List of NRA Courses Offered
List of NRA Courses Offered
List of NRA Courses Offered
Description of courses:
The NRA Basic Personal Protection In The Home Course participants must be law abiding,
adults (at least 21 years old), 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)
to maximize what can be learned from this course. Proof of shooting experience can be one of
the following: 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.
NRA Basic Pistol Shooting Course
Short Description: Teaches the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude for owning and operating a
pistol safely.
More Details: This course is at least 8-hours long and includes classroom and range time
learning to shoot revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. Students learn NRA’s rules for safe gun
handling; pistol parts and operation; ammunition; shooting fundamentals; range rules; shooting
from the bench rest position, and two handed standing positions; cleaning the pistol; and
continued opportunities for skill development. Students will receive the NRA Guide to the
Basics of Pistol Shooting handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, Winchester/NRA
Marksmanship Qualification booklet, take a Basics of Pistol Shooting Student Examination, and
course completion certificate. (Lesson Plan 2nd edition, 2009)
The NRA Personal Protection Outside the Home is divided into two levels (basic and advanced).
Level one is a nine-hour course and offers the essential knowledge and skills that must be
mastered in order to carry, store, and use a firearm safely and effectively for personal protection
outside the home. Upon completion of level one, students may choose to attend level two, which
is an additional five hours of range training and teaches advanced shooting skills. After the
classroom portion, students should expect to spend several hours on the range and shoot
approximately 100 rounds of ammunition during level one. Level two involves five additional
hours on the range and approximately 115 rounds of ammunition. The 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 the
appropriate course completion certificates(s), NRA Basic Personal Protection Outside The Home
(identifies strong-side hip holster or purse use) certificate, and NRA Advanced Personal
Protection Outside The Home certificate.(Lesson Plan 2006, revised 4-09)
The NRA Basics of Personal Protection Outside The Home participants in this course must be at
least 21 years of age 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 not only general gun
safety rules, but also those safety principles that are 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 by passing the
pre-course evaluation.
Note: The Lesson III of the Personal Protection In and Outside The Home courses 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 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 requirements stated
above and then only in their capacity as an attorney, or other state certified individual not in their
capacity as an NRA Certified Instructor.
Intended Audience: The primary audience for the course are those individuals who have never
participated in an IDPA match and would like a low-stress introduction to the sport. We also
welcome those who are curious about action pistol shooting and want to find out more about it.
Finally, we welcome those shooters who have participated in matches but would like to practice
and develop their IDPA skills and pick up tips to improve their performance.
Equipment Needed: Students will need a properly functioning, safe handgun, caliber 9mm or
larger, with at least two magazines; a strong-side belt holster that covers the trigger guard; a belt
carrier for at least one magazine; and 150 rounds of ammunition. If a student doesn't have this
equipment, arrangements can be made to have loaner equipment available.
Course Schedule: The course is open to the public and will be conducted on an as-needed basis.
Classes may be scheduled for weekdays or weekends based on range availability and the needs
of the students. To sign up or get more information about the course, e-mail Charlie Baker at
bakerc1911@gmail.com.