Starting as an Instructor

[Pollux053]

Planning on getting my Pistol Instructor NRA Cert first, then rifle, in home, out of home, and a few others. Whats the best way to start out after I get those done? i.e. range time, classes and scheduling. I have backround as a Marine Corps. rifle/pistol instructor for 4 years so I know that will help me alot. How hard would it be after getting courses knocked out could I soley rely on income as an instuctor because this is what I want to do.

 

[John Theriot]

Good Luck with that

 

[grizzerr]

My one suggestion...don't treat/instruct your students like you would Marines.

 

[TacticalPirate]

Now that the helpful replies are out of the way...
Once you get your instructor credentials, the real work begins. You'll need a place to hold classes, a range to shoot at, insurance, and marketing materials. When you can expect to live off your instructor income will depend on how gun friendly your area is, how soon you can become a known quantity in the shooting community, and how soon you can build a following. If I had it to do over again, I'd start out working at an established range/gun shop as an instructor and build from there.

Treat it like you would any business. Have a business and marketing plan, study your area demographics, learn everything you can about marketing, and throw yourself into it. You'll find that the instruction/shooting part will only be about 25% of your effort to be successful.

Good luck in your endeavors Devil Dog!

 

[Straight Shooter]

Get as many certifications as you possibly can!!!! The more qualified that you are, the more you will have to offer your students, and that will translate into more $$$$
For example, In the NRA CRSO course it is highly recommended that you get your 1st aid, AED, & CPR certification!!! Are you going to refer your students to somebody else? Or are you going to become a certified 1st aid, AED, & CPR instructor, so that you can keep your students and make that extra money??????

 

[CC_Man]

Looks like you have got both some negative and positive response. I believe you in to listen closely to Devil Dog, sounds like he speaks from experience. I was given advise along time ago " You only get out on what you put in" so if you're going to do this full time than work on it full time. Best of luck to you!!!

 

[N R A]

I have instructor ratings for Certified Pistol, Personal Protection In The Home, Range Safety Officer as well as Chief Range Safety Officer. I will have instructor Personal Protection Outside The Home this month as well as my states certification to teach concealed carry classes.

Most all the ratings are a stepping stones to teaching concealed carry. That is where all the public interest is.

Also am an NRA Endowment Life Member, and I am proud to serve the only real Grand Old Party.

Link Removed

 

[jpm84092]

Glock20 is right. The real goal is to get your State's certification to teach their permit/license course. In all my years of instructing, I get one or two students who want to take NRA courses - AND - that was only after they took the Utah Concealed Firearm Permit course.

 

[Dibs50]

This answered a lot of my questions, too. Thanks

 

[2Aactual]

Just a question for any instructor out there; Is working as an instructor taxable income, is your income from instructing people being taxed on a 1040 or is it what I hope as "under the table"? As I am sure, most instructors are retired, some only teach firearms part time. I'm preparing to do it full time and was hoping to find out if my work will be taxed by the fed or not. Thanks!

 

[grizzerr]

The short answer is it is taxable, but as an instructor you have a wide range of deductions that are possible including classes you take, firearms and ammunition used in teaching, insurance, range and classroom expenses, travel, printing, phone, internet, office supplies and home office, etc.

Whether you're going to instruct full or part time you need to keep good records and have a good tax accountant.

"under the table" could come back and bite you. if you're going to teach CCW, the documentation that you're teaching is already in the government's hands. If you have to rent a classroom or range they will be reporting that as income on their taxes.

I also highly recommend setting your business up as llc.

 

[Pistoltraining]

I am a S corporatiobn and put 100% through the company account. That way my guns, for one example, are tax deductable.

 

[2Aactual]

Thanks grizzer, that's some good info. I haven't even started my certification courses yet, the lack of $$ is in the way.

