NRA Instructor courses?

[mif_slim]

Has anyone taken these and what are these used for? I see it on the NRA website but, say if you obtain one..what can you do with it? I mean some cost as much as tuition for colleges.

[50BMGBOB]

It certifies you to teach others. Not needed if you just teach friends but if you want to charge for teaching, it would be good to have. It is also required for taking Boy Scouts out shooting which is mainly what I use mine for.

[SmokinMr2]

NRA basic Pistol instructor certification is also the only cert you need to teach Florida CCW classes.

[mif_slim]

Do you present that to a range that you want to use? What's the process on how to hold a class?

[rkt88edmo]

Do you present that to a range that you want to use? What's the process on how to hold a class?

If you want to do it at a range, you'd have to talk to them about what they require, but the NRA instructors course covers the basics. Bein an NRA instructor means teaching their curriculum in the way they have prepared it to be taught.

The NRA instructors course is pretty well thought out.

What is it that you want to do? If you are more specific I'm sure people can chime in with "yes the NRA cert will be useful for that" or "no, the NRA cert while useful, won't get you that".

Tuition is probably more than a junior college course, but on par for firearms training in general. Different training counselors (counselors make instructors) charge different fees. Shop around and get references if you can.

[mif_slim]

Well, I wanted to have some kind of reference or "license" to teach kids and adults on how to use firearms the proper way. There some 80-100 people that wants to learn currently but they don't want to spend the money or have the money to go to such classes. For me, I just want to have it so I can teach them on a donation bases since it's not just here in ca that I will be helping but also around the US too. Donation has always been my practice and I just want to make what I teach something official.

[rkt88edmo]

Well, I think the NRA might work then, depending on exactly how much you want to teach. In general the NRA curriculum is fairly long on hours unless you do the "first steps" course.

Check this out for the difference between basics (all types of pistols) and first steps(one specific pistol) (as a certified pistol instructor you would be qualified to teach both):

http://nrablog.com/post/2009/02/04/First-Steps-vs-Basic-Pistol.aspx

I haven't been to an appleseed yet, but you might look at their instructor bootcamp as well

[mif_slim]

Intresting read, thanks for your help. I am looking into it and look forward to helping others as well, the "official" way to k owing and hopefully enjoying our sport.

[50BMGBOB]

I basically do the same thing. Most of the time I work with scouts and follow the BSA program. Some times I will follow the NRA program in which case I can give them the NRA certificate. Class supplies for that are relatively cheap (compared to ammo). I usually am working with friends so I don't charge them. Other times we just have fun shooting.

[mif_slim]

BSA program? Would you mind To elaborate on the program? Is it similar to nra's too?

[AngelDecoys]

Has anyone taken these and what are these used for? What can you do with it?

I've taken the Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun, and Home protection courses through the NRA. I took them through Bill Tidwell a few years ago. Here's his website.

http://www.train2besafe.com/index.html

Depending on where you live, he might be someone to contact.

I've also taken the NRA's RSO course, but can't recall when and with whom.

My general impression of all the NRA courses can basically be summed up as, if you can stay awake, you shouldn't have any issue passing the tests and becoming certified. Coach certification is another story.

Our club requires certification for all instructors, range masters, etc. So running the monthly kids shoot, woman's classes, trap, range master, etc are covered by volunteers who have been certified through the NRA. Thus our club pays for any club member interested in getting certified. I often teach the woman's classes (rifle, pistol, shotgun), so I'm certified in all three.

I believe certification may be a requirement for obtaining an FFL (not sure on that). I have friends who use their certification for teaching private classes. They also use their certification for writing off trips for training to various places (since its part of their business).

I hope that helps.

[mif_slim]

^ that helps a lot. Thanks for your input. I'm looking to get pistol, shotgun and rifle as I'm sure most of them want one or the others. I just signed up for a pistol but still waiting for his response.

[XS40]

I took it 2 years ago at Lincoln Rifle Club. Mine may have been different than the standard basic rifle course as everyone there was focused on youth air rifle and smallbore teams.

The instructor course provided basic guidelines of each shooting position and the foundational steps for coaching. I found the course quite focused on liability issues involving ranges and coaching interaction. In today's world, CYA is a definite requirement.

[mif_slim]

Okay, so I checked all around CA and found a few places that trains pistol. The places closer to me are Manteca and Fresno, also Livermoore. Liver more is asking for $260, Manteca, $150 and Fresno $400! Are there an difference in training? I mean you always hear "you get what you pay" but at 400 they better be paying for ammo, hotel ect...maybe they are?

[rkt88edmo]

I'm not a training counselor, but if the training counselor edicts to follow the NRA curriculum are the same as for instructors the information is probably the same.

That being said, you are going to be the one sitting in the chair in the class and the delivery of the info may vary Thats why I'd look for reviews. I don't think bad counselors would last very long though, but I could be wrong.

Also - since it is your first certification, be aware there is a "becoming an NRA instructor" segment that some people teach as part of the class for whatever certification they are teaching or some teach it back to back with the class for the specific discipline. But you need to take both the "Being an Instructor" portion along with the "Pistol" portion since this is your first NRA certification. So you might want to check the schedules and see if the pricing includes that as some counselors may list it separately.

ETA:
(from the NRA website)
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.