🇺🇸 NRA Range Safety Officer Training Curriculum

(Instructor-Led — North Idaho Firearms Training format)

📘 Course Length

10AM to 7PM 9 Hours Total

🔴 MODULE 1 — Course Introduction (30 min)

Objectives

Explain purpose of RSO certification
Define RSO authority & responsibilities
Establish safety expectations

Topics

Role of the NRA RSO
Instructor vs RSO distinction
Legal responsibility & liability awareness
Range culture and professionalism

🔴 MODULE 2 — Range Safety Fundamentals (1 hr)

Core Concepts

3 NRA Rules for Safe Gun Handling

Always keep gun pointed in safe direction
Always keep finger off trigger until ready
Always keep gun unloaded until ready

Additional Range Safety Rules

Muzzle discipline enforcement
Safe loading/unloading zones
Cease-fire authority

🔴 MODULE 3 — Range Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) (1 hr)

Topics

Written range rules
Emergency procedures
Incident reporting
Medical response planning
Range commands standardization

Practical Exercise

Students review sample SOP and identify safety weaknesses.

🔴 MODULE 4 — Range Inspection & Setup (45 min)

Topics

Safe backstop requirements
Target placement safety
Firing line layout
Safe spectator positioning
Environmental hazards
indoor range
outdoor public range
private training range

🔴 MODULE 5 — Range Commands & Shooter Control (1 hr)

Standard Commands

“Load”
“Ready on the firing line”
“Commence fire”
“Cease fire”
“Unload and show clear”

Student Exercise

Have students:

Practice giving commands
Practice stopping unsafe shooter
(VERY important skill for real-world RSOs)

🔴 MODULE 6 — Malfunctions & Emergency Procedures (1 hr)

Cover:

Squib load response
Hangfire protocol
Misfire protocol
Catastrophic firearm failure

Medical Topics

Trauma kit requirements
Basic bleeding control
Emergency call procedures

🔴 MODULE 7 — Firearm Stoppages & Clearing Procedures (45 min)

Students learn:

Failure to fire
Failure to feed
Double feed
Stovepipe

Instructor demonstrates safe clearing.

🔴 MODULE 8 — Range Safety Scenarios (1.5 hr)

Critical Training Block

Run scenario discussions:

Shooter turns with loaded firearm
Unauthorized person crosses firing line
Shooter drops loaded firearm
Unsafe muzzle sweep

Students must explain:

What command to give
What action to take
How to secure the scene

🔴 MODULE 9 — Live Range Safety Exercise (Recommended if possible)

(Optional but strongly advised for your program)

Students act as RSO while others shoot.

Evaluate:

command clarity
shooter observation
intervention timing

🔴 MODULE 10 — Written Exam & Review (45 min)

NRA official written test
Review incorrect answers
Final Q&A

📦 Materials Required

INSTRUCTOR PROOVIDED:

dummy rounds
inert firearms
sample SOP
incident report forms
trauma kit example

STUDENT MATERIALS:

notebook
pen
NRA handbook

🏆 Certification Requirements

Students must:

✅ Attend full course

✅ Pass written exam

✅ Demonstrate safety command knowledge

DEPOSIT for class is $20, is non refundable, but can be transferred to another class. The remaining $80 can be paid day of class.