*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, group, or enterprise within the firearm education community. *

 

In the years since I became a certified firearm instructor at the age of 21, I’ve gotten a lot of interested folks blowing up my inbox to ask how I got here.

As one would guess, your journey to becoming a successful firearm instructor could help if you have a background in the military/law enforcement, but that is not necessarily a must- because with a little passion and practice, you too can attain the knowledge, skills and attitude required of a competent instructor.

Here’s how I started.

Sometime during college, I began watching video after video of celebrity firearm influencers on YouTube. From the impressive speed drills of Instructor Zero to the crass talking swagger of James Yeager, the exacting articulation of Mickey Schuch to the badass-ery of FPSRussia, I was hooked. I frequented blogs, forums, and called schools all over the northeast region to sign up for classes. And throughout my search, I have found that one of the best organizations to begin your training is none other than the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Soon after taking almost all of the basic courses, I felt pretty accomplished. But something was lacking. My training felt stale and my progress plateaued. After a conversation with one of my former instructors, I was proposed with this question: “Why don’t you become an instructor yourself?” So I did, and shortly after my 21st birthday, I became a newly minted instructor. Now looking back a year later, I can say with absolute certainty that this was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Here are my top 5 reasons why becoming an NRA certified firearm instructor has been nothing but awesome.

 

  1. National/International Recognition

Since I’ve assumed a position of authority within the firearm community, I have personally introduced thousands to this sport, assisted a dozen other instructors in teaching several hundreds of their students, and as well, taught almost a hundred students myself under my direct supervision. Throughout each of these sessions, my guidance has been rarely questioned when my title was present. Anyone can claim that they’re pros because they’ve been shooting since they were a toddler, but once you have the backing of a respected international organization attesting to your skillsets and competency, there is much more weight to your credence.

 

  1. Exclusive Invitations and Offers

Want 15% off Daniel Defense? How about 40% off Crimson Trace? Or maybe up to 50% off Beretta? With hundreds of business affiliations and partnerships from major corporations with NRA instructors, these savings are no joke. If that doesn’t entice you, check out this recent invite that landed in my inbox…

That’s right. A completely subsidized weekend of fun- courtesy of the NRA to their instructors!

 

  1. Residual Income

There are a number of reasons why one may consider being an instructor candidate. For me, I initially pursued the title solely for the satisfaction of reaching a pinnacle in exhibiting proficiency. I never knew I would end up in the commercial aspect of this industry, but I’m sure glad I did. Whether you want to commit full-time or part-time, you set your own rules, hours, and rates. For example:

Let’s say I want to teach a basic pistol shooting course set 3 weeks from today. I’ll register my class through the instructor portal and it will be advertised free of charge. For the 8-hour course, I’ll set my course fee to, say, $200 a student. On the day of my class, I have 10 students fill up my seats. That’s $2,000 in gross earnings from 8 hours of teaching a topic I used to advise freely!

As you can see, with a tad persistence and enthusiasm, you will find that this can be a very, very profitable enterprise.

 

  1. Resume Booster

For anyone interested in acquiring a competitive edge during their job application with industry careers that require the use of firearms (i.e. law enforcement, private military contracting, armed security, executive protection, etc.), the title “certified firearm instructor” is sure to be flagged by HR for additional consideration. When it comes to firearms, nothing is more paramount than demonstrating safety, proficiency, and responsibility. By proving that you can exercise an advanced handling of firearms at the instructor level, your employers will be put to ease knowing that you are not an insurance or public relations liability.

Furthermore, all of these professions listed above are rather competitive and high paying, so you can expect a saturation of applicants. To increase the odds of making the next round of interviews, get certified and get noticed!

 

  1. Furthering the Mission Statement

Last but not least, it is imperative to understand that the continued development of the next generation of instructors sustains the mission statement of this industry. The title you earn and your involvement afterward are the backbone to what makes this community improve and expand. As you take your place among the leadership table, your professionalism cements our heritage and guarantees our future.

 

With that said, the RISE management and I are proud to announce available certifying courses for instructor candidates! So, what are YOUR reasons for becoming an instructor? Comment below!