NRA Instructor & Range Safety Officer Training

If you are looking to become a certified firearms instructor in Colorado, US Firearms Training Academy offers professional NRA instructor development courses taught by Mark Schneider, NRA Training Counselor Class 202605 and recipient of the “Top Gun” award.

Our instructor programs are designed for individuals who want to:

Teach firearms classes
Expand their credentials
Work in the firearms industry
Improve their knowledge and teaching ability
Become a Range Safety Officer
Develop professionally as a firearms educator

We offer instructor-level training in multiple NRA disciplines with a strong focus on firearms safety, professionalism, marksmanship, and real-world instruction.

Prerequisites

Before attending an NRA Instructor course, students must:

Successfully complete the applicable NRA Basic student course for that discipline
Complete NRA Basic Instructor Training (BIT)

NRA BIT must have been completed within the past 2 years.

Students must provide proof of completion for both the NRA Basic course and NRA BIT prior to certification consideration.

If you cannot provide proof, you will be required to retake the course(s). This is non-negotiable.

There is no exception to these requirements, regardless of prior experience, military background, law enforcement experience, or other firearms certifications.

NRA Instructor Courses Offered

NRA Basic Instructor Training (BIT)

NRA Basic Instructor Training (BIT) is a required course for all new NRA instructor candidates.

BIT focuses on:

NRA teaching methods
Classroom management
The Socratic method
Total Participant Involvement
Coaching techniques
Instructor ethics
Student engagement
How to properly conduct NRA training courses

NRA BIT must be completed within the past 2 years before attending most NRA instructor disciplines.

Students who cannot provide proof of current BIT completion will be required to retake the course before instructor certification can be considered.

NRA Basic Pistol Instructor

Learn how to teach:

Firearms safety
Handgun operation
Shooting fundamentals
Ammunition knowledge
Safe storage
Basic marksmanship
Coaching techniques

This is one of the most popular instructor certifications for concealed carry and beginner firearms training.

Shooting Qualification Standards (Basic Pistol)

Students must:

Shoot at 45 feet
Place 16 out of 20 rounds inside the 8-inch ring
Maintain approximately a 6-inch group

Students are allowed a maximum of 3 attempts to pass qualification.

Failure to pass may require the student to retake the entire course before certification will be considered.

NRA Basic Rifle Instructor

This course focuses on teaching rifle safety and marksmanship fundamentals.

Topics include:

Rifle operation
Shooting positions
Zeroing
Coaching fundamentals
Range safety
Rifle marksmanship

NRA Range Safety Officer (RSO)

The NRA RSO course prepares students to safely supervise live-fire ranges.

Topics include:

Range commands
Emergency procedures
Firearms safety
Malfunction handling
Range operations
Live-fire supervision

This is primarily a classroom-based course and is highly valuable for instructors, security personnel, and range staff.

NRA Personal Protection Inside The Home Instructor

This advanced-level instructor course focuses on defensive firearm use inside the home.

Topics include:

Defensive shooting concepts
Home defense planning
Safe firearm storage
Defensive mindset
Use-of-force considerations

NRA Personal Protection Outside The Home Instructor

This course focuses on concealed carry and defensive handgun instruction outside the home.

Topics include:

Concealed carry concepts
Drawing from concealment
Defensive shooting
Situational awareness
Defensive mindset
Movement and cover

Refuse To Be A Victim® Instructor

This program teaches personal safety and crime prevention strategies.

Topics include:

Situational awareness
Home security
Travel safety
Personal protection planning
Criminal avoidance strategies

NRA Home Firearms Safety Instructor

The NRA Home Firearms Safety course is designed for students who want to teach basic firearm safety without live-fire training.

Topics include:

Firearm safety rules
Safe firearm handling
Ammunition basics
Firearm storage
Firearm parts and operation
Safe transportation practices

This course is ideal for:

New instructors
Community education
Beginner safety training
Individuals who want to teach firearms safety fundamentals in a classroom environment

This course does not include live-fire shooting exercises.

Important Information Before Registering

Purchasing this course does NOT guarantee certification. Instructor certification must be earned.

All instructor candidates must demonstrate:

Firearms safety
Marksmanship
Professionalism
Teaching ability
Proper attitude and judgment

Unsafe or unprofessional behavior may result in dismissal from the course.

No “Testing Out”

There is no testing out of the course. All students must complete:

Classroom instruction
Range training
Teaching exercises
Live-fire qualification

This applies to everyone, regardless of prior experience.

Teaching Requirements

Instructor candidates must demonstrate the ability to teach using the NRA instructional method and the Socratic concept of “Total Participant Involvement” both in the classroom and on the range.

