NRA Certified Pistol Instructor Training Requirements

08/30/2018

NRA Certified Basic Pistol Instructor

Are you a handgun shooter who wants to help other shooters improve their skills? Pistols are some of the most used firearms in the world, but not everyone has the training to use them safely. With the NRA Certified Pistol Instructor course, GTBR will help you become an effective and knowledgeable instructor, capable of teaching students how to handle pistols with skill and safety.

NRA Certified Pistol Instructor Training Course with GTBR

What You Will Learn

This training course is broken down into two parts. The first part is Basic Instructor Training, which covers how to be an effective NRA certified instructor. You will learn:
• NRA Policies and Procedures
• Basic Public Speaking Skills
• Training Methods and Aids
• Using a Training Team
• Organization and Budget

The second part covers the specifics of teaching shooting skills as they relate to handguns. You will be certified to teach these topics and others:
• Range Safety
• Pistol Knowledge and Safe Gun Handling
• Ammunition Knowledge
• The Fundamentals of Pistol Shooting
• Shooting Positions and Shooting Qualifications
• Scoring Targets
• Selecting and Maintaining Your Pistol

The Prerequisites

In order to undertake the NRA Certified Pistol Instructor Training Course at GTBR, you need to know the basics of firearm safety and have a measure of proficiency in shooting skills. There are pre-course assessment exercises (see link at the bottom of this page) to ensure you have a suitable background in firearms.

You also need to take and pass the student course NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting Instructor Led Student Course.

What to Expect

The course is split into two sections, the NRA Basic Instructor Training and the NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting Instructor Course.

When you take the NRA Basic Instructor Training, you will be an Instructor Candidate. This section involves no shooting. You will learn the skills necessary to not only teach in a classroom but also how to manage one. You will learn how to work with other trainers as a team as well as how to use training aids. Some paperwork is involved, such as student packets and lesson plans.

The NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting Instructor Course is more hands-on and involves some live-fire range time. Before that is classroom instruction with dummy ammunition where you will learn proper operation, maintenance, storage, and shooting fundamentals for revolvers and semi-automatic handguns. You will also learn how to appropriately select both pistols and ammunition. Marksmanship and range safety are also covered.

After that, you will head to the range to test your skills and undergo nationally standardized shooting qualification.

You will receive the NRA Basics of Shooting handbook and a certificate bearing the signature of the NRA Secretary and your NRA Certified Instructor.

How You Benefit

Completing the NRA Certified Pistol Instructor course will equip you with the skills necessary to teach students how to safely use a handgun. It also includes training material on how to teach as well as how to organize a course of your own.

Many states require the certifications from this course in order to become a Concealed Carry Instructor in that state. You can find state-specific information here to become a Concealed Carry Instructor in your state.

There are millions of gun owners in America, and more every day. Many of those firearms are pistols, however, training is rarely included in the new gun package. The opportunities for firearm teachers are ever expanding, and NRA certification is the standard. The skills you will be able to teach after finishing this course will keep families safe and keep bullets on-target.

If you want to teach other disciplines as well, such as rifles, you will need to take those specific courses. Having completed this course you will not need to take the NRA Basic Instructor Training course again, as long as less than two years have passed.

What do I need to bring and what do I need to know?

Please download and review the following NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting Instructor documents BEFORE you come to class. Also, make sure you practice the live fire exercises prior to coming to the range.

PISTOL INSTRUCTOR PRE-COURSE ASSESSMENT

BASICS OF PISTOL SHOOTING BLENDED COURSE

BASICS OF PISTOL SHOOTING INSTRUCTOR LED COURSE

BASICS OF PISTOL SHOOTING INSTRUCTOR LED COURSE POWERPOINT

BASICS OF PISTOL SHOOTING QUALIFICATION TARGETS

What to Bring

A copy (digital or print) of the above NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting Instructor documents.
Bring a 3 ring binder
Bring a target shooting pistol
Bring a couple hundred rounds of ammunition

You will also need to CLICK HERE to fill out the required NRA Instructor Training Program Pre-Course Questionnaire prior to your attendance in an NRA Instructor course.

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NRA Instructor FAQs
- How do I activate my NRA credentials or renew my NRA credentials?
  
  Please click this link to download the PDF file with instructions.
- What is the NRA Basic Instructor Training (BIT)?
  
  During the Basic Instructor Training course candidates 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. This is an important part of learning to become an NRA Certified Instructor and it is a requirement for all NRA disciplines. Complete information can be found on our NRA Instructor Development page.
- How can I become certified as an NRA Pistol Instructor?
  
