If you enthusiastically answered “YES!” to the questions above, then the NAPSI Instructor Development Workshop may be right for you!  Through hard work and dedication, you can become a professional trainer who is actually qualified to teach the defensive use of firearms!


The NAPSI Approved Trainer is the face of the NAPSI Training Program. They are the delivery system for NAPSI coursework. They are the physical link between the end user and high-quality training. They provide a potentially lifesaving service to their students, their student’s families, and even the people of their communities.  As such, a lot of responsibility rests on their shoulders.


Becoming a NAPSI Approved Trainer


NAPSI prides itself on providing the most comprehensive Instructor Development Program of any national training organization in the country.  Our focus is on developing professional trainers who can actually TEACH, and teach well!  We’re not in the business of simply certifying mere shooters who are then sent out in the field with a lesson plan and a PowerPoint presentation and left to figure it out on their own. 

Obtaining an Approved Coach/Instructor rating from NAPSI is not an easy task. We have high standards in place because we only want the best of the best representing our organization. Just showing up and paying the enrollment fee does not guarantee your success.

Every interested candidate is required to successfully complete an application and interview process, in addition to satisfactorily completing the appropriate end-user course before they are allowed to attend the NAPSI Instructor Development Workshop.  Once successful applicants are given access to the Instructor Development Workshop, they will be under constant subjective evaluation by our team of Senior Instructor Trainers. NAPSI Approved Trainers will have to be able to TEACH at a professional level! You will have to put in the work and strive to perform at a high level in order to make the cut!

And NAPSI Approved Trainers not only have to be able to teach practical information to an extremely high standard, but they have to be exceptional in their shooting and gun-handling skills as well. Instructor candidates who successfully make it through the application and interview process must complete a rigorous live-fire qualification as well as a subjective skills evaluation, and must earn a passing grade on each, in order to be eligible for NAPSI approval. Non-shooters and armchair instructors need not apply!


Successful candidates will enjoy access to some of the most up-to-date defensive firearms-related coursework available anywhere in the country in addition to unrivaled support and mentorship from the NAPSI team. And all NAPSI coursework has been developed specifically in the context of the DEFENSIVE use of firearms, rather than from the context of recreational or bulls eye shooting.

​The Highest Standards

​And The Most Comprehensive

​Instructor Development Program

​Of Any National Organization!


During days 3 & 4, we cover the discipline-specific Instructor Development Coursework.  This is the where we teach you how to teach the NAPSI coursework (FDP & BDSS) to the end user.  This consists of numerous instructional sessions and candidate-lead “teach backs” for most of day one, and then the opportunity for the Instructor Candidates to teach the specific coursework from start to finish on day two.  In addition to the IMP and discipline-specific coursework, Instructor Candidates will also have to successfully pass a live-fire qualification course and a skills application test, in addition to completing and passing 2 written tests with a score of at least 90% during the 4 days of class.


Prerequisites And Fees
  
In addition to successfully completing the appropriate end-user coursework, all applicants are required to submit:

  1. A completed NAPSI Trainer’s Application
  2. A brief training resume/bio
  3. At least three letters of character reference.  These can be from anyone who knows you and can vouch for your trustworthiness and professionalism.  These references will need to be verifiable!   


Candidate interviews are scheduled once the NAPSI Training Department has received all of the required information and completed documents. 

Candidate interviews are conducted via telephone conference with the applicant and two of the NAPSI Senior Instructor Trainers.  Once the interview process is completed, candidates are contacted within 7 days to inform them whether or not they have been approved to attend the NAPSI Instructor Development Workshop.  Once a candidate is given approval, the enrollment fee is due and the candidate is given payment instructions/options at that time. 

Completed applications must be turned in to the NAPSI Training Department no later than 30 days prior to the start date of the Instructor Development Workshop. Additionally, all candidates must attend and successfully complete the appropriate NAPSI end-user course before they are eligible to attend the Instructor Development Workshop. To find a NAPSI Approved Trainer near you, please visit our NAPSI Approved Trainers page. 


The cost for attending the 2023 NAPSI Instructor Development Workshop is $400, plus a $35 range fee.


NOTICE:  The 2023 NAPSI Instructor Development Workshop is scheduled to be held in Central Missouri on November 2 - 5, 2023!  To request an application, or for additional information, please contact chris.shoffner@napsitraining.com and use "NAPSI IDW" as the subject of your email. 



  • NAPSI Trainer Ethics
  • Interacting With Students
  • Interacting With Other Trainers
  • NAPSI Standard of Curriculum
  • NAPSI Training Standards
  • Maintaining High Standards in Training
  • NAPSI Policies and Procedures
  • Roles and Responsibilities of a Professional Trainer
  • Range Operation/Management and Standard Operating Procedure
  • NAPSI Methods of Instruction
  • The Function of Training
  • Adult Learning Principles
  • Skill Development Concepts
  • Alternative Teaching Theories and Principles
  • Learning Skills In Context
  • Evaluation of Student Performance
  • NAPSI Course Organization
  • Strategies For Successful Marketing and Promotion
  • Operating a Successful Training Business
  • And much more!

THE N.A.P.S.I. INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

In this comprehensive, interactive two-day class, you will learn how we expect you to conduct yourself as a NAPSI Approved Trainer, how we expect you to interact with students and peers, where we will outline our high standards of training and show you the instructional methods we expect you to use when you deliver NAPSI coursework to your students. We cover a variety of topics, including:

Are you ready to become more than just a basic shooting instructor?  Are you ready to begin the journey of becoming a true professional?  To become a trainer that doesn’t just have a certificate hanging on the wall, but one that is actually qualified to teach the safe and efficient use of firearms from the context of self-defense?

NOTICE:  All students are required to sign a liability waiver/hold harmless agreement on the day of the class, before any instruction can take place.  Students must be law abiding citizens of good repute and must be legally entitled to possess firearms and participate in firearms/tactical training in accordance with the laws of their state and the laws of the United States.  N.A.P.S.I. Approved Trainers are expected to follow all local, state, and federal laws when providing any instruction.

The NAPSI Instructor Development Program


The NAPSI Instructor Development Workshop consists of two parts and takes four full days to complete.  Days 1 & 2 are used covering our Instructional Methods and Procedures (NAPSI IMP) coursework.

The Official "N.A.P.S.I. Approved Trainer" Logo


  • The American Flag represents both a great pride in our country and highlights the fact that N.A.P.S.I. is a national organization.
  • The shape of the shield represents both honor and protection - two necessary attributes in a professional trainer.
  • The image of the book represents the importance N.A.P.S.I. places on a high level of knowledge.  
  • The scales represent the N.A.P.S.I. commitment to a high level of professional integrity and trust. 
  • The Knight's Helmet symbolizes strength.  Not only physical strength, but also our strength as an organization.
  • The compass represents our belief in a strong set of morals in addition to the high ethical standards we have promised to hold ourselves, and each other, to.


Are your ready to find out if you have what it takes to earn it?

N.A.P.S.I. Instructor Development