NRA Certified Instructor

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FloridaGuy

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I am thinking about becoming an NRA Certified Pistol Shooting Instructor. I think I can do a much better job then most of the people that are training people at the local ranges now. Most of the times if an instructor is on the range I will not shoot that day. The instructors locally are mostly young guys with very poor safety practices. The other weekend I saw a instructor allow a student to point a loaded firearm at his head and did not say a thing to the student.

I think this type of training is going to give gun owners a very bad name in the future.

I have also noticed that there are alot of new shooters that would like personal one-on-one training and not group training. I want to offer individual training in the comfort of there own home and training in small groups of no more then 10 people.

I am not looking to make money doing this I just want to offer proper training in the use of firearms. I would be asking the trainee to pay there range fees and the fee for the conference room if it is a small group.

What is everyone thoughts on this?
 
Your motives are noble, but (having gone that direction myself) perhaps impractical. Just for Basic Pistol (yes, I know ... but the NRA still calls it basic Pistol) my mobile dog-and-pony show box of props is large and heavy. I will still go out for small groups, but I'll only do one-on-one for friends whom I trust to be in my house.

And don't overlook the live fire requirement. You WILL have to have either a safe place to shoot, or an arrangement with a local range to conduct your live fire sessions there. The NRA requirement changed (I think in 2011) so it's no longer just firing one magazine or one cylinder in the general direction of a target. The bare minimum course of fire now totals something like 55 or 60 rounds per student ... and if a student screws up, you're supposed to have them repeat that segment. If you are going to follow the NRA course (which is the only legitimate way to do it if you're claiming to offer an NRA course), a class of five people will use up most or all of an afternoon just on the live fire.

Where are you going to find this conference room? I've been looking for a suitable (and suitably affordable) venue for three or four years and I haven't found it yet.
 
I have a local range that will allow me to do the live fire portion of the training with out an issue. This range has a lot of trainers that use the range for the live fire portion.

I was not aware of the 55 or 60 round requirement per student. I know the local trainers are not shooting that per student. Because they can go through 20 students live fire exercise in less then an hour. They shoot 1 or 2 rounds from a revolver and the same from a semi-automatic.

Locally there are many businesses with signs outside advertising conference rooms for rent. I guess they are trying to supplement there income. Several of the ranges locally also have conference rooms for rent for training classes.

What type of props are required for the classroom training?
 
I was not aware of the 55 or 60 round requirement per student. I know the local trainers are not shooting that per student. Because they can go through 20 students live fire exercise in less then an hour. They shoot 1 or 2 rounds from a revolver and the same from a semi-automatic.
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Then they are not following the NRA curriculum and they should not be advertising their classes as being NRA Basic Pistol classes. The NRA is very clear that when you teach the NRA class, you teach the NRA class -- nothing more, nothing less, nothing different. (Well, maybe more -- but you MUST be clear when offering anything beyond the NRA content that it's not NRA content.)

Post #42: http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=543710&highlight=nra+live+fire+requirements&page=2

What type of props are required for the classroom training?
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Probably as much or as little as you consider adequate to convey the information the NRA course guide requires you to teach. I have a deactivated single action revolver, a deactivated double action revolver, and a deactivated semi-automatic pistol. I also have a spare cylinder, a spare magazine, a speed loader, and samples of several different dummy cartridges to show the difference between "caliber" and "chambering," and the difference between rimfire and centerfire.

I also have a broken-down 1911 slide assembly for showing how the firing pin works and how the extractor works. And then I have a demo target with a sight picture overlay to show what a proper starting sight picture should look like.

My state also requires that firearms be locked up if there are children in the house, so I also have samples of cable locks and a couple of different types of trigger locks to show people what minimally meets the legal requirement, and what actually (sort of) works.

I'm sure there's more, but that's a start.
 
I am thinking about becoming an NRA Certified Pistol Shooting Instructor. I think I can do a much better job then most of the people that are training people at the local ranges now.
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I would suggest that you analytically review your experience and teaching shill set.