  The NRA Pistol Instructor certification requires you take the NRA Basic Student Course, the NRA BIT (if you haven't had it in the past 2 years), and the NRA Pistol Instructor course. Complete information can be found on our NRA Instructor Development page.
- How can I become certified as an NRA Rifle Instructor?
  
  The NRA Rifle Instructor certification requires you take the NRA Basic Rifle Student Course, the NRA BIT (if you haven't had it in the past 2 years), and the NRA Rifle Instructor course. Complete information can be found on our NRA Instructor Development page.
- How can I become certified as an NRA Personal Protection Instructor?
  
  The NRA Personal Protection Instructor discipline has two parts: NRA Personal Protection Inside the Home and NRA Personal Protection Outside the Home. Both require you to have a current BIT (within the last two years), and be a current NRA Pistol Instructor.
  
  In addition, the NRA Personal Protection Inside the Home Instructor certification requires you to have taken the NRA Basics of Personal Protection Inside the home Student course.
  
  The NRA Personal Protection Outside the Home prerequisites require you to be currently certified as an NRA Personal Protection Inside the Home Instructor and have taken the NRA Basics of Personal Protection Outside the Home Student course.
  
  Complete information can be found on our NRA Instructor Development page.
- How can I become certified as an NRA Reloading Instructor?
  
  The NRA Reloading Instructor certification requires you take the NRA BIT (if you haven't had it in the past 2 years), and the NRA Reloading Instructor course. Complete information can be found on our NRA Instructor Development page.
- How can I become certified as an NRA Home Firearm Safety Instructor?
  
  The NRA Home Firearm Safety Instructor certification requires you take the NRA BIT (if you haven't had it in the past 2 years), and the NRA Home Firearm Safety Instructor course. Complete information can be found on our NRA Instructor Development page.
- How can I become certified as an NRA Refuse To Be A Victim Instructor?
  
  To become an NRA Refuse To Be A Victim Instructor, you just attend a Refuse To Be A Victim Instructor Development course in person or a distance learning course from the NRA. Complete information can be found on our NRA Instructor Development page.
- How can I become certified as an NRA Range Safety Officer?
  
  To become an NRA Range Safety Officer, you must attend an NRA Range Safety Officer training course in person or a distance learning course from the NRA. Complete information can be found on our NRA Instructor Development page.
- How can I become certified as an NRA Chief Range Safety Officer?
  
  The NRA Chief Range Safety Officer certification requires you take the NRA Range Safety Officer Course, the NRA BIT (if you haven't had it in the past 2 years), and the NRA Chief Range Safety Officer Instructor course. Complete information can be found on our NRA Instructor Development page.
- Can you teach me to be a good NRA trainer?
  
  We can help you become a NRA Trainer. How good you are depends on several factors. How hard are you willing to work at being a good instructor? How willing are you to continue your education as an instructor? Being a good instructor isn't about taking a class, it's about investing you your ability to convey that important information to your student.
  
  A.D.S.I. states it like this:
  
  1. I am committed to the safety of my students, and hold that the expected benefit of any training activity must significantly outweigh any known or perceived risk of that activity.
  2. I believe that it is my responsibility to understand not just what I’m teaching, but WHY I’m teaching any technique or concept, or offering specific advice.
  3. I recognize that defensive shooting skills, along with the drills and gear used, are inherently specialized and usually distinct from those of target shooting, competition and hunting endeavors.
  4. I will encourage my students to ask questions about course material, and I will answer them with thorough and objective explanations.
  5. I understand that Integrity and Professionalism are subjective traits and I strive to maintain high levels of both. I am capable of, and willing to, articulate the reasons for the way I conduct my courses and how I interact with students & peers.
  6. I believe that it is valuable to engage my peers in constructive conversation about differences in technique and concept, with the goal of mutual education and evolution.
  7. I believe that the best instructor is an avid student, and I will strive to continually upgrade my own skills and knowledge. As part of this belief, I understand that my own teachings need to be subject to critique and open to evolution.
- Can I get certified to become an NRA Instructor online?
  
  We do not certify anyone online to become an instructor of any kind. Few, if any, states allow that kind of training to become certified as a firearms instructor of any sort. Distance learning (online training) has its place in the learning process, but physical skillsets must be witnessed and objectives met in class and on the range.
- Can I host you for NRA Instructor training?
  
  Yes we can be hosted for NRA Instructor Training and Development. Please see our Host an Event page for further information.
- How does the NRA Instructor Portal work? Is there a user guide?
  
  Download NRAI Portal User Guide Here
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