3/22/25 – NRA Range Safety Officer Certification

This course will define the role and tasks required of a Range Safety Officer. These include organizing, conducting, and supervising range operations, all with a focus on safety.

This is a classroom course with no live-fire exercises. However, the classroom instruction will include exercising the skills learned, including loading, unloading, and handling firearms for other students role-playing as visitors to a range, working through an emergency exercise, and discussing nomenclature of various firearms and action types. Your ability to perform these exercises will be assessed. At the end of the course is a written examination covering what you learned. A grade of 90% is required to pass.

You will receive an NRA Range Safety Officer Student Study Guide, a Basic Firearm Training Program Brochure, an NRA Gun Safety Rules Brochure, and a signed certificate showing you passed the course.

The topics include:
Range Standard Operating Procedures
Range Inspections
Enforcing Range Rules
Safety Briefings
Emergency Procedures
Correcting Stoppages and Malfunctions
Educating Shooters on Gun Safety

The Prerequisites

You have to be 21 years of age or older in order to become certified as an NRA Certified Range Safety Officer Trainer. You also need to know the basics of firearm safety and have a measure of knowledge and proficiency in operating different kinds of firearm actions (from revolvers to semi-automatic rifles). There are some firearms handling exercises during the course to ensure you have a suitable background in firearms.

How You Benefit

Becoming an NRA Certified Range Safety Officer is an excellent first step toward a career in firearms. As an NRA Certified Range Safety Officer, you qualify for a position at ranges across the nation. You will also be safer when you visit a shooting range and will be able to educate newcomers to the sport with greater aptitude.

What do I need to bring and what do I need to know?

• Knowledge of common firearms (all firearms will be provided, but feel free to bring a firearm you have that is interesting)
• Note taking materials

QUESTIONS? Contact out in-house NRA Training Counselor