NRA Safety Instructor College Course Prepares to Graduate First Student

This past winter, Trinidad State Junior College in southern Colorado became the first NRA Certified Training Center, offering 18 courses on basic firearms skills and instruction which culminate in becoming an NRA Certified Instructor.

Now, Casey Schmidgall of Springfield, Illinois, is about to complete the 18-credit hour requirement and will receive the school's first NRA Safety Instructor Certificate. Schmidgall's route to the certificate included taking classes on NRA Basic Pistol Shooting, NRA Muzzleloading Rifle Instructor Training, and NRA Basic Shotgun Instructor Training. Courses include both classroom and field components for the student to learn and then demonstrate the instructed skills.

Students interested in attending the NRA Certified Training Center may fund their education through the GI Bill, Federal Financial Aid and Vocational Rehab.

“More than 100,000 NRA Certified Instructors teach nearly 1,000,000 students the basics of safe, effective use of firearms every year,” said NRA General Operations Executive Director Kyle Weaver. “Partnering with Trinidad means America’s longstanding tradition of gun ownership has never been more secure.”

Trinidad State is also well known for their NRA-affiliated Gunsmithing school. The two-year program trains individuals on ins and outs of creating and repairing firearms and will be featured on an upcoming episode of NRA All Access on August 12.

Find out more about Trinidad State's NRA Certified Training Center here and its Gunsmithing program here.