NRA Instructor

How would being 21 affect this, looked down upon, or not being taken seriously?

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Just from some of the treatment I have seen out there at various gun shows, shops, and smiths ... yes ... that would be a very big concern. Especially if you're looking to teach some "serious" shooting, rather than the local boy scouts and their .22s. That would be no problem, but I do see some trouble in trying to teach a practical handgun class.

I will let you know, I am taking 2 instructors classes on Nov 19&20. I will then be certified to teach Basic Pistol and Personal Protection in the Home classes. If you're teaching the basic safety classes I don't see your age being an issue because the information is fairly simple and the individuals taking the class are there because they generally know nothing or very little about firearms. I am only 25 and have some of the same concerns but I will see how it goes. I think that being young will help me reach a certain market that others may not be able to reach. It is important that the young adults of our generation have responsible peers that they can come to for advice and teaching when it comes to firearms.

I was curious on some feedback from anyone who has taken them how it has benfited them.

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I became a certified instructor because, once friends learned that I shoot, even here in MA, there was a lot of curiosity: most wanted to be invited shooting, but they wouldn't ask (because guns are bad, you know )--so I had to offer. A couple of times.

It became obvious at some point that I was in essence training my friends. Thought it might be a good idea to make sure I was training them the right way.

By the way, having some fun shooting (and there is no fun without safety) is the best way to break down the "guns are bad/regulation is for our own good" attitude: "You mean I'd have to go through all that legal stuff just to own this gun? That's crazy! I'm a good-guy!"

After the NRA cert, I also got a cert as a firearms safety instructor from the MA State Police. Now, if parents of my kids' friends (or anyone) raises an eyebrow when my guns come up, I just tell them that I'm certified by the MA State Police. Seems to give everyone the warm fuzzies.

Warm fuzzies about guns in MA? That's not a bad trick!

I took the NRA Basic Pistol Instructor classes early in 2011. My intention is that as I near retirement I hope to be able to teach a little and spend my time doing something I enjoy. Also, as I spend a good deal of money on shooting anyway, maybe I can deduct some of those cost from what little money I may make teaching, for tax purposes. I'm also in the beginning stages of becoming a Hunter Safety Instructor for the Colorado Division of Wildlife so I have a lot of learning coming up.
As for th the NRA class itself, it was ok, but I'm not sure I really learnd much that I did not already know. I have had teaching expirience in fire fighting and EMS in over 20 years as a Volunteer firefighter and officer. But, the NRA Basic Pistol Instructor certification is a requirement to teach and certify people for CCW permits in Colorado. The NRA is fairly ridgid in how it wants the material presented if you are in fact representing yourself as an NRA Instructor. If you want to teach shooting and gun safety its a must have certification, just dont plan on learning a lot you dont know already.
Good Luck.

Both instructor classes were a lot of fun, people from all over the west coast from all sorts of backgrounds. The learning environment was very informal and enjoyable. Each individual was assigned specific parts of the lesson and we were expected to teach those lessons to the class to gain speaking experience with the material. I was the youngest in the class but I was not treated any differently, in fact, the training counselor told me that he was excited that I decided to take the class at my age and he got his first certification when he was 21. Overall, I highly recommend the classes. Like others have said, depending on what kind of experience you have, you may not learn anything new from the material but I found that I DID learn a lot from the other students in the class.

I qualified for both certifications and now I'm waiting to receive my credentials, it can take up to 60 days.

Let me know if you have any other questions about the classes.

also check into your states regs for security guard training and recertifications for firearms.

Congratulations on taking the classes - best wishes for your career as in instructor!

SWAT,
By all means, get your credentials. But don't stop there.
Keep building your skillset, hit some other schools if you can afford it, and get out and shoot, a lot. Education is also your friend.
I wouldn't say the NRA taught me much, but I went into it with a fairly strong background in guns and teaching. Having "NRA Certified Instructor" on your card does help with proving your bona fides, however.
As for not being taken seriously, well, that's up to you. If you have your facts straight and present them in a clear, concise form, you're halfway home. Make sure you present yourself well, and maintain a respectable and respectful bearing. Think about the people YOU respect, and take your example from them.
Are some folks going to dismiss you due to your age? Yep. Don't sweat it. Some folks dismiss me due to my age, and I'm on the other end of the scale.

I am an NRA Training Counselor and I train Instructors in all of the Firearms disciplines, as well as the Refuse to be a Victim program. Instructor Candidates are expected to be proficient in the discipline in which they seek a credential. If they are not, we have them take a Basic Course and work the NRA/Winchester Marksmanship qualification program until they are proficient, then we get them in an instructor course.

The instructor courses focus on the processes of training basic shooting skills safely. As has been noted, basic public speaking and teaching concepts are practiced, then several key lessons are role played by the instructor candidates. I focus a lot on having Instructor Candidates give effective, specific, positive feedback and use the processes in the lesson plans which have been proven to be effective for millions of people. If anyone wants more information, please contact me.

Forgot to say:

Ken Lewis is a Training Counselor in San Antonio who I can recommend without hesitation. We have taken classes together and I have taken classes from him.

Here is a link to sign up for Ken's next pistol instructor course:

http://www.nrainstructors.org/SignupStudent.aspx?id=79834

Here is a link for anyone wishing to find an NRA course in their area:

http://www.nrainstructors.org/searchcourse.aspx

One of the issues you may find is your experience level. I run into other instructors all the time - some can shoot, and some can't. Many people who do something else full time, like drive a truck become instructors because they shoot well and now want to instruct. There's nothing wrong with that per se, but what I find that students look for is not only what certs you have, but what experience you have. I know that one of the selling points of our classes is that I spent 12 years in LE where I was a firearms instructor in addition to my other LE duties. That is a huge draw for folks. If you have no verifiable experience, that coupled with your age may hold you back a bit. Don't let that discourage you though. Give it a try and see how you do.

I am a NRA instructor for rifle, pistol, shotgun, muzzle loading rifle and a RSO. Being 21 as one member stated might be a problem when trying to teach a conceled carry class, but other than that I see no problems at all. The Boy Scouts not only shoot .22's they also shoot 20 ga for shotgun shooting merit badge and 50 cal muzzle loaders. The Ventering program are authorized to shoot hand guns, caliber up to local the council and range. Nothing wrong with taking the classes, I learned things I did not know.

Being young and interested in real shooting is always a problem. I avoid shopping at gun stores for all the flak I get. Being 18 and looking 15, and being 5'5" definitely make it worse. If you want to be an instructor, then by all means go for it.

I would suggest that you take state certification courses instead of the NRA courses. you can get some credentials, but you will learn more getting instructions of the requirements for your own and surrounding states. Tom givens' instructor course comes to mind as one of the best. Massay Ayoob's courses will give you much more background of the legal fundamentals than the NRA classes. I came away from the NRA classes without much more knowledge than I arrived there with, it is more or less spoon fed to you the way the NRA thinks it should be presented. If your state offers a concealed carry instructors certification, that will be a lot more useful than the NRA classes. that is my .02 cents, your experience may not be the same.