance for the help.

[Jay Cunningham]

How much freedom do you have as an NRA instructor to conduct your own courses? Do you have to coordinate them through NRA headquarters? Can you conduct classes at a range of your choice? Do you have a lot of freedom in developing your own curriculum?

I'm not looking to conduct a high-speed tactical class or anything. I just want to give a crash course on the basics of handguns, get people proficient with their firearms of choice, get people over their fears and misconceptions about firearms, and promote the Second Amendment. I'll probably think of some more questions later. Thanks in advance for the help.

When you say "your own courses", you have plenty of freedom as long as you are teaching an NRA course from the NRA curriculum. If you want to teach a modified version of an NRA course that is a no go. You cannot attach the NRA name to something that is not NRA affiliated.

[William B.]

When you say "your own courses", you have plenty of freedom as long as you are teaching an NRA course from the NRA curriculum. If you want to teach a modified version of an NRA course that is a no go. You cannot attach the NRA name to something that is not NRA affiliated.

What I meant was: Are you able to teach the prescribed course curriculum on your own or will there be somebody over-seeing you?

Is the training to become certified GTG or is it a hassle?

[Jay Cunningham]

You can conduct a course yourself, but it would make sense to act as an assistant instructor first a few times. Also, the NRA likes a very high student/instructor ratio.

The NRA Pistol Instructor course material was pretty good, I thought.

[theblackknight]

My Father been a NRA Instructor for like 8 years now at the range at one of our local private school. Ive never heard of NRA personel overseeing and i myslef was in the small bore rifle class form 3rd to 12th grade. The one thing I do remember him saying when he got certified was weeding the military types off the term "weapon". He liked the instructor cert tho. He really likes it having a positive influence on kids and is a machinist, so he fiddles alot with making parts for the rifles. He even CNC off some huge scale demo 22lr and 223. rounds to show the parts of centerfire vs rimfire rounds. let me get a pic real quick.

[dhrith]

You're pretty much on your own. You can have them put your name in a registry for people seeking training through the NRA website for example, but there is no one looking over your shoulder when you're teaching. I have no clue how they resolve issues with people that they've received complaints about deviating from the curriculum. They want to keep pretty tight control over what's talked about in their name for liabilities sake of course. During bathroom breaks or after the class is when you might humor an off topic question. Well not necessarily off topic, but out of the realm of the curriculum. That being said it's ok to have, more oriented towards those who haven't laid hands on a firearm before than HSLD types. But everyone has to start somewhere and it has value to those requiring it as a big name for their insurance companies.

[TOrrock]

I got my NRA Rifle and Handgun Instructor's cert, and I have to tell you, it's just something to tack on that sounds good.

Their curriculum is about 30 - 40 years out of date.

[theblackknight]

The 223. classroom model.Its hollow to hold other stuff.If he put a handle on it, it would be sweet stein!

[William B.]

Their curriculum is about 30 - 40 years out of date.

Thanks for the warning. I'm used to dealing with out-of-date weapons training from the Marine Corps That's not really very surprising. Is there any other organization I can become certified through?

[William B.]

The one thing I do remember him saying when he got certified was weeding the military types off the term "weapon".

I disagree with that completely. A firearm is a weapon. It should be treated with the same respect as any other type of weapon whether it's being used to clear a room, for competition, or for hunting. Sounds like there's some PC in our ranks.