Then I would suggest reading Cathy Smith's essay:
http://www.corneredcat.com/instructor-ethics-101/
Here's [the beginning of] her essay:

When you step up to teach a self-defense class, you are literally asking students to bet their lives on the quality of the information you have and on your ability to teach it to them. This is no exaggeration, but just the simple truth. Students come to you looking for the knowledge and skill that can save their lives some dark night. If you fail to teach them well, if you teach them the wrong things, if you give them half an answer or a bad answer, they may pay for your failure with their heart’s blood.

Not saying you wouldn't be a good instructor, but being able to "do a much better job than most of the people that are training people at local ranges" is a very subjective bar, and that bar is set awfully low.

If you're 100% confident that you can meet Cathy's criteria, then go enroll in an NRA school, and them knock yourself out.
 
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Cathy's criteria are for teaching defensive (tactical) shooting, not Basic Pistol. Did you read the original post?

FloridaGuy said:
I am thinking about becoming an NRA Certified Pistol Shooting Instructor.
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He said nothing about teaching tactical shooting. I disagree with Cathy's basic premise that ALL shooting instruction is life-critical self defense instruction. The NRA Basic Pistol class is NOT about self defense shooting. It is about how to fire a handgun safely. That's what it is, and that's all it is. The NRA provides the curriculum and, as NRA certified instructors, we are legally and morally bound to teach that curriculum if we're going to advertise the class as NRA Basic Pistol.

I don't understand why so many people have a hard time grasping that. It's spelled out very clearly on the NRA Instructors' web site, and in the NRA's literature.

Cathy is talking about something else. Her closing sentence should tell you that:

Pax said:
If I’m not willing to take that risk for the sake of my students’ lives, I have no right to call myself a self-defense instructor.
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The NRA has more advanced courses, such as Personal Protection in the Home and Personal Protection Outside the Home. Both of these are geared to learning and practicing self defense shooting. Basic Pistol is NOT geared toward self defense shooting.
 
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Aguila Blanca said:
....The NRA Basic Pistol class is NOT about self defense shooting. It is about how to fire a handgun safely. That's what it is, and that's all it is....
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And that is a very worthwhile undertaking. It is about laying a good foundation in safety and simple gun handling skills upon which the student can build.

Folks without some decent gun experience do not handle guns well. Guns are foreign to them, and they are awkward and clumsy with guns. The manipulations and management of guns, to be efficient and safe, requires some experience and instruction.

I'm with a group of instructors putting on a monthly NRA Basic Handgun class. Probably 80% to 90% of our students had never touched a real gun before. Our class enrollment run 20% to 40% female. We have students of all ages from early 20s to us more seasoned types. We've had entire families attend together. Most of our student show varying levels of anxiety at handling real guns.

We try to address this by bringing them through the course material in a step-by-step, measured and supportive way.

In addition to the core lectures, we do a lot of "hands-on" work with the students. The students handle a variety of revolvers and semi-autos under direct supervision, one-on-one, of an instructor. They use dummy rounds to load and unload the guns, dry fire and generally learn how things work and feel, and they get continual safety reinforcement.

These initial hands-on exercises help students get familiar with handling gun and lay a foundation for safe gun handling habits. The students begin to realize that although guns can be dangerous they can learn how to handle them safely and that safety is in their hands.

Then in preparation for live fire, and after the "marksmanship" lecture, we work one-on-one with students on grip and stance using "blue" inert training guns.

Before going to live fire with .22s, the students shoot airsoft (the quality type) in the classroom so they can get a feel for sight alignment and trigger control (and reset) without the noise and intimidation factor (for beginners) of firing real ammunition.

Then, after live fire with .22s (working one-on-one with an instructor), we put out a variety of guns from 9mm to .44 Magnum so the students can get the experience of firing the larger calibers. Shooting the centerfire guns is at each student's option. Most fire them all, but some choose not to.

When someone has gone through our program, it's not uncommon for her/him to be shooting 1.5 to 2.0 inch groups at seven yards with the heavy calibers. A few months ago, a petite young woman who had never fired any type of gun before out shot everyone, including her husband, with the .44 Magnum -- putting three rounds into about an inch at 7 yards.
 
