Whether you are interested in recreational shooting, competition, hunting, gun collecting, historical reenactment, home safety, or personal protection -- the basics are where to start! NRA Basic Firearm Training Courses teach you the safety principles and help you develop the knowledge, skills, and attitude that are needed to successfully pursue your shooting interests.

Since 1871, one of NRA's major objectives has been to provide basic training in the safe and proper use of firearms. Today, more than 50,000 NRA Certified Instructors throughout the United States continue this fine tradition of public service by conducting NRA Basic Firearm Training Courses. Courses are offered in the following disciplines:

Pistol Rifle Shotgun Home Firearm Safety Personal Protection In The Home Personal Protection Outside The Home Refuse To Be A Victim®

Muzzleloading Pistol Muzzleloading Rifle Muzzleloading Shotgun Metallic Cartridge Reloading Shotgun Shell Reloading Range Safety Officer

What will you learn in an NRA basic course?

• The NRA Basic Pistol Shooting Course teaches the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude for owning and operating a pistol safely. This course is at least 10-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, two handed and one handed standing positions; cleaning the pistol; and continued opportunities for skill development. Students will receive 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 a course completion certificate.
• The NRA FIRST Steps Pistol Orientation — 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. NRA FIRST Steps Pistol is designed to provide a hands-on introduction to the safe handling and proper orientation to one specific pistol action type for classes of four or fewer students. This course is at least three hours long and includes classroom and range time learning to shoot a specific pistol action type. Students will learn the NRA’s rules for safe gun handling; the particular pistol model parts and operation; ammunition; shooting fundamentals; cleaning the pistol; and continued opportunities for skill development. Students will receive the Basics of Pistol Shooting handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification booklet, and a FIRST Steps Course completion certificate.
• The NRA Basic Personal Protection In The Home Course teaches the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude essential to the safe and efficient use of a handgun for protection of self and family, and to provide information on the law-abiding individual’s right to self-defense. 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 a course completion certificate.
  
  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.
• The NRA Basics of Personal Protection Outside The Home Course is both comprehensive and intensive in its approach to equip the defensive shooting candidate with the skills needed to survive serious adversity. The course 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. Students have the opportunity to attend this course using a quality strong side hip holster that covers the trigger, or a holster purse. From a review of safe firearms handling and proper mindset to presentation from concealment and multiple shooting positions, this course contains the essential skills and techniques needed to prevail in a life-threatening situation.
  
  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, NRA Advanced Personal Protection Outside The Home certificate.
  
