Becoming an NRA Instructor

Being an NRA Instructor can be a very rewarding experience.  NRA Instructors provide a valuable service to our community.  They provide basic instruction to individuals, teaching them to own and operate firearms safely.  This service has become more important as many Americans are purchasing their first firearm.  By becoming an NRA certified instructor, you will teach your students the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary for them to become responsible and safe gun owners.

 

To become an instructor, you must:

• Be an experienced and knowledgeable shooter

• Take and Pass the Basic level course for the desired discipline

• Pass the discipline specific marksmanship and gun handling pre-course qualification

• Take and pass the Instructor course

 

Some instructor courses also have prerequisites in addition to the ones mentioned above.

• Personal Protection In The Home Instructor requires that you are a Certified Pistol Instructor

• Personal Protection Outside The Home Instructor requires that you are a Personal Protection In the Home Instructor.

• NRA CCW Instructor requires that you are a Certified Pistol Instructor.

 

Each instructor course is taught by an NRA Training Counselor (TC) and is presented in two parts: Basic Instructor Training (BIT) lessons and discipline specific lessons.  The BIT portion of the course is the same for all disciplines and does not need to be retaken if it has been taken within the past 24 months.

 

It is important to understand that taking an NRA Instructor course does not guarantee that you will become an NRA instructor.  It takes more than just attending and passing the course.  The TC has the responsibility to ensure that the Instructor Candidates have the Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude necessary to become an NRA Certified Instructor.  Unsafe gun handling, poor attitude, or failing to pass the pre-course qualifier are reasons for an Instructor Candidate to not be recommended to become a Certified NRA Instructor.

 

Once you are a Certified Instructor, you choose which of the courses you're authorized to teach will be offered, when they will be offered, and how much to charge.  You are an independent entrepreneur.  That is not to say you can do whatever you want.  The NRA has rules and policies that must be followed.  Your TC will explain these to you when you take BIT.  But with the right business approach, you can enjoy additional income while teaching others to safely enjoy firearms. Everybody benefits when that happens.