There is no live fire requirement/portion for the NRA pistol safety course. In fact, in some states it's not even legal to do that (New York being one of them). It is in fact a safety course, not a legal course or a self protection course. In New York (even before the SAFE ACT) you had to take an NRA home safety firearm handling course.
 
What type of props are required for the classroom training?
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I wont comment on NRA courses, I'm a bit unconventional when it comes to firearms training. I lean more to reality then range work.

So as to props: I have several blue plastic training guns, the most common found in SD pistols/revolvers. Flash Lights, Mirrors, baby carriages, diaper bags, shopping carts, recliners, car seat belts, purses, cell phones, bags of groceries, and what ever else people carry/use in their daily lives.

Thought I am a certified NRA LE instructor, I don't teach NRA classes.

Not that I have anything against the NRA, I just don't.
 
NoSecondBest said:
There is no live fire requirement/portion for the NRA pistol safety course. In fact, in some states it's not even legal to do that (New York being one of them). It is in fact a safety course, not a legal course or a self protection course. In New York (even before the SAFE ACT) you had to take an NRA home safety firearm handling course.
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The NRA handgun safety course recognized or required by most states with such a requirement is Basic Pistol, NOT Home Firearms Safety. And Basic Pistol DOES have a live fire requirement. It amounts to a minimum of approximately 55 rounds per student. I'm sure I have posted the exact course of fire from the NRA course guide, because others have previously claimed that Basic Pistol does not require live fire.

The NY requirement is perhaps unique to New York. The law in my state specifically states that 'Home Firearms safety" is NOT accepted in lieu of Basic Pistol.

So ... here it is, again:

NRA Basic Pistol said:
6. Shoot at targets using live ammunition

Ensure that everyone on the range has eye and hearing protection.

Have students shoot live ammunition at the blank targets using single-shot and then multiple-shot exercises. Emphasize the importance of applying the shooting fundamentals every time they fire a shot.

Note: Students with double-action revolvers should cock the hammer before each shot, if possible.

a. single-shot exercise

Have the students load and fire only one cartridge at a time. Have them fire five times at a blank target, and have coaches evaluate the shooters. Perform this exercise at least twice, for a total of 10 shots.

b. five-shot exercise

Have students load five cartridges and fire at a blank target, at their own pace, to achieve a shot group. All shots should be on the target. Be sure that the students rest between each shot.

Repeat the exercise until your student is able to shoot "groups" anywhere on the target. Observe and offer feedback as appropriate.

7. Adjust the rear sight to center a group on the target

Once the students are able to group their shots, instruct them how to make sight adjustments. Remind them to move the rear sight in the same direction that they want the hits on the target to move. Emphasize that the guns
must be unloaded before any attempt is made to adjust the sights.

Point out that some pistols do not have adjustable sights.

8. Continue firing five-shot groups from the bench

Continue to have the students load and fire five shots from the bench. The students may now fire on a bullseye target, using a six-o-clock hold so that they can see the front sight clearly in the white area of the target.

Remind the students that their eyes can focus on only one object at a time, and that the front sight should be in sharp focus, with the rear sight and target being less clear.

The students should rest after each shot. Continue to make sight adjustments as necessary.

Repeat the five shot exercise until your student is able to shoot at least three, five-shot groups within a 9-inch diameter circle in the middle of the target. If you are using the coach/pupil method, have participants reverse
the roles and repeat the eight steps.

D. Two-Handed Standing Shooting Position

Demonstrate the two-handed standing shooting position. Explain that both hands are used to grip and support the pistol.

Have the students learn this position using the proper sequence of steps.

1. Study position

Demonstrate and describe the key points of the position, referring students to the pictures of the position in the handbook.

Describe and demonstrate the two-handed grip presented in the text.

2. Practice position without a pistol

Assist students in achieving the proper foot, arm and body position without a pistol.

