Got Military/LEO Experience? Learn About NRA's Law Enforcement Home Study Program

Here's how NRA Law Enforcement Division Instructors can obtain NRA Education and Training Division Certified Instructor credentials to teach NRA approved courses.

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posted on June 2, 2025
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Marine Training Courtesy Media Dot Defense Dot Gov
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Scott Reel

One of NRA Education & Training’s most frequently asked questions is, “I have such-and-such MIL/LEO experience, does that translate into any Instructor Rating?” The short answer is “no, but.” By way of explanation, NRA E&T does not recognize any other organization’s credential or schoolhouse as an equivalency to taking an Instructor Course with an NRA Training Counselor.

Don’t get us wrong! Military and Law Enforcement experience is extremely valuable, and we want our instructors to draw from their past experiences when teaching new students. The reason we set it up this way is that there’s a big difference in breadth and depth between typical Military/Law Enforcement training vs. the NRA Basic Firearms Training Program.

However, there is one notable exception: Education & Training has what we call the LE Home Study Program, which allows for NRA Law Enforcement Division Instructors to obtain NRA Education and Training Division Certified Instructor credentials to teach NRA approved courses to the general public at the below equivalencies:

ALL: Home Firearm Safety

LE Handgun: NRA Basic Pistol & Personal Protection Inside The Home

LE Shotgun: NRA Basic Shotgun

LE Patrol Rifle: NRA Basic Rifle

Interested LE Instructors can enroll in the Home Study program, have student and instructor materials sent out to them, and complete Instructor Exams, which will earn them Education & Training Instructor Credentials. Just like when taking an actual instructor course, candidates must score a 90% or above to earn their Certified Instructor credentials.

PLEASE NOTE: The LE Home Study Program is specifically open to NRA Law Enforcement Division Instructors (NRA LED), a certification granted by our sister Law Enforcement division. It is not open to the MIL/LEO community at large, because we can regularly audit NRA LED curriculum, but cannot do so for FLETC/POST/DCJS and military marksmanship programs. Furthermore, our programs contain all the different action types available on the civilian market, not just military and police service firearms.

The cost for the program is $100 for the first rating, and $25 for each additional rating they’d like to add. This includes materials, credentialing fees, and a complimentary Premium ID Card.

Interested NRA LE Instructors can visit this link to get started: https://www.nrainstructors.org/InstructorAdmin/HomeValidation.aspx

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