My review of the NRA Basic Instructor Training (BIT) and Basic Pistol Instructor Course; from this past week.
Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): Do it.
Me: I'm a seasoned instructor with approximately two decades of experience training LEO's and military Special Agents on handguns and tactics as an additional duty; and have taught dozens of civilians in private sessions.
BIT:
Prequalification: There is a pre-course qualification test. This is intended to be taken after one passes the Pistol Shooting Course Student Exam; generally you must be a graduate of the Basic Pistol Course and have demonstrated potential to be an NRA instructor. There are a few qualifications that will exclude you from having to take the test and demonstrate on the range. Mine was sufficient IDPA competency, and I believe it helped that I was an IDPA Safety Officer (that test is much harder than the NRA tests).
NRA Registration: We were told it would cost an additional fee to the NRA to complete our NRA certification, that required an NRA account and additional $30 fee for two years (argggg). So for the rest of my life (current rules as I understand them) I must conduct at least one NRA training course, and post to the NRA who my student(s) is (name, age, address, phone number). I'm informed that this can be relatively informal training as long as its in following of the (excellent) NRA guidelines and I must pay the NRA a maintenance fee ($20? $30?) every two years.
We received several excellent handouts, including how to navigate the NRA instructors portion of the website, right & left handed shooter target diagnostic charts; both instructor and student NRA packets. The packets included an excellent manual, course material, instructors CD, a mini poster, etc. We were encouraged to buy other instructor materials from the NRA, as well as dummy guns and other training aids. You honestly have everything you really need, minus an actual pistol to teach the entire course.
Some bullets from the first 25% of the BIT course:
- Always start or end every class with an overview of 'What is the NRA'.
- The NRA emphasizes being honest, and maintaining integrity.
- Use video's (YouTube is ok, although we didn't use it in my class) or any other training aid as needed. Lot's of flexibility.
- NRA instructors are not employees of the NRA, and do not represent the NRA.
- Certified Instructors teach the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary for the safe and proficient handling of firearms.
- To be an instructor you must be safe, competent, and experienced before attending the NRA instructor courses.
- There are six (6) NRA Discipline Groups: Pistol, Personal Protection, Rifle, Shotgun, Range Safety Officer, Reloading.
- NRA has certified Instructors, Assistant Instructors, and Apprentices'.
- NRA Training Counselor's are appointed. Must have two years of NRA teaching experience, attend the NRA workshop and be a member of the NRA. NRA counselors are automatically Chief Range Safety Officers (CRSO).
-Training teams are recommended, because each team benefits from the talents of other team members.
- Air gun or airsoft are good for training, but actual firing a real firearm normally is necessary where required to qualify.
- As an Instructor the NRA will pay you $10 for every new member you recruit, and $5 for every renewal.
- NRA puts an emphasis on 'learning by doing', what they call Total Participant Involvement (TPI). This is the same leaning approach of the US military; I totally dig it.
- Physical contact with students is ok to correct their position, ask them first; and the big obvious exception is if there is a major safety violation. Our instructor demonstrated an excellent way to stand and address this possibility, both in the classroom and on the live fire range.
Hope some of this was helpful to you.
Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): Do it.
Me: I'm a seasoned instructor with approximately two decades of experience training LEO's and military Special Agents on handguns and tactics as an additional duty; and have taught dozens of civilians in private sessions.
BIT:
Prequalification: There is a pre-course qualification test. This is intended to be taken after one passes the Pistol Shooting Course Student Exam; generally you must be a graduate of the Basic Pistol Course and have demonstrated potential to be an NRA instructor. There are a few qualifications that will exclude you from having to take the test and demonstrate on the range. Mine was sufficient IDPA competency, and I believe it helped that I was an IDPA Safety Officer (that test is much harder than the NRA tests).
NRA Registration: We were told it would cost an additional fee to the NRA to complete our NRA certification, that required an NRA account and additional $30 fee for two years (argggg). So for the rest of my life (current rules as I understand them) I must conduct at least one NRA training course, and post to the NRA who my student(s) is (name, age, address, phone number). I'm informed that this can be relatively informal training as long as its in following of the (excellent) NRA guidelines and I must pay the NRA a maintenance fee ($20? $30?) every two years.
We received several excellent handouts, including how to navigate the NRA instructors portion of the website, right & left handed shooter target diagnostic charts; both instructor and student NRA packets. The packets included an excellent manual, course material, instructors CD, a mini poster, etc. We were encouraged to buy other instructor materials from the NRA, as well as dummy guns and other training aids. You honestly have everything you really need, minus an actual pistol to teach the entire course.
Some bullets from the first 25% of the BIT course:
- Always start or end every class with an overview of 'What is the NRA'.
- The NRA emphasizes being honest, and maintaining integrity.
- Use video's (YouTube is ok, although we didn't use it in my class) or any other training aid as needed. Lot's of flexibility.
- NRA instructors are not employees of the NRA, and do not represent the NRA.
- Certified Instructors teach the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary for the safe and proficient handling of firearms.
- To be an instructor you must be safe, competent, and experienced before attending the NRA instructor courses.
- There are six (6) NRA Discipline Groups: Pistol, Personal Protection, Rifle, Shotgun, Range Safety Officer, Reloading.
- NRA has certified Instructors, Assistant Instructors, and Apprentices'.
- NRA Training Counselor's are appointed. Must have two years of NRA teaching experience, attend the NRA workshop and be a member of the NRA. NRA counselors are automatically Chief Range Safety Officers (CRSO).
-Training teams are recommended, because each team benefits from the talents of other team members.
- Air gun or airsoft are good for training, but actual firing a real firearm normally is necessary where required to qualify.
- As an Instructor the NRA will pay you $10 for every new member you recruit, and $5 for every renewal.
- NRA puts an emphasis on 'learning by doing', what they call Total Participant Involvement (TPI). This is the same leaning approach of the US military; I totally dig it.
- Physical contact with students is ok to correct their position, ask them first; and the big obvious exception is if there is a major safety violation. Our instructor demonstrated an excellent way to stand and address this possibility, both in the classroom and on the live fire range.
Hope some of this was helpful to you.
