Re: Firearms Instructor Course
I'm an NRA Instructor in various disciplines. It is an excellent credential, but the information is nearly worthless. The NRA is a sporting organization, teaching sporting firearms, not defensive firearms. NRA Law Enforcement, on the other hand, is teaching sporting firearm knowledge under defensive law enforcement conditions. Some of the information is good. Some is stupid and based on sports and square ranges and not reality.
Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (my state's LEO Certification) is at about the same level.
If you're looking for quality training, I recently took "Combat Focus Shooting Instructor Development" earlier this year. It was intense and excellent. I would highly recommend it, although I should forewarn that it is not for the weary or fainthearted. An NRA Instructor in his 60's who seemed like a polite individual, walked out of the course claiming that it was too hard to pass, and he didn't even want to try to finish. Rob Pincus, the Instructor, tried to convince him to stay, but he didn't show in the end.
Courses like the NRA pretty much give you a certificate if you pay and show up. Those courses teach you very little. Sure, you'll always pick up a little nugget or two at any course, but frankly if you are "learning a lot" from an NRA course, you have little business being an Instructor.
If you want to actually understand how to teach students how to proficiently perform under a myriad of extremely stressful situations, then things like the NRA, NRA Law Enforcement, and Many other State Law Enforcement and Military Instructor Certifications would not be the way to go. Though, oddly enough, they will get you the most recognition from students (who don't know that they don't know), and will potentially bring in the highest revenue.