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Since most of us need NRA certification to keep our LTC instructor certificates, we need to report a certain number of classes to NRA every year or two in order to stay current with NRA. There used to be a place on the class reporting form for NRA where you could report "other" rather than reporting having taught an NRA prescribed class. I don't see that anymore, so I called NRA.
The guy I talked to said that only NRA classes will be honored anymore, not LTC or other classes that we might teach.
This is a problem for me because I never teach NRA classes. Never had anyone want one, and a lot of what I teach isn't allowed in NRA classes (discussion of tactics, defensive shooting, etc.).
I guess I will have to find a friend or relative once every year or so and give away a free NRA Basic Pistol class just to keep current with my NRA certification.

I guess I will have to find a friend or relative once every year or so and give away a free NRA Basic Pistol class just to keep current with my NRA certification.

I recently had to renew my NRA instructor cert. I was able to do so for 2 years, and I've never taught, nor have I reported any NRA classes. If it comes to that, I will do the same... I'll give a free class to a fellow instructor, and I'm pretty sure he will reciprocate.

I re-read the requirements in the material I was given for my NRA Instructor's class back in August, and it simply states "Instructors are strongly encouraged (to conduct or assist in) at least one NRA-approved basic course annually."

Does "strongly encouraged" really mean "required?"

That's what the NRA guy on the phone told me.

What's really required is your money. As long as the check clears.....

I agree with the money thing. In order to teach an NRA class, you have to order NRA materials for the student.

Yep, looks like my wife is going to be my first student for a free NRA Basic Pistol class!

I wonder if you can teach the same class to the same person each year, to maintain the minimum requirement. I know you have to report the student names on the NRA website, but to my knowledge, there isn't any restriction on how many times one person can take the class. The NRA gets their money, we get to keep our certification, everyone is happy.

You can volunteer to assist another NRA instructor. Your member number gets submitted as an assistant for the class. I think that should qualify in intent and spirit of the requirement.

Check who's offering classes in your area (nrainstructors.org search) and contact them. They'll probably welcome the help.


Now, how this all works with the launch of Blended Learning in 2016 - I don't think anybody knows. If you're an NRA instructor and the phrase 'blended learning' doesn't mean anything to you, read up. You can read NRA's FAQ...then hit the interwebs and read what the instructors are saying about it. It's not very pretty.

Found this here: https://triggercontroldotorg.wordpress. ... -learning/

Fact #5: E-Learning Basic Instructor Training (BIT) will roll out next. It will be either at the end of the 4th quarter 2015 or during the first quarter of 2016. Important Note: All NRA Certified Instructors and appointed Training Counselors will need to retake BIT every two years when you renew your credentials.

So now, we not only will need to renew our CHL Instructor's Cert every two years, but our NRA Instructor's Training as well.

Talk about a money grab! Take a new class every two years? And, of course, pay for the honor of doing so.
I wonder if there is any possibility of having the "other certification" requirement removed from the state certification requirements? It is reaching the point that those of us who hold full time jobs and do this part time might as well just give it up. The costs will eventually be prohibitive. All of us lost potential repeat business when the renewal classes went away, now we are getting hit by NRA.

switch wrote:What's really required is your money. As long as the check clears.....

As of Jan. 1, 2015, in order to renew your NRA credentials you must have proof that you have been teaching. You don't have to teach a class for each of your disciplines, but you must show proof of teaching some firearms courses. You can even list your CHL classes on the NRA instructor site, but we must show proof that we are "practicing our craft."

Chas.

Charles, if that is the case, please talk to the people who man the telephones at NRA. I was told specifically that our LTC classes will not qualify as keeping us current with NRA. Further, the NRA site to register a class only lists NRA classes for you to check what you are teaching. There used to be a section for "non NRA Class" (or something like that), but I don't see that anymore.
I hope what you are saying is correct, but NRA told me otherwise.
Also, is it true that from now on we will need to retake BIT training every two years?
Thanks for the information.

The "Non- NRA Class" is still there, I registered a CHL class earlier this week.

OK, someone tell me how to find the non-NRA class button to hit. I swear when I posted a class last week there were only a couple of NRA options.