  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.
• The NRA Basic Rifle Shooting Course teaches the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary for the safe use of a rifle in target shooting. This course is at least 14 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 Basics of Rifle Shooting handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification booklet, take a Basics of Rifle Shooting Student Examination, and a course completion certificate.
• The NRA FIRST Steps Rifle Orientation — 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. NRA FIRST Steps Rifle 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 at least 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. Students will receive the Basics of Rifle Shooting handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification booklet, and a FIRST Steps Course completion certificate.
• The NRA Basic Shotgun Shooting Course teaches the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude for the safe and proper use of a shotgun in shooting a moving target. This course is at least ten-hours long and includes classroom and range time learning how to shoot shotguns at moving targets. Students learn NRA’s rules for safe gun handling; shotgun parts and operation; shotgun shell components; shotgun shell malfunctions; shooting fundamentals; range rules; shooting at straight away and angled targets; cleaning; and continued opportunities for skill development. Students will receive the Basics of Shotgun Shooting handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification booklet, take a Basics of Shotgun Shooting Student Examination, and a course completion certificate.
• The NRA FIRST Steps Shotgun Orientation — 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. NRA FIRST Steps Shotgun course is designed to provide a hands-on introduction to the safe handling and proper orientation to one specific shotgun model. This course is at least three hours long and includes classroom and range time learning to shoot a specific model shotgun at a moving target. Students will learn the NRA’s rules for safe gun handling; the particular shotgun model parts and operation; ammunition; shooting fundamentals; cleaning the shotgun; and continued opportunities for skill development. Students will receive the Basics of Shotgun Shooting handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification booklet, and a FIRST Steps Course completion certificate.
• The NRA’s Home Firearm Safety Course is a non-shooting course and teaches students the basic knowledge, skills, and to explain the attitude necessary for the safe handling and storage of firearms and ammunition in the home. This is a four-hour course for safe gun handling that is conducted in the classroom only. Students are taught NRA’s three rules for safe gun handling; primary causes of firearms accidents; firearm parts; how to unload certain action types; ammunition components; cleaning; care; safe storage of firearms in the home; and the benefits of becoming an active participant in the shooting sports. Students will receive the NRA Home Firearm Safety handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, Basic Firearm Training Program brochure, and a course completion certificate.
• The NRA-NMLRA Basic Muzzleloading Pistol Shooting Course teaches the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude essential to the safe and efficient use of a muzzleloading pistol. The course is 12 hours in length and includes classroom time and instruction on a range shooting a muzzleloading pistol. Each student learns the NRA’s three rules for safe gun handling; parts of a percussion, flintlocks and revolvers; cleaning; shooting from the standing position; identifying failure to fire; and benefits of becoming an active participant in the shooting sports. Students will receive the Muzzleloading Pistol handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, Muzzleloading Student Examination, Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification booklet, and a course completion certificate.
• The NRA-NMLRA Basic Muzzleloading Rifle Shooting Course teaches the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude essential to the safe and efficient use of a muzzleloading rifle. The course is 12 hours in length and includes classroom instruction and time on a range shooting a muzzleloading rifle. Students learn the NRA’s three rules for safe gun handling; parts; loading; shooting; cleaning; shooting from a standing position and shooting from a crossed stick position; and continued opportunities for skill development. Students will receive the Muzzleloading Rifle Handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, Muzzleloading Student Examination, Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification booklet, and a course completion certificate.
• The NRA-NMLRA Basic Muzzleloading Shotgun Shooting Course teaches the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude essential to the safe and efficient use of a muzzleloading shotgun in shooting a moving target. The course is ten hours in length and includes classroom instruction and time on a range shooting a muzzleloading shotgun. Students will receive the Muzzleloading Shotgun Handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, Muzzleloading Student Examination, Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification booklet, and a course completion certificate.
• The NRA Basic Metallic Cartridge Reloading Course teaches beginning reloaders the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary to safely reload metallic cartridges. This course is eight hours in length and is conducted in a classroom. Each student is taught reloading safety; centerfire cartridge components; using the reloading manual and reloading data; equipment; and the metallic cartridge reloading process. Students will receive the NRA Guide to Reloading handbook, the Basic Reloading Student Exam, a course completion certificate, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, a Basic Firearm Training Program brochure, and an Instructor Application/Course Evaluation form.
• The NRA Basic Shotgun Shell Reloading Course teaches beginning reloaders the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary to safely reload shotgun shells. This course is six hours in length and is conducted in a classroom. Each student is taught reloading safety; shotgun shell components; using the reloading manual and reloading data; equipment; and the shotgun shell reloading process. Students will receive the NRA Guide to Reloading handbook, the Basic Reloading Student Exam, a course completion certificate, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, a Basic Firearm Training Program brochure, and an Instructor Application Course/Evaluation form.
• The NRA Range Safety Officer Course develops NRA Certified Range Safety Officers with the knowledge, skills, and attitude essential to organizing, conducting, and supervising safe shooting activities and range operations. This course is nine hours long and is conducted in a classroom and at a shooting facility. Range Safety Officer candidates will learn roles and responsibilities of an RSO; Range Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); range inspection; range rules; range briefings; emergency procedures; and firearm stoppages and malfunctions. Each Range Safety Officer Candidate will receive an RSO Student Study Guide, a Basic Firearm Training Program brochure, an NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, and an Instructor Application/Course Evaluation form.
• Refuse To Be A Victim^® Seminars teach the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude for developing a strategy for one's personal safety. The seminar includes classroom instruction on a variety of crime prevention strategies, from criminal psychology to automobile crimes to cyber crime. Seminars can vary in length, and may be modified to suit the needs of a particular audience. This is not a firearms instruction course, and does not include instruction in physical combat self-defense. Seminars teach about common weaknesses that criminals may take advantage of, and teaches a variety of corrective measures that are practical, inexpensive, and easy to follow. Strategies include home security, carjack avoidance techniques, cyber safety, and use of personal safety devices. A complete seminar may last as long as eight hours and include the entire lesson plan, but a modified seminar may be as short as 90 minutes and address a specific topic. Students will receive the Refuse To Be A Victim student handbook, NRA Refuse To Be A Victim^® brochure, NRA Become A Refuse To Be A Victim^® Instructor Brochure, Refuse To Be A Victim^® Firearms Supplement, and a course completion certificate.

When you've finished your course, not only will you have learned the basics, you will be on your way to pursuing a lifetime of shooting. By joining one of the nearly 10,000 NRA-affiliated clubs located across the U.S., you can meet people who share your interest, and make lasting friendships. For more information about NRA affiliated clubs, call 800-672-2582.