How To Vet Your Instructor
Updated 5/6/2021
Due to recent events the firearms industry has been booming! More firearms are being sold each day and we’re seeing an increase in demand for firearms instruction along with the increase in firearms sales. I am personally excited to see so many new gun owners. In an effort to help novice gun owners find their local instructors, I created the National Black Self Defense Directory. This directory lists over 200 firearm instructors and authorized firearms dealers across 35 states. I must make the disclaimer that I do not personally know all of these instructors and I can not speak to their abilities as an instructor. It is your duty as a student to thoroughly vet these instructors prior to registering for their classes. This blog will guide you through the vetting process.
According to Merriam-Webster, the term “vet” means “to evaluate for possible approval or acceptance”. Basically you’re asking questions and doing your due diligence to ensure that you are receiving quality information. First let me say that there are some instructors who are great at teaching classes but may not be as experienced with operating a business. There are also some instructors who are great at marketing and operating their business but not so experienced with teaching firearms classes. You’re looking for an instructor who can do both. You can vet your instructor by asking the following questions:
What certified firearms instruction courses have you completed?
You’re looking to see if they have a certification from a recognized training organization. The two most common organizations are the NRA and the USCCA. Yes there are instructors who do not have any certifications who may be able to teach you how to operate a firearm BUT certifications bring legitimacy to their instruction. Paying the money and spending the time to take a certified instructors course shows that they take their craft seriously. It shows that they’re willing to invest in themselves and their business. However, having a certificate does not always indicate that they are skilled or experienced enough to teach firearms classes. For some, this just means that they could afford the spend the money and knew enough information to pass a written test or a standard shooting qualification. Be sure to ask when they received these certifications. Firearms and firearm shooting doctrine change over time with the advancement of modern technology. You need to make sure your instructor is teaching current information applicable to modern firearms. I’d say a good instructor would take a refresher course about every 5 years.
Also make sure the instructor is certified to teach the specific class they’re offering. Firearm instructor certifications are typically separated by discipline (handgun, rifle, shotgun, first aid, etc.) and many instructors specialize in one or two disciplines.
What other firearms-related experience do you have?
Most instructors have a law enforcement or military background. Law enforcement and military personnel have VERY different rules of engagement and use firearms in different capacities than civilians. Make sure your instructor is teaching you firearm skills and tactics that apply to the LEGAL and PRACTICAL use of firearms for civilians. Also understand that most military personnel carry and use AR-15 platform rifles as their primary weapon. Their experience using and carrying an AR-15 platform rifle while serving in the military doesn’t necessarily translate to their ability to teach a civilian concealed carry course with handguns. It’s like having an expert skateboarder teach you how to surf. While they are both oblong boards, the two devices aren’t the same and require different skillsets to operate. Just make sure these instructors have taken classes that equate to the content they’re teaching. Other instructors come from a teaching or training background and took an interest in firearms. Some instructors were gun enthusiasts or worked at a range and decided to become an instructor. There isn’t really a right or wrong answer to this question alone but their answer to this question along with others will help you understand their background.
What is the most recent end-user course you’ve taken? (End-user meaning a course where they are simply the student like you)
A good firearms instructor is always a student first. They are constantly improving their skills and learning new techniques. No instructor should ever feel like they know all there is to know about firearms. As an instructor, sitting through a fundamentals course is a humbling experience. In end user courses, instructors may be refreshing their skills or even learning new teaching methods from another instructor. I’d say a good instructor takes at least 1 end-user course per year.
Do you have firearms instructor’s liability insurance and has anyone ever gotten injured while under your instruction?
This one is extremely important. Operating and handling firearms is an inherently dangerous activity. You need to make sure that your instructor has insurance to cover any damages should an accident occur. You also need to make sure that your instructor is safe and responsible enough to make sure that accidents aren’t happening in their classes. The instructor is 100% responsible for any injury that takes place during a firearms class. It’s also good to ask what type of formal medical/stop the bleed training they’ve received and if they have a trauma kit with them during the class. Most good instructors will actually carry a tourniquet or IFAK on their person during classes.
Do you have a lesson plan for this class?
This one is pretty simple. Is your instructor just making up their class content on the fly? Have they actually sat down, given thought to their class objectives and written out a lesson plan? Can they clearly articulate exactly what they expect you to learn? Will they provide you additional reading or training materials? Does their class cover all types of learning styles? Will they use training aids like printed materials, PowerPoint, training pistols or training sights?
Where can I see reviews from your previous students?
This one is also pretty simple. A good instructor likes feedback from their students because it helps them grow as an instructor. I prefer sending out anonymous surveys to my students where they can give me their unfiltered feedback.
What other certified firearms instructors can vouch for you?
The firearms industry is small. Most instructors have trained with or are at least aware of the other firearms instructors in their local area. Feel free to ask for references.
How long have you been teaching firearms classes?
This question can be tricky because the length of time spent performing a task does not always equate to proficiency. For example, my aunt has had her driver’s license for 30 years but I’d never get into a vehicle with her behind the wheel. Know what I mean? A good instructor takes their time perfecting their craft before advertising classes. Some usually start off teaching private lessons or small groups of friends and family. Good instructors also have to be extremely intuitive. We have to be able to identify who’s nervous, who may be a danger to themselves or others, or who is emotionally unprepared to handle a firearm. There isn’t really a right answer to this question either but I’d make sure I’m not signing up to be their very first student. It usually takes years to develop what I call “The Sight” or the ability to see and prevent potential accidents before they occur.
How long have you been shooting firearms?
A good instructor usually has operated and carried a firearm much longer than they’ve been teaching firearms classes.
Have you ever had to use your firearm in a real life scenario (outside of your role in the military, law enforcement or armed security) and why?
You’re probably thinking a good answer to this question is yes and I might beg to differ. Good instructors know that using lethal force should be their last resort. Situational awareness, evasion and de-escalation are our primary methods of self defense. We’re not training you to be trigger happy vigilantes. We’re teaching you how to defend yourself in situations where there is an imminent threat to your life. No good instructor is eager to use their firearm for self defense because of the many legal, financial and mental ramifications. We just want to be prepared to defend ourselves should we ever have to. I’d respect an instructor who successfully de-escalated or avoided lethal force situations much more than an instructor who chose to use their firearms (in the civilian world) when other options were available. Repeatedly being in situations where you’re forced to use a firearm may indicate a larger issue regarding personal decision making skills and/or lack of self control. If they have used their firearm, just make sure you get the full details of the incident and make sure it was a legally justified shooting.
Is your business legitimate?
This question is similar to the question regarding certifications. Having a registered LLC brings legitimacy to their business as well as having a website, business email or phone number. Does the instructor have clearly stated reschedule and refund policies? Do they have a waiver and release of liability? Not having these things doesn’t necessarily make them a “bad” instructor, it just means they haven’t taken the time to develop the business side of their firearm’s instruction. This also means you may have issues going forward should you need to contact your instructor, reschedule your class or request a refund.
Can you perform ALL of the tasks you will ask me to perform during the class?
And lastly, your instructor should be able to explain and demonstrate all of the tasks they’re asking you to perform including following the safety rules. If they’re telling you to “treat all firearms as if they’re loaded” but then point a firearm at you then they’re hypocritical at best and most likely unfit to teach a firearms class.
If you’re uneasy or afraid to ask an instructor these questions then let me know. I’ll be the bad guy and ask them for you. If an instructor gets upset and refuses to answer these questions then that’s a red flag and you should seek instruction elsewhere. Oh and most of my personal answers to these questions are on the About and Training pages of this website. That’s all folks!
Have thoughts? Leave your comments below.