Professionalism & Safety

Instructor candidates are expected to act professionally at all times and demonstrate safe firearm handling at all times — period.

Who Can Attend?

These courses are open to civilians, security professionals, competitive shooters, and individuals seeking professional firearms instructor credentials.

No prior teaching experience is required, but students should already possess safe firearm handling skills and basic shooting proficiency before attending instructor-level training.

Why Train With US Firearms Training Academy?

US Firearms Training Academy provides instructor development with a strong focus on:

Real-world firearms safety
Professional instruction
Coaching ability
Defensive mindset
Classroom leadership
Range management
Responsible firearm ownership

Training is conducted by Mark Schneider, NRA Training Counselor Class 202605.

Our goal is not just to help students pass a course, but to develop safe, competent, and professional firearms instructors.

Colorado Firearms Instructor Training

We provide instructor training for students throughout:

Denver, Aurora, Thornton, Westminster, Lakewood, Arvada, Wheat Ridge, Littleton, Englewood, Centennial, Parker, Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Commerce City, Northglenn, Brighton, Broomfield, Louisville, Lafayette, Erie, Longmont, Boulder, Golden, Greeley, Loveland, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Castle Pines, Sheridan, Glendale, Greenwood Village, Federal Heights, Edgewater, Firestone, Dacono, Windsor, Johnstown, Monument, Fountain, Pueblo West, and surrounding areas throughout the Denver Metro Area, Northern Colorado, and Southern Colorado.

Start Your Instructor Journey

If you are ready to become an NRA-certified firearms instructor or Range Safety Officer, US Firearms Training Academy can help you take the next step.

Additional Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need prior teaching experience?

No. Prior teaching experience is not required. However, students must be willing to participate in classroom discussions, coaching exercises, and student teaching presentations throughout the course.

Do I need to be military or law enforcement?

No. Civilian students are welcome. These instructor courses are open to responsible individuals seeking professional firearms instructor credentials.

Is live fire required?

Some instructor disciplines require live-fire qualification, while others are classroom-only courses. Courses such as Basic Pistol Instructor and Personal Protection disciplines include live-fire components and shooting qualification standards.

Can I fail the course?

Yes. Instructor certifications are earned and are not guaranteed simply because a student paid for the course. Students must successfully demonstrate firearms safety, teaching ability, professionalism, and qualification standards.

Is this a beginner firearms course?

No. Instructor-level courses are designed for students who already possess safe firearm handling skills and basic shooting proficiency prior to attending.

Is there a dress code?

Students should dress appropriately for both classroom and range environments. Closed-toe shoes are required for live-fire training. Range-safe attire is expected at all times.

What equipment do I need?

Students will generally need:

A firearm appropriate for the discipline
Ammunition
Eye protection
Electronic ear protection
Note-taking materials

Electronic ear protection is required for live-fire portions of instructor training to allow students to hear range commands and instruction clearly.

Are ammunition and range fees included?

No. Students are responsible for supplying their own ammunition and paying any applicable range fees unless otherwise stated for a specific course.

What happens if I fail qualification?

Students are allowed a maximum of 3 attempts to pass qualification standards for applicable courses. Failure to meet qualification requirements may require the student to retake the entire course before certification will be considered.

Can experienced shooters skip portions of the class?

No. There is no “testing out” of instructor courses. All students must complete the full classroom, teaching, and live-fire portions of the training regardless of prior experience.

Will I receive certification the same day?

Instructor certifications are processed through the NRA after successful course completion. Timeframes may vary depending on NRA processing times and completion of all required documentation.

Why are the standards strict?

Firearms instructors are responsible for teaching safe firearm handling and potentially life-saving skills to others. Because of that, instructor certifications should be earned through demonstrated competence, safety, and professionalism.

Disclaimer

Instructor certifications are earned — not guaranteed. Purchasing or attending a course does not automatically result in certification.

Students must successfully demonstrate firearms safety, marksmanship, professionalism, teaching ability, and safe range conduct throughout the course.

US Firearms Training Academy reserves the right to deny certification to any student who fails to meet course standards or demonstrates unsafe or unprofessional behavior.

Students are responsible for supplying their own ammunition, paying applicable range fees, and bringing required equipment, including electronic ear protection.

Students must provide:

Valid government-issued photo ID
Proof of one of the following:
- U.S. Citizenship
- Naturalized U.S. Citizenship
- Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)

Students must additionally provide ONE of the following:

Valid Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP/CCW), OR
Current CBI background check (With in 30 days)

Individuals prohibited from possessing or owning firearms under state or federal law, including due to criminal convictions, domestic violence prohibitions, restraining orders, unlawful drug use, or other disqualifying factors, are not eligible to attend this course.

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NRA Firearms Training Courses and Certification Programs