We often get emails asking about how to register for seminars and the qualifications to take the classes. Let’s review where you can find that information and how to register for a seminar.
I will admit that the information about qualifications to take the seminars, is a bit hard to find if you don’t know where to look, but the easiest way is Member Resources –> Policies & Guidelines under the NROI Information section on the USPSA site. That takes you to a page with links to several information documents, but the one you want is How to Obtain and Maintain Certification within NROI. It is an information packed page arranged by the three certification levels. Don’t be intimidated!
We offer three certification levels: Range Officer (Level 1), Chief Range Officer (Level 2) and Range Master (Level 3). I am going to focus on the two levels that have in-person seminars, the RO and CRO certifications. Both seminars are a day and a half (all day Saturday, half-day on Sunday).
The RO seminar is the entry certification level and covers the basics of how to be a RO: range commands, scoring and penalties. To be eligible to take the class, you need to be a current USPSA member and be classified in either USPSA or SCSA. The reason for this requirement is to ensure that the students have an idea of how matches work before coming to class. If a prospective student is not quite classified, but can prove match participation, the instructor for the course may allow the student to take the class. The minimum age to take the course for certification is 13 years old, and students between 13-18 years old must also have references from two non-family, currently certified officials. The requirements to pass the class are completing the online, pre-course work, attending the seminar, passing the range exercise, and completing an online, 50 question, open rulebook exam.
The CRO seminar is the next level of certification and focuses on stage management and stage design. This course also has required online, pre-course work which includes submitting a stage design that could be selected to build during the range exercise. Students must be 18 years or older and have been a RO for at least one year. We also suggest having some major match work experience because the stage management portion will make more sense. If you want to take the CRO class, but are a little short of the 1 year as a RO, and you have worked major matches and noted that on your NROI Work Record, the instructor may allow you to attend the CRO seminar early. This class requires completion of the pre-course work and participation in the seminar and range exercise to pass the class.
To find the list of currently scheduled seminars, go to Member Resources –> Find NROI Seminars under the NROI Information section. To register, browse the list to find a course near you, open the link and register online. Once you are registered, you will get a link to the NROI Learning System and the pre-class materials. You also will be added to the class roster and will receive further information from the instructor and the class host as the seminar gets closer.
We hope to see you in a course in the future!