 

[2Aactual]

How do other Instructors, and the NRA feel about Marine Veteran Instructors teaching Marine Corps safety rules? There are only 3 NRA safety rules compared to the 4 safety rules Marines live by very religiously. They're literally in my head for all eternity. I think it would benefit the NRA to adapt the Marine Corps safety rules.

1) Treat every weapon as if it were loaded
2) Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot
3) Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you intend to fire
4) Keep your weapon on safe until you intend to fire

 

[MDT]

How do other Instructors, and the NRA feel about Marine Veteran Instructors teaching Marine Corps safety rules? There are only 3 NRA safety rules compared to the 4 safety rules Marines live by very religiously. They're literally in my head for all eternity. I think it would benefit the NRA to adapt the Marine Corps safety rules.

1) Treat every weapon as if it were loaded
2) Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot
3) Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you intend to fire
4) Keep your weapon on safe until you intend to fire

I agree with you 100%.

 

[grizzerr]

How do other Instructors, and the NRA feel about Marine Veteran Instructors teaching Marine Corps safety rules? There are only 3 NRA safety rules compared to the 4 safety rules Marines live by very religiously. They're literally in my head for all eternity. I think it would benefit the NRA to adapt the Marine Corps safety rules.

1) Treat every weapon as if it were loaded
2) Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot
3) Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you intend to fire
4) Keep your weapon on safe until you intend to fire

Except it would have to read "4) Keep your weapon on safe if it has a manual safety until you intend to fire.

I use Coopers 4 Safety Rules for basic classes and a "street" version for combat classes.

 

[2Aactual]

Ok, so I could just add that to safety rule #4 (if it has a manual safety) and the NRA would be perfectly fine with it? Seems fair. I just can't fathom teaching the 3 NRA safety rules, they're just too vague. I love the fact that more and more people are starting to take an interest in firearms and the 2nd Amendment, but I think we can all agree here that there are some idiots out there. These safety rules:

1) Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction
Ok, that's a no brainer. But what about the ditzy women and absent minded male individuals who don't understand flagging. Muzzle awareness is something that takes years to discipline.

2) Always keep the finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
Again, another no brainer and again, absent minded individuals who will play with their trigger while the weapon is pointed at the ground thinking that it's unloaded.

3) Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
This one irks me. So the NRA is telling everyone to carry a defensive weapon but keep it unloaded until ready to use it?

I don't mean to step on anyones toes or be crying about an issue that's not really an issue, but the NRA, in my mind, needs to adapt better safety rules.

 

[grizzerr]

No problem here, if you're going to teach NRA courses you'll find more things that'll frustrate you.

 

[sepayne]

3) Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
This one irks me. So the NRA is telling everyone to carry a defensive weapon but keep it unloaded until ready to use it?

I don't mean to step on anyones toes or be crying about an issue that's not really an issue, but the NRA, in my mind, needs to adapt better safety rules.

Actually if you are carrying a firearm for self defense, it is ready to use, same as if it was in the safe for home defense or you were out hunting, it is ready to use. Now on the other hand if you are cleaning or inspecting a firearm, showing a friend or a student the proper grip, stance or functions of a firearm, or anything else where it is not ready to use, keep it unloaded.

It's simple really, if you intend it to go bang when you pull the trigger keep it loaded, otherwise keep it unloaded.

 

[2Aactual]

sepayne, yes that's common sense for us gun guys. I just don't like the NRA's safety rules because I don't think they do enough to explain the expectations of proper safety to individuals who've never been around guns. I suppose I didn't explain #3 in a way that you're teaching a class. I know this about a ready weapon, but newbies don't. Here's a tough one; Can an instructor dismiss a scatterbrained-absent minded-ditzy-clueless, I suppose "Blonde" in a nutshell from your class. I wouldn't think that it'd be a discriminative issue if you're thinking about the safety of yourself and your students. Just a short info based question in regards to that, I don't want to offend anybody or any woman Instructor out there reading this. I'm sure they've encountered this too.