Becoming a Certified Firearms Instructor

**donotknowme** · July 7th, 2016, 09:19 PM

I encourage viper getting more firearms education...along with everyone else here. I think that's why most people joined this site. This is an expensive enough hobby. I don't look down on him for starting a GFM.

**ViperGTS19801** · May 25th, 2017, 12:44 PM

I am reviving this thread really quick! I made a post on Nextdoor for my area and it's getting a ton of comments. I'm going to start pushing this again, because I really want to get certified!

**Orive 8** · May 25th, 2017, 03:05 PM

As an instructor, and someone that has attended a "few" firearms training courses throughout the country; I'll throw this out.

When I plan to take a class, what the instructor's certification is/or is from, is the least important part of the equation.

What is the instructor's background? (Military, Law Enforcement, Competitive Shooter, etc...)
What training classes and where has the instructor trained at? (This is the most important one that I look at.)
What do people that I know to be "serious" firearms practitioners, have to say about this instructor. (This differs than reading random forum or facebook statements or after action reports....)
How long has the instructor been at it? (Not the be all criteria, cuz everyone has to start at ground zero at some point.)

To the OP,
Good luck with your endeavor.

**Hawk** · May 25th, 2017, 04:17 PM

IMHO, NRA certification is meh. It's easily obtained by anyone who show's up to take the class and pay the fee. The credentials of the typical NRA instructor are usually not much more than a NRA Instructors Certificate (also easily obtainable).
If the instructor has an extensive training back ground beyond NRA certification, and is teaching a NRA certification course, he is required by the NRA to only teach the NRA official curriculum for that course.

I'm not putting down NRA certification. It's fine for a beginner in the shooting sports, but if you have several years of practical experience and range time under your belt, you'll find the classes a bit boring.

**Rosco the Iroc** · May 25th, 2017, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by ViperGTS19801

I am reviving this thread really quick! I made a post on Nextdoor for my area and it's getting a ton of comments. I'm going to start pushing this again, because I really want to get certified!

If your willing to do same extras and help scouting events we can get you cert.
Some of the stuff coming up.
http://www.minsitrails.org/training/...rainings/65344