I have been considering the idea of becoming a firearms instructor for a couple of years now. I know that there are many on this forum that instruct and I would like to hear their opinions/advice about it and getting the required certifications.
One of the major things other than work and family commitments (more on that later) that has kept me from starting this is that I just don't know if I'm good enough. In the grand scheme of things, I am a competent shot with handguns and rifles and am an solid intermediate shooter as far as the FAST goes. I received some solid training in the Army, am a FLETC course graduate, have attended a handful of training courses, and have dabbled in instruction with friends and family. I also have an extensive background giving instruction with thousands of hours as a flight instructor as well as military topics. On top of it all, I do enjoy teaching. BUT, I'm no Todd Green and the High Speed Low Drag train has LONG left the station. In the presence of most on this forum, I'm lucky to be considered a dilettante.
What has given me the desire as of late to think seriously about instructing is the lack and abysmal quality of instructors I have met locally. A good friend of mine took an NRA personal protection class from one of my ranges "instructors" and was less than impressed both by the content of the course and the professionalism of the teacher. I may not not be qualified to carry Kyle Lamb's spit cup, but I'm a hell of a lot better than a lot of the local jokers that are passing as firearms instructors. With the ever increasing numbers of new gun owners out there, some of who are smart enough to seek training, I would hope to be able to provide a basic level of real world oriented competence to these people and maybe even serve as a feeder to the real instructors out there.
So my basic questions for the instructors out there are:
1) What certifications are needed? I assume an NRA instructor certification would be the bare minimum? What about state certifications (I know the Kalifornia DOJ has some process for the ability to issue Handgun Safety Certificates)? I qualify to take NRA Law Enforcement classes, But I'm NO COP so I would assume those classes would be a waste of time?
2) Is liability insurance needed? What happens if you instruct someone who is a bad egg? (in ROTC, we had a cadet who murdered someone in an altercation). I assume that ITAR regulations would apply to instructing foreign students? Do any of you perform background checks?
3) What about becoming a regional instructor for one of the big names? I am hoping to take and pass Paul Howe's Tactical Pistol Instructor Class this spring (planned to do it last year but a newborn squashed that idea). I know Larry Vickers also certifies instructors, what all is involved in associating yourself with a big name?
My goals for doing all this are pretty much to provide quality instruction to new civilian shooters (or folks that just want to learn how to hit more than the berm) and in doing so - do my part for nurturing the 2nd Amendment, to expand my journey in the shooting martial arts and become a better shooter, and maybe to just make enough money doing it to pay for this whole adventure.
I truly appreciate any advice you all have, even if it is "DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME" (which is pretty much what I would tell anyone dreaming of entering my profession).