NRA Instructor Training

Become an NRA Certified Instructor

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. Our NRA  Instructor Training Courses will help you develop the additional knowledge, skills and techniques needed to organize and teach courses in the NRA Basic  Training Program.

Instructor courses are taught by NRA Training Counselors.  Your Training Counselors are Erik and Lexen Heck of Home Front Freedom.  With decades of firearm instructor experience, you will leave this course well equipped to instruct all levels of potential students.

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 pistol action type.
  • 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 qualification exercises administered by the NRA Appointed Training Counselor, questionnares and other pre-requisites determined by the NRA Training and Education division.
  • Candidates must satisfactorily complete an NRA Instructor Training Course in the discipline they wish to teach (e.g., NRA Basic Pistol Course, Personal Protection Inside the Home, etc.), and receive the endorsement of the NRA Training Counselors conducting that training.

During the course, you 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. In addition, you will be provided the appropriate lesson plans and basic course student packets. Role-playing is a major part of an instructor course; therefore, the minimum class size is at least four candidates, with 10-12 candidates per Training Counselor being ideal. You will all take turns working in teams, actually conducting portions of the course to other candidates who portray basic students.

The Training Counselors will evaluate your performance based on your 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 expected of NRA Certified Instructors. You can also expect to learn the NRA Basic instructional methods and evaluating and improving the performance of beginning shooters. Candidates will be provided with the NRA Trainer’s Guide (Basic Instructor Training only), 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 Basic Pistol instructor examination (minimum passing grade is 90%). (NOTE: Some programs do not include all of the aforementioned materials.)

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
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