NRA Instructor class, Quad Cities area, June 12/13

Private Joined: May 11, 2006 Posts: 197

On June 12/13, I will be presenting the NRA Pistol Instructor workshop in the Quad Cities area. It is a 2 day event, with NRA Basic Instructor Training and NRA Basic Pistol Instructor certifications being offered. Upon successful conclusion and certification by the NRA, participants will be fully certified as NRA Pistol Instructors.

For more information, please contact me at paul@shootingsafely.com

Here is some general information from the NRA:

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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. Instructor training courses are conducted by NRA Training Counselors. Training Counselors are active and experienced instructors who have been appointed by NRA to train experienced shooters to teach others to shoot.

To qualify as an NRA Instructor:

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 the discipline they wish to teach (e.g., NRA Basic Pistol Course), and receive the endorsement of the NRA Training Counselor conducting that training.

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%).

NRA Certified Instructors provide an invaluable service in their communities by training hundreds of thousands of individuals annually. As more Americans choose to exercise their right to own a firearm, so too grows the need for these courses.

You can be the vital element in meeting this need by becoming an NRA Certified Instructor and conducting NRA Basic Firearm Training Courses. As an instructor, you can experience the personal satisfaction of teaching others the basics – the knowledge, skills and attitude that will lead to a lifetime of safe, enjoyable and successful involvement in firearm and shooting activities.

NRA Certified Instructors are expected to:

* 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

Member **Founders Club** Joined: Dec 12, 2007 Posts: 2549

Cost, hours?

Private Joined: May 11, 2006 Posts: 197

TyGuy wrote:

Cost, hours?

Cost: $325 for the workshop; and either $13.50 (NRA member) or $21 (non-NRA member) as a credentials processing fee.

Schedule:

Saturday: 9am-4pm, the NRA Basic Instructor Training module (6 hours); this is essentially an introduction to "how" to teach the NRA way. 4:30pm-8pm, the start of the Pistol module (i.e. specifically how to do the pistol instruction).

Sunday: 9am to end (approx. 5pm), the balance of the pistol module.

There are two written tests, both open book and 50 questions; the first test is Saturday after the BIT module; the second test is Sunday, after the pistol module.

When completed, the tests passed, and the Training Counselor (me) endorses the application, I mail the material to the NRA, and about 4-8 weeks later the certification arrives in the mail.

Member **Founders Club** Joined: Dec 12, 2007 Posts: 2549

Do you have to take the first class to take the second?

Private Joined: May 11, 2006 Posts: 197

TyGuy wrote:

Do you have to take the first class to take the second?

Yes. All new instructor applicants must take NRA BIT first, then a "discipline" module (in our case, pistol).

Member **Founders Club** Joined: Dec 12, 2007 Posts: 2549

Ok. I want to do that, but not right now. Thanks for the info. Do you have to renew your credentials every few years?

Private Joined: May 11, 2006 Posts: 197

TyGuy wrote:

Ok. I want to do that, but not right now. Thanks for the info. Do you have to renew your credentials every few years?

Your first certification is for 1 year; the second can be for as long as 3 years. Cost is minimal to renew.

Member **Founders Club** Joined: Dec 12, 2007 Posts: 2549

Minimal = ? Do you have to retrain also?

Private Joined: May 11, 2006 Posts: 197

TyGuy wrote:

Minimal = ? Do you have to retrain also?

Generally, there is no requirement to retrain unless you opted to add additional certifications; in such an instance, depending on how long it was since BIT training, you may need to do that again. However, to retain existing credentials, it is just pay a very small fee (I don't have the scale in front of me....but less than $10 I believe)

Member **Founders Club** Joined: Dec 12, 2007 Posts: 2549

Great, thanks for all the info.