[kludge]

Worth it?

I was told that the first instructor course would cost $150, but after the first one I could take "correspondance" courses. The fee is $10 annually per type to keep certification current, and that I would need to be insured, which would run ~$350/yr.

The ones I might be interested in are Rifle, Pistol, Home Safety, and Range Officer.

TIA.

[kimbernut]

I believe the only home study courses are the Reloading course(both metallic ctgs. and Shotgun) and the Range Safety officer course. All others,to the best of my knowledge will run you $150- $175 plus travel expenses if necessary. If you are planning on really getting involved with instructing it is absolutely worth it.

[Greybeard]

While some others here may certainly comment, I suspect the ultimate source will be NRA and/or their web site. Also, I understand some changes have been made since I began to get my certs many years ago, so further comments there on my part likely not very helpful.

On the "Worth it?" question, that may be quite subjective. Qverall, in my case, yea, if for nothing but the knowledge. But ... Texas DPS has their own criteria and does not necessarily recognize NRA courses (as some states do) for CHL training. While I'm certified "the NRA way" in most disiplines, the one I've found most useful here is the Pistol "First Steps".

[skipjack]

I took my RSO course via hunter education instructor training. It was free, since I was taking it that way.

I am taking basic pistol this evening and tomorrow morning. Since I will be instructing at a range, they are picking up the tab. I will also be covered under the range liability insurance.

You may want to look into developing a relationship with a range and/or getting involved in hunter education. You don't get paid for hunter ed, but instructing at a range can be lucrative. You are going to need to teach somewhere, anyway.

I do hunter ed to give a little back to the sport; I don't expect to be paid for it. Plus, I like it!:)

[knifestuff]

RSO, reloading, and Refuse to Be a Victim are the only correspondence courses I'm aware of that NRA offers for instructor certification. Many of the others have a range proficiency component to them that requires on-site testing, to include Basic Pistol, Basic Rifle, Basic Shotgun, and Personal Protection Inside the Home. Suspect the new Personal Protection Outside the Home will also have a range proficiency requirement. They are all good courses and enhance your skills.

[kludge]

OK, a little more background may be necessary...

The reason this came up is that our club has applied for an NRA grant to purchase a few items to then be albe to offer smallbore rifle training (the emphasis will probably be youth). If enough people are interested in being NRA certified we could have the trainer come up from Bloomington for the two-day instructor training. Most likely the first course would for rifle instructor, I can't imagine it being anything else. The other thing that was brought up is that we should start hunter safety courses again. Most of the information came from a local NRA guy who is also a club member.

When I was a youth I took had smallbore rifle/pistol and hunter safety through a local club and the NRA/4H, and I am certainly interested in "passing it on" so to speak, probably not interested as a money-making venture. I also have been involved in Boy Scouts for several years as an Asst. Scoutmaster, now I am a merit badge counselor.

[Ben Shepherd]

I'm certified as a rifle, pistol, shotgun instructor, and range safety as well. I'm also a Utah hunter ed. instructor. If you work at a range, it's absolutely worth it. It's an easy thing to do. And it could help with the insurance rates for the range as well.
And with a rifle or shotgun certification, you can go out with the scouts when they need to do the rifle/shotgun merit badge. Or go out with the varsity scouts when they do thier turkey shoots. TONS of fun.

In Utah at least, hunter ed instructor certification is an entirely different and seperate thing done by the state DWR. Nothing to do with the NRA really. THAT is something I enjoy immensely. Lose money every month putting 50-60 kids through hunter ed at the local cabelas.

ALL the firearm instructor ratings classes MUST be face to face.

If none of you are certified the FIRST thing I would do is get everyone certified as a RSO. Then rifle after that.

[B36]

Kludge--I sent you a PM.

The information recieved is a bit convulated. Price of $ is not too far out for the two courses. Instructor course about 6 hours and with a pre screening, the rifle course could run 12 hours or so.

Let me know if I can help or come to your club and explain the various programs.

Strongly suggest the RSO program. You can take it by mail AFTER you are a certified instructor.