NRA Courses

Basic Pistol Phase I On-Line

This course is for individuals with little to no experience using a pistol. It is a prerequisite for all other NRA pistol courses. NRA membership is not required to take this or any other NRA course. To take Phase 1, click this link: https://basicpistol.nra.org/

Basic Pistol Phase II Practical - $120 per person

Phase II of the NRA Basic Pistol Shooting Course reinforces and applies students' skills learned from the NRA Basics of Pistol Shooting e-learning. Instructors are responsible for effectively reviewing safety rules and procedures while also coaching and assisting students as they handle pistols for the first time in a classroom and range setting. Ultimately, students will become more comfortable and familiar with firearms to achieve certification. The Basic Pistol Course will also help prepare the student for participation in other NRA courses.

First Steps Rifle Orientation - $90 per person

Short Description: Firearm Instruction, Responsibility, and Safety Training — is the NRA’s response to the American public’s need for a firearm orientation program for new purchasers.

More Details: NRA FIRST Steps Rifle course is designed to provide a hands-on introduction to the safe handling and proper orientation to one specific rifle action type for classes of four or fewer students. This course is three hours long and includes classroom and range time learning to shoot a specific rifle action type. Students will learn the NRA’s rules for safe gun handling, the particular rifle model parts and operation, ammunition, shooting fundamentals, cleaning the rifle, and continued opportunities for skill development. In addition, students will receive the Basics of Rifle Shooting handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification booklet, FIRST Steps Course completion certificate.

Basic Rifle Shooting Course - $180 per person

This course teaches the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary for the safe use of a rifle in target shooting.

More Details: This course is at least 8 hours long and includes classroom and range time learning to shoot rifles.

  • Students learn NRA’s rules for safe gun handling, rifle parts and operation, ammunition, shooting fundamentals, range rules,
  • shooting from the bench rest, prone, sitting, standing, and kneeling positions;
  • cleaning, and continued opportunities for skill development.

Students will receive the following:

  • Basics of Rifle Shooting handbook,
  • NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure,
  • Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification booklet,

Finally, students take a Basics of Rifle Shooting Student Examination and receive a course completion certificate.

Refuse To Be A Victim - $45 per person

The most critical step toward ensuring your safety is having a personal safety strategy in place before you need it. NRA’s Refuse To Be A Victim® program teaches the tips and techniques you need to be alerted to dangerous situations and to avoid becoming a victim. Seminars are held across the nation and are open to men and women of all ages. Today, hundreds of federal, state, and local law enforcement officials from across the country utilize this popular program in their crime prevention and community policing initiatives. In addition, corporations, educational institutions, and community centers have also adopted the program. All told, more than 100,000 people have benefited from these seminars.

This seminar is a crime prevention course only; options for defense are only briefly discussed in the workshop.

Personal Protection In The Home - $140 per person

This course teaches the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude essential to the safe and efficient use of a handgun to protect oneself and family. In addition, it provides information on the law-abiding individual’s right to self-defense.

More Details:

Prerequisite: This course is for law-abiding adult citizens, as defined by applicable federal, state, or local law, and experienced shooters (shooters able to show mastery of the basic skills of safe gun handling, shooting a group, zeroing the firearm, and cleaning the firearm). Prospective participants can demonstrate the requisite knowledge, skills, and attitudes by producing an NRA Basic Pistol Course Certificate, NRA FIRST Steps Course Certificate, NRA pistol competitive shooting qualification card, military DD 214 with pistol qualification, or passing the Pre-Course Assessment.

Description: This is an eight-hour course. Students should expect to shoot approximately 100 rounds of ammunition. Students will learn basic defensive shooting skills, strategies for home safety and responding to a violent confrontation, firearms and the law, how to choose a handgun for self-defense, and continued opportunities for skill development. Students will receive the NRA Guide to the Basics of Personal Protection In The Home handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, the Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification booklet, and course completion certificate.

