I'm considering becoming a trainer

[Lonely Raven]

I know I'm a good teacher, and I've been teaching friends and family for 10 years now. I've been considering becoming a certified trainer, but I'm not sure where to start.

I'm wondering if there are some certified trainers here that make enough money teaching to pay for their classes, and hopefully have some left over for themselves (to fund range time and more classes/certifications)

I'm looking for some guidance on how to get started, and any suggestions that would keep me from throwing my time and money at bad/poor classes and certifications.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

The only certification that's really necessary is an NRA instructor certification, so you have credentials to present that show you're a certified safe instructor, whenever you seek to lease facilities for a class.

Unless you're seeking to teach somebody else's "system" what kind of certification do you need? If you're teaching people YOUR techniques, it's YOUR system - no certification needed. Other than NRA, I'm unaware of a reputable accredited firearms/tactics instructor certification agency.

I suggest you develop your own lesson plan based on your own training and experience and simply teach others what YOU do, how YOU do it, and why YOU do it like that, and be prepared to fully rationalize your techniques when students ask/challenge you to do so.

I suggest you develop your own training "workbook" detailing the step-by-step process to each technique you intend to teach. This will help you to "own" your system and you can provide a copy of it to your students so they can continue to study and train in your techniques long after they've trained with you.

Good luck.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

The one that can make you pocket money or gun money is your state's concealed carry class (If necessary).

I have a friend who is a licensed counselor and therapist, but one weekend a month he teaches a CCW class and usually makes a couple hundred bucks.

 

[Sam1911]

L.Raven, I have a friend (and a member here, actually) who lives in a "concealed-carry-hostile" state as you do. He's done very well by getting the credentials to teach the Utah concealed carry permit class. Utah is just about the most universally reciprocal permit and it appeals to a lot of folks in non-carry states becacuse they can at least carry in other states when they travel.

Actually, the Utah permit is a good add-on even in states that do issue permits freely, as it will always add a few states to you "good-to-go" list.

My friend travels around to various clubs and such, or rents a conference room somewhere, and teaches the Utah book to something around 50 people at a time. It appears to be reasonably lucrative, not terribly time consuming, and low-risk.

If you're interested in this, PM me and I'll hook you up with my pal. (He's not near you so there wouldn't be any competition issues. )

-Sam

 

[DocCas]

Contact a local NRA Training Counselor who will be able to get you certificed as an NRA Basic Pistol Instructor and Range Safety Officer.

As your home state does not, as yet, allow concealed carry, the ccw angle is moot. However, there are organizations that serve as certification boards for professional security persons such as ASIS and IFPO. You can be certified as a Protection Officer and/or Close Protection Agent.

But, living in Illinois, your choices are limited by the non-guns mentality of your political leadership.

Go to http://www.nrahq.org/education/training/instructor.asp

There you will see this message: Training courses are posted at http://www.nrainstructors.org/searchcourse.aspx, or you may request a list of Training Counselors in your geographic area by contacting the NRA Training Department at 703-267-1430.

Put in your zip code and do a search for a Training Counselor near you. If you don't find one call the phone number and they will tell you how to contact the closest one available.

 

[Sam1911]

As your home state does not, as yet, allow concealed carry, the ccw angle is moot

I don't mean to contradict you, but I don't want L.Raven to be dissuaded unneccessarily. In the case of one of the Utah class instructors I know, his state (MD) generally does not issue ANY carry permits. Yet he has found a tremendous amount of interest from folks in his home state and over in New Jersey (which of course also doesn't allow carry) to obtain their Utah permit. Not only can those folks carry when they travel to VA or PA or something like 30 other states, but it give them a bit of an edge to use when petitioning their legislatures for a loosening of their own states' laws. (i.e.: "Senator Smith, I am licensed to carry a concealed firearm throughout 37 states of this country, yet my own state does not afford me that opportunity...etc.")

Something to consider.

 

[BullfrogKen]

What I'd want to know is:

How much training have you taken?
What's your training resume and background?
Who have you studied with/under?
What materials are you using for your legal justification briefing?


Just to name a few off the top of my head.

Answer those questions before you hang out a shingle for defensive training.


Or, you can do as Sam suggests and focus mainly or state carry certification classes.
Or, become an NRA trainer. But be advised no one makes money offering NRA classes. The NRA training is focused on basic competency and basic education for everyone. Not unlike public school, I guess. With those goals in mind the NRA wants the classes kept very affordable.

 

[strambo]

The NRA certifications are the only ones needed to get started. I got a NRA LE Handgun/Shotgun Instructor cert. on private security credentials and then was able to just take tests (no class) to add the civilian certifications ( I added Home Firearm Safety, Basic Pistol, Personal Protection in the Home).

I've only taught 3 classes...enough to pay for the purchase of my training aids and a little $ left over, but I haven't focused on it at all. I also teach a lot informally, I'm giving a CCW class to my interested soldiers here in Iraq so they can get their permits if they want when they get home.

 

[john wall]

You are going to need a lot more than NRA creds to be a reputable Trainer.

Their program is not high speed. My Mentor, who only trained Trainers, spent a lot of time at Thunder Ranch for tune ups before he retired. He was a former Chief Instructor for DEA. He still needed a regular tune up. Even Tiger Woods has a Coach.

Check out Thunder Ranch, and other top rated facilities. I will not mention some, but beware some heavily advertised places. Top trainers will give you standards and drills to use that are Court Defensible. Check and get very familiar with, if not memorize, your State's Self Defense laws. That is a good start.

Be able to demonstrate the techniques you teach. Keep techniques logical and simple, so folks can use them effectively when in a Lethal Confrontation. Demonstrate when things go right (rarely), and when things go wrong (usually).

Get good insurance, and master the sidearm you are going to use. Learn to be proficient with other types, including revolvers and long guns.

Get intimately familiar with Range procedure. Cold ranges will be for Carry Classes, Intermediate, and such. Hot ranges will be for Advanced and Tactical classes, if you get to that level.

I will not train an Armed Citizen to engage, or advance on an attacker. I will train them to Avoid, Evade, Escape, and Defend against an attacker. Lots of Civil Liability when a Citizen goes after a bad guy who has stopped the attack. A wormhole I will not be sucked into.

I take and give training with a Glock, simply because most of the firearms training I get is for Law Enforcement Instructors, and that is the standard arm. Also, it is simple, if unforgiving of slob gun handling.

You must constantly keep up with laws and your training. It never ends, until you retire.

 

[Lonely Raven]

A wonderful amount of info guys, thank you very much!

And there is some wisdom of experience in there as well. Thank you for that as well.

I have had some tactical training through "The Site", and several other private instructor courses...but it's been a while. So I'm basically looking to start all over, with new trainers and hopefully updated methods. I'm not expecting this to be an overnight thing...I expect to invest a bit into myself before I feel right about training others. There are too many hacks out there that just scare the crap out of me...I don't want to be like that.

Thanks again for a good start.

 

[ProShooter]

My company does full time training and I can tell you that I truly enjoy every day that I'm at work. I'd be happy to answer any questions that you may have (since you are in Illinois and are not my direct competition! )