Probationary Training Course

To become a full member of the NRA we require our Probationary Membership Course to be completed by: 

• Those who are new to shooting and are not a member of a Home Office Approved Club
• Have been out of the Armed forces for more than 5 years,

This course is officially open to any member of the target rifle shooting community, and focuses on knowledge and safety taught in both a theoretical and practical setting.

The Probationary course consists of the following sessions:

• Module 1
• Module 2
• Module 3
• Module 4
• NRA Shooting Club on 2 calendar dates
• Final Briefing Session

The course must be attended in the order stated above.  

After passing Module 4, students will be issued with a Probationary Shooter Certification Card (SCC), valid for 1 year from the date that they were approved for Probationary membership. With this Probationary SCC, students will be eligible to attend the following NRA Club shooting activities:

• NRA Shooting Club
• 1 – 1 Training
• Skills Courses (includes Gallery, CSR, Target Shotgun, Handgun and Precision Rifle only)
• Competitions
• Shooting with a full NRA-Member

Once you have completed the course, you will gain access to a Full NRA Membership.

Application for Probationary Membership consists of two simple steps:

Step 1: Apply to join as a Probationary Member – Click Here to download a form

Step 2: Book Probationary Training sessions – We will contact you once your application has been approved.

Watch the video below to get a glimpse into a day of Probationary Training at the NRA:

MODULE 1

• Overall safety and Intro to Target Shooting
• Firearms safe handling skills and Range Safety Regulations
• .22 (Semi Auto) and .38/.357 (Lever Action) shoot at 25 yards
• Zeroing at 25 yards

MODULE 2

• Principles of Marksmanship
• Minutes Of Angle
• Intro to sighting systems
• Full-bore shoot at 100 yards with scoped .308 rifles (Bolt action)
• Target marking/butts duties

MODULE 3

• Full-bore shooting at 300 and 600 yards with:
• .223 Scoped rifle (Straight pull)
• .308 Vernier sighted Target Rifle (Bolt action)
• .308 Scoped Rifle (Bolt action)
• Basic Wind Reading skills

MODULE 4

• Full-bore shooting at 1000 yards
• .308 Scope sighted F-TR Rifle (Bolt Action)
• Elevation and windage
• Scope adjustment

NRA SHOOTING CLUB

The NRA Shooting Club provides opportunities to meet other members, shoot in a group, share information and ease recently trained beginners into using the ranges.

• You are required to attend the NRA Shooting Club (SC) on 2 calendar dates. NRA SC is booked in half-day sessions (AM and PM). You only need to attend one session (half-day) for it to count as 1 attendance; you do not need to attend a full day (AM and PM).
• If you attend both the AM and PM session in the same day, this counts as 1 attendance and you will be required to book another date.

FINAL BRIEFING SESSION

This is a half-day event/ graduation to full NRA membership. Three main topics will be covered:

• Final briefing on NRA rules for individual members (focusing on duties of action as your own Range Officer/ solo shooting)
• Final supervised shooting test (in the form of a fun shooting competition)
• Where to next briefing

After attending the Final Briefing Session, students will be granted full NRA membership and will be posted their 4-year full-member NRA SCC.

Please contact NRA Training for Probationary Training enquiries.

Click here to download a Probationary Membership Application form

Please complete this and send to NRA Membership, only by post or in person.

Post:
National Rifle Association
National Shooting Centre
Brookwood
Surrey
GU24 0PB

Once your Probationary Membership form has been processed and your referee forms have been received and checked, you will receive an email from the Membership team informing you that your Probationary Membership has been approved. Shortly after this, the Training team will contact you via email with a link which takes you to our booking site where you can go ahead and book your modules 1 – 4.

Please note, your Shooting Club sessions and Final Briefing Session cannot be booked until you have successfully completed Module 4 and received your Probationary SCC. 

Please be aware, we cannot accept course bookings before your probationary membership application has been approved and a membership number has been issued.

Please contact membership / 01483 797 777 ext 138 for Membership enquiries.

Once your Probationary Membership application has been approved and you have been emailed with your membership number, you will be contacted by a member of the training team who will provide you with a link to book your Probationary sessions.

We would like all Probationers to complete their full Probationary training (being Modules 1 – 4, Shooting Club x 2 and the Final Briefing Session) within 1 year of their Probationary membership approval date.

You are advised to not leave long gaps between each session. If you leave a gap of several months or longer between sessions, you may be required to repeat a session or restart your training from the beginning.

Upcoming Availability:

Please visit our booking site here to view upcoming availability.

Please do not book onto a Probationary Module until you have received a Probationary Membership approval email and your membership number from the Membership team. Any bookings made before you receive this will be cancelled.

If you have any queries regarding Probationary Training, please contact NRA Training or call 01483 797 777 ext 149.

Membership Fees

The Probationary Membership fee for 2025 