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NRA RANGE SAFETY OFFICERS

The NRA Range Safety Officer (RSO) program was developed in response to the demand for a nationally recognized range safety officer certification. To become a NRA Range Safety Officer, you must pass the RSO course and demonstrate that you possess the knowledge, skills, and attitude essential to organizing, conducting, and supervising safe shooting activities and range operations.

This course does not encompass the functions and responsibilities of a Range Officer, who conducts NRA competitive shooting events as defined by Rule 11.5 of the NRA Rule Books.

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Become A Range Safety Officer

There are two ways to become a RSO. You can take an Online Course from the NRA if you are currently an NRA Certified Firearm Instructor or you can take a course conducted by a Chief RSO, an individual certified to train NRA Range Safety Officers. The RSO course content consists of RSO's roles and responsibilities, range standard operating procedures, range inspection and range rules, firearm stoppages and malfunctions, and Range Safety Briefings which include procedures to follow in the case of an emergency. RSO's who have successfully completed the course then have the ability to become a Chief Range Safety Officer, someone essential to training and supervising NRA Range Safety Officers and developing range standard operating procedures.

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Sign Up For An Online Course

If you possess a valid NRA Firearm Instructor certification or NRA Coach appointment in one of the NRA's training programs you can take NRA's Online RSO Course! Students must complete all six lessons and a short electronically administered test with a 90% pass rate in order to be certified as a NRA Range Safety Officer. The course costs $125 and students have 90 days from the start of enrollment to complete the course.

Range Safety Officer Monitoring and Unexperienced Shooter in an Indoor Range

Sign Up For An Instructor-Led Course

If you aren't already an NRA Instructor, attend a live classroom-based course facilitated by an NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer. The nine-hour course consists of classroom time and practical exercises conducted on a range. Click here and find a NRA Basic Range Safety Officer course near you by searching under the Safety category.

Range Safety Officer Watching Shooters at an Indoor Range

Become a Chief Range Safety Officer

Certified RSOs looking to become a Chief RSO must take a course put on by an NRA Training Counselor who also holds the Chief RSO certification. This 14-hour course is presented in two parts: Basic Instructor Training and NRA Chief Range Safety Officer training. Sessions include standard operating procedures, inspections, emergency procedures, firearm stoppages and malfunctions, safety briefings. Students must demonstrate organizational and teaching skills via participation in practical exercises and complete an open book exam. Once the course is completed the RSO will be upgraded to a NRA Chief Range Safety Officer.