Scholastic & Recreational Instructor Course

Scholastic Instructor Course

The purpose of the Scholastic Instructor Certification is to equip those coaching in youth shooting programs with the knowledge necessary to orient a youth shooter to shotgunning in a safe and entertaining manner. The biggest challenge for youth shooting programs is often the availability of trained volunteer coaches. It is not the NSCA’s intent to suggest that youth shooting programs require less proficient coaches than other students; however, with the shortage of Level I Certified volunteers and the scarcity of available time to attend training courses, the Association considers it critical to offer a path whereby volunteers with youth shooting programs can access the same information to assist them in coaching youth shooters. After all, the youth shooter is the future of our sport.

Ideally, a graduate from the Scholastic Instructor Course will be proficient enough to instruct beginning and novice shooters up to entry-level competitors in sporting clays. Candidates seeking the Scholastic Instructor Certification will attend the NSCA Level I Instructor Course, as well as receive the same content; however, the Scholastic Instructor candidate will not be required to meet all of the criteria required of Level I applicants (no shooting proficiency requirement, class/target requirement, or lesson requirement). Scholastic Instructors are encouraged to be active competitors, will encourage their students to compete in the sport, and will promote the sport to new shooters. While attending the course, the candidate will be instructed in how to teach the fundamentals of shotgunning, assess eye dominance and basic gun fit, as well as call a miss. 




Recreational Instructor Course

The purpose of the Recreational Instructor Certification is to equip those coaching at resorts with the knowledge necessary to orient a recreational shooter to shotgunning in a safe and entertaining manner. The biggest challenge for resort staff is the often having available time for staff to attend off-site training and compete in registered tournaments. It is not the NSCA’s intent to suggest that patrons at resorts require less proficient instructors than other students; however, the Association considers it critical to offer a path whereby resort staff can access the same information to assist them in instructing resort patrons.

Ideally, a graduate from the Recreational Instructor Course will be proficient enough to instruct beginning and novice shooters in sporting clays. Candidates seeking the Recreational Instructor Certification will attend the NSCA Level I Instructor Course, as well as receive the same content; however, the Recreational Instructor candidate will not be required to meet all of the criteria required of Level I applicants (no shooting proficiency requirement, class/target requirement or lesson requirement). While attending the course, the candidate will be instructed how to teach the fundamentals of shotgunning, assess eye dominance and basic gun fit, as well as call a miss. 




Scholastic / Recreational Instructor Criteria

Applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

• Be an active member of NSCA
• Be 18 years or older

Any questions regarding the above requirements should be directed to the Chief Instructor.

Scholastic / Recreational Instructor Cost

In addition to the $500 registration fee for the three-day* course, which is submitted along with the application form to NSCA Headquarters, each applicant is responsible for bringing his/her own gun and approximately 250 shells. Students are also accountable for target fees of the host club and a percentage of the examiner’s/certifying instructor’s expenses. (This will vary depending on the number of students in each course and the amount of travel required for the examiner/certifying instructor.)

*At the discretion of the Chief Instructor, courses made up exclusively of candidates attempting to achieve the Scholastic Instructor and/or Recreation Instructor Certifications may be shortened to two days in length and reduced in price to $375.00 per person. Certifying Instructors must request approval in writing in advance to schedule these special two-day classes. Under no circumstances will a person certified as a Scholastic or Recreational Instructor in a two-day course be “upgraded” to a Level I instructor unless the person enrolls in and attends the three-day Level I course.