NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting Instructor Class

Course Prerequisites: This class requires proof of completion of the NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting student class from us or any other NRA Certified Instructor. The student class is not being held on the same weekend as the instructor classes. We hold the student level course monthly.

The goal of this program is to develop instructors to teach NRA Basic Firearm Training Courses according to the lesson plans and training standards of the National Rifle Association. This program is not designed to prepare you to teach other firearm training courses (such as law enforcement, security, or hunter safety courses), nor to prepare you to develop firearm training courses of your own.

The course is not designed to improve your shooting skills. Taking the NRA Basic course in the discipline you wish to obtain is a prerequisite for certification. You will be asked to demonstrate your firearm background through participation in pre-course assessment or qualification exercises.

A complete NRA Instructor Training Course consists of two parts. The first is basic instructor training, which consists of 6 hours of instruction. The second part is discipline-specific instructor training, which consists of an additional 5 to 14 hours of instruction per discipline.

During the NRA Instructor Training Course, you will receive from your Training Counselor the NRA Trainer’s Guide, the appropriate NRA Instructor Candidate Packet which includes the course outlines and lesson plans for the disciplines you wish to teach, the appropriate NRA basic course student packet which includes the handbook, certificates, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure and other materials used in NRA basic courses.

The NRA Training Counselor who conducts your course will make a recommendation to NRA concerning your certification based on an evaluation of your knowledge, skills, and attitude. You will be asked to demonstrate your organizational and teaching skills through participation in several practical exercises during the course of your training. You will also be asked to complete an instructor certification examination. A minimum score of 90 percent is required for certified instructor applicants (85 percent for assistant and apprentice instructor applicants). However, attendance at the course, or a passing grade on the examination, does not guarantee that you will receive the recommendation of the NRA Training Counselor.

Day 1: Basic Instructor Training: This day covers how to run a class from a financial, legal, and ethical standpoint, NRA Policies and Procedures, and the pre-class marksmanship evaluation. Basic Instructor Training is required of any instructor candidate that does not have proof that this has been completed in the two years prior to this date.

Day 2: Basics of Pistol Shooting Discipline specific: This day has another attempt at the pre-class marksmanship evaluation in the morning for anyone who didn’t need to retake Basic Instructor Training. The day continues into specifics on what is needed to run a NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting student course. There will be multiple in-class evaluations during the day where instructor candidates demonstrate their ability to teach the material to other instructor candidates. There will be a written exam of the material on this day which must be passed in order to be recommended into the instructor program.

I will send a PDF of the pre-class marksmanship evaluation form in your registration confirmation email from Eventbright.

Expectations of students in order to pass:

• You must participate in the entire course
• You must display the knowledge, skills, and attitude as required in the NRA national curriculum in order to be a firearms instructor
• You must pass all marksmanship, firearms handling, written, and in class examinations

Students are required to bring the following materials to class:

1. You will need to fill out and return the pre-class questionnaire. This document will be emailed to you in the Eventbright registration confirmation email. Responsibly bringing the form to class or returning it by email with your answers are a part of your evaluation for the class, so please take it seriously.
2. You must bring an electronic device (e.g. Laptop/tablet) that is able to view the presenter notes in a powerpoint presentation. NRA no longer uses paper training materials for this class. You will need to bring a power cord or batteries for your device in order to keep it running all day. You will not be able to pass the course without this. It is fine for 2 students to share a laptop if coming as a group. Note: there is limited/no internet access in the classroom. I’ll email out the materials about a week before the class and you will need to have them pre-loaded on the first day.
3. A semi-automatic pistol or revolver in .22lr though .45ACP. The range does not allow magnum calibers. Details for this are in the PDF document that will be sent to you after you register. You can not attempt the qualification with a non-stocked version of a rifle (e.g. AR Pistols).
4. 200 rounds of ammunition for your pistol. The ammunition must be packed separately from your pistol. We will have an area that is not in the classroom to store your ammunition during the class. Please leave the ammo in your vehicle when you check in on the first day.
5. Electronic hearing protection. You must be able to understand instructions on the range while other people are firing.
6. Eye protection
7. Range appropriate clothing
8. Pens/Pencil/paper for notes, filling out forms, and taking the test
9. Please bring a packed lunch. We won’t have time to go off-site for lunch.

Note: Please register here with *exactly* the same name and address the NRA has on file for you. If the database does not find your information then it will significantly delay processing your course completion. You can look up your NRA information here: https://www.nramemberservices.org/

NRA membership is not required in order to attend and pass the class. It is recommended, however, as the NRA is the curriculum standards body for this material.