Note: Lesson III of this course: Firearms and the Law, and Legal Aspects of Self-Defense, is conducted by an attorney licensed to practice law within the state in which this course takes place and who is familiar with this area of the law, or a Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) who possesses an intermediate or higher Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certificate granted within the state, or an individual currently certified to instruct in this area of the law by the state in which this course is taking place. NRA Certified Instructors may conduct this lesson only if they meet the abovementioned requirements.

Personal Protection Outside The Home - $250 per person

Teaches students the knowledge, skills, and attitude essential for avoiding dangerous confrontations and for the safe, effective and responsible use of a concealed pistol for self-defense outside the home.

More Details:

Prerequisite: This course is for adults who are not disqualified from possessing a firearm as defined by applicable federal, state, or local law, are of good reputation, and possess defensive pistol skills presented in the NRA Basics of Personal Protection In The Home Course. Participants must also understand the basic legal concepts relating to the use of firearms in self-defense and must know and observe general gun safety rules and those safety principles specific to defensive situations. Prospective participants can demonstrate the requisite knowledge, skills, and attitudes by producing an NRA Basic Personal Protection In The Home Course Certificate or passing the pre-course evaluation. Description: The course is divided into two levels. Level one is nine hours long. It offers the essential knowledge, and skills students must master to carry, store, and use a firearm safely and effectively for personal protection outside the home. Students spend several hours on the range and shoot approximately 100 rounds of ammunition during level one. Upon completion, students may choose to attend level two, an additional five hours on the range, and about 115 rounds of ammunition learning advanced shooting skills. Time and ammunition requirements are minimum and may be exceeded. Students will receive the NRA Guide to the Basics of Personal Protection Outside The Home handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, and appropriate (level one/level two) course completion certificates(s)

Note: Lesson III: Firearms and the Law, and Legal Aspects of Self-Defense, of the Personal Protection In and Outside The Home Courses is taking place by an attorney licensed to practice law within the state in which this course is given and who is familiar with this area of the law, a Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) who possesses an intermediate or higher Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certificate granted within the state, or an individual currently certified to instruct in this area of the law by the state in which this course is taking place.

Personal Protection Outside The Home - $190 per person ($250 per person with add on phase)

This course teaches students the knowledge, skills, and attitude essential for avoiding dangerous confrontations and the safe, effective, and responsible use of a concealed pistol for self-defense outside the home.

More Details:

Prerequisite: This course is for adults who are not disqualified from possessing a firearm as defined by applicable federal, state, or local law, are of good reputation, and possess defensive pistol skills presented in the NRA Basics of Personal Protection In The Home Course. Participants must understand the basic legal concepts relating to the use of firearms in self-defense; know and observe general gun safety rules, and those safety principles specific to defensive situations. Prospective participants can demonstrate that they have the requisite knowledge, skills, and attitudes by producing an NRA Basic Personal Protection In The Home Course Certificate or passing the pre-course evaluation.

Description: The course is divided into two levels. Level one is nine hours long. The class offers the essential knowledge and skills that students must master to carry, store, and use a firearm safely and effectively for personal protection outside the home. Students spend several hours on the range and shoot approximately 100 rounds of ammunition during level one. Upon completion, students may choose to attend level two, an additional five hours on the range, and about 115 rounds of ammunition learning advanced shooting skills. Time and ammunition requirements are minimum and may be exceeded. In addition, students will receive the NRA Guide to the Basics of Personal Protection Outside The Home handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, and appropriate (level one/level two) course completion certificates(s).

Note: Lesson III: Firearms and the Law, and Legal Aspects of Self-Defense, of the Personal Protection In and Outside The Home Courses are presented by an attorney licensed to practice law within the state in which this course is given and who is familiar with this area of the law, a Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) who possesses an intermediate or higher Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certificate granted within the state, or an individual currently certified to instruct in this area of the law by the state in which this course is presented. NRA Certified Instructors may conduct this lesson only if they meet the abovementioned requirements.