3. Practice position with a pistol

Assist students in achieving the position with a pistol. Check for:

• Proper grip
• Feet shoulder width apart and body weight
distributed evenly
• Legs straight
• Back straight or bent slightly forward
• Head erect
• Arms fully extended
• Pistol brought to eye level
• Shooter should be relaxed and comfortable

4. Align position with target

Make sure that each student’s position is such that the pistol is naturally aligned with the target.

5. Dry-fire pistol at target

Have students dry-fire their pistols at a target. Emphasize:

• Sight alignment—aiming
• Trigger squeeze—trigger control

Point out that nobody can hold a pistol perfectly still. The students must try to keep the sights aligned while maintaining a minimum arc of movement.

Emphasize that the trigger should be squeezed straight to the rear, and that the hammer fall should be a surprise.

Note: Students with double-action revolvers should cock the hammer before each shot, if possible.

6. Single-shot exercise

Have the students load and fire one cartridge at a time. Have the students fire five shots at a bullseye target. Be sure that the students rest between each shot.

If the two-handed position is maintained for eight seconds or more without firing a shot, the shooter should remove the trigger finger from the trigger, keep the gun pointed it in a safe direction, and lower it or rest it on the
bench before attempting another shot.

Using the coach/pupil method, have coaches evaluate the shooters. Repeat the exercise, for a total of ten shots.

7. Five-shot exercise

Have students load five cartridges and fire at a blank target, at their own pace, to achieve a shot group. All shots should be on the target. Be sure that the students rest between each shot.

Repeat the five shot exercise until your student is able to shoot at least three, five-shot groups within a 9-inch diameter circle in the middle of the target. If you are using the coach/pupil method, have participants reverse
the roles and repeat the eight steps.

E. Evaluation of Shooting Practice

Lead students in a discussion of the shooting exercises. With each student, focus on the positive aspects (what the student did right).
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This is available to NRA instructors through the instructors' portal on the NRA web site. It should also be in the course guide for Basic Pistol if you have that, but if your copy is older it will be different. The NRA revised the live fire requirements in (IIRC) mid-2011.

To reiterate: The NRA Basic Pistol class DOES include a live fire requirement.
 
Anyone can make a difference especially when it comes to firearms and gun safety. Congratulations on wanting to do so. I see you are a fellow Floridian so please allow me to offer some advice to you as a future fellow NRA Instructor:

1. Most people taking the Basic Pistol and Home Firearms Safety Course are interested in one thing and one thing only - to obtain a CCW permit.

2. Most people will not seek further instruction once they get their permit.

As an Instructor, you can recommend that people get additional instruction until you are blue in the face but very few will heed the advice. Be the best instructor you can by giving it your all. I have found the best venue for instruction is to affiliate with several gun clubs and offer instruction. For the most part, newer shooters are happy to receive instruction for self improvement because these are usually the people that want to be safe, know their guns, and want to be better shooters. Never say anything negative about another instructor.

I joined two gun clubs as a member. When opportunity presented itself, I offered my services as an NRA Instructor. Now, I am the designated instructor for both clubs and fellow club members are always calling for advice, help with purchasing new guns, wanting to send friends to me for instruction, etc. If I were desiring a full time job, I could probably make a living doing just this. However, I do this mostly for the satisfaction of knowing I helped develop a safe and responsible gun owner.

Keep in mind that I am retired and would never have been able to devote this kind of time to this if I were not. I would imagine one could make a living at this dependent upon their financial goals.
 
The NRA Basic Pistol Course does not have a live fire requirement. I've been teaching the course for fifteen years and it is not required.
 
NoSecondBest said:
The NRA Basic Pistol Course does not have a live fire requirement....
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Sorry, but I believe you're wrong. Based on the comment in this NRA Training Blog entry regarding revisions in 2011 to the course outline, it appears that there is a live fire requirement (emphasis added):
...As promised last year, we have revised the Basic Pistol Course outline and lesson plans. In previous Basic Pistol lesson plans, the shooting portion required students to repeat the multi-shot exercise until instructors were comfortable with their performance....
...

