Becoming an NRA Instructor can be a rewarding way to share your knowledge and experience while providing an important service to your community. As an NRA Certified Instructor, you help students develop the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary to safely and responsibly own and operate firearms.

With more Americans purchasing their first firearm, quality instruction is more important than ever. A well-trained instructor can give new and experienced firearm owners the foundation they need to build safe, responsible habits.

 

Becoming an NRA Instructor

To become an NRA Certified Instructor, you must:

• Be an experienced and knowledgeable shooter.

• Successfully complete the NRA Basic-level course for the discipline you wish to teach.

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

• Successfully complete the applicable NRA Instructor course.

Some instructor disciplines have additional prerequisites:

• Personal Protection in the Home Instructor: Must be a Certified Pistol Instructor.

• Personal Protection Outside the Home Instructor: Must be a Personal Protection in the Home Instructor.

• NRA CCW Instructor: Must be a Certified Pistol Instructor.

 

What to Expect

Each NRA Instructor course is taught by an NRA Training Counselor (TC) and consists of two primary components: Basic Instructor Training (BIT) and discipline-specific training.

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BIT covers the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to teach NRA courses and is the same across instructor disciplines. If you have successfully completed BIT within the previous 24 months, you generally do not need to retake it.
 

The discipline-specific portion focuses on the particular course you are seeking authorization to teach.

 

Certification Is More Than Passing a Course

It is important to understand that attending and passing an NRA Instructor course does not automatically guarantee certification.

The Training Counselor is responsible for evaluating each Instructor Candidate and determining whether they demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary to become an effective NRA Certified Instructor.

Unsafe firearm handling, an inappropriate attitude, failure to meet the required standards, or failure to pass the discipline-specific pre-course qualification may result in an Instructor Candidate not being recommended for certification.

The goal is not simply to produce instructors who can pass a test. It is to develop instructors who can safely, confidently, and effectively teach others.

 

Build Your Own Instructional Business

Once you become a Certified Instructor, you can determine which authorized courses you want to offer, when you want to offer them, and what you will charge for your services, subject to applicable NRA requirements and policies.
 

In many cases, instructors operate independently, giving them the flexibility to build an instructional business around their own goals and schedule. Your Training Counselor will explain the NRA's applicable rules, policies, and instructor responsibilities during BIT.

With the right combination of instructional ability, professionalism, and sound business practices, becoming an NRA Certified Instructor can provide an opportunity to earn additional income while helping others develop safe and responsible firearm-handling habits.

If you're an experienced shooter who enjoys helping others learn, becoming an NRA Certified Instructor may be the next step in your journey.