...In a nutshell, the optional shooting skill requirement that is currently in the basic practical rocker worksheet will become a standard skill requirement in each basic shooting discipline....
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Originally Posted by 45Gunner
1. Most people taking the Basic Pistol and Home Firearms Safety Course are interested in one thing and one thing only - to obtain a CCW permit.

2. Most people will not seek further instruction once they get their permit.
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I am aware of this but I am hoping that I can make them a little bit safer when they are handling a firearm. My goal in doing this is not to make a living from it ,but for the pure satisfaction of knowing that I have helped develop a safe and responsible firearms owner also. I also want to give back to the sport of shooting and help give gun owners a better reputation with the general public.

I have taught many new gun owners about gun safety and trained them how to shoot and helped them select there first firearm. I have just not been able to give them the certification from the NRA that everyone seems to want.

If this goes ok then I may want to look into teaching the NRA's Metallic Cartridge reloading class also. I have had several people ask me to teach them how to reload since I reload all of my ammo.
 
NoSecondBest said:
The NRA Basic Pistol Course does not have a live fire requirement. I've been teaching the course for fifteen years and it is not required.
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I'm sorry, but it IS required, and has been required since mid-2011. I posted the live fire requirement in post #11, taken directly from the revised Basic Pistol course guide. If your NRA instructor certification was current as of late 2011, you should have received several notices alerting you to the change. If your instructor certification is current now, you can look it up on the NRA's instructor web portal.

In the past I have erroneously posted that the now-current live fire requirement calls for a minimum of 50 rounds. That's incorrect. Awhile back I went through the several steps, and the actual MINIMUM round count is 55 or 60 rounds. And that's an absolute minimum ... if you read the requirements, there are several where the student may be asked to repeat until he/she demonstrates acceptable proficiency. I haven't yet encountered one, but it's possible that an instructor might have a student who needs a hundred rounds or more to satisfy the live fire requirements. (Although there has to be a point for each instructor at which you just tell the student to pack it in and go home -- no certificate for you.)
 
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I feel it would be a dis-service to a student shooter to give him a course and not do a live fire exercise, even if it were not required. We can dry practice firing all day long but without the recoil, the bang, and environment of other shooters, flying brass, etc., it is not the same. Not to mention the cycling of the slide or rotation of the cylinder, the pull of the trigger, ad infinitum.
 
I have always found it very ironic that a person could get a concealed carry permit here in Iowa without having even touched a firearm, let a!one fired one! Gunslinger
 
I have always found it very ironic that a person could get a concealed carry permit here in Iowa without having even touched a firearm, let a!one fired one! Gunslinger
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It's called a "Permit to Carry" in Iowa, you can carry openly or concealed. And, some states don't require any training at all. It's called FREEDOM. Of course, along with FREEDOM comes RESPONSIBILITY. I tend to be a Libertarian and find it ironic that we have to pay the Gubmint a fee for this right.

Major
 
I used to like to teach folks who are new to guns how to shoot. I did this informally with friends and only one-on-one. Its hard work, even one-on-one. Granted, I am not any kind of certified firearms instructor. I'm sure that the folks who are are more practiced than I am at watching new shooters closely and are therefore a little more at ease. But, for me teaching someone who has never handled a gun before to shoot is stressful. Here are just a sampling of the things that went through my head when doing this:

1. Is the person I'm teaching to shoot a good listener, a nervous type, a know-it-all, someone who wants to follow the instruction I am giving, or just nodding his/her head until I actually let them shoot.

2. Is the person going to listen to and strictly follow the range rules and basic rules of shooting that I review with them before going to the range?

3. Are they going to "rough handle" the guns and my equipment.

No matter what, you have to constantly watch and correct the new shooter. You just can't take your eye off of them. And, if they simply won't listen, you need to figure out a way to "tactfully" cut the range session short. My pet peeves are: touching guns on range cold; muzzle control; not checking chambers and rough-handling my guns. I must be getting old and crotchety, because I don't really have the temperament for this anymore. I can't see my self ever wanting to be an NRA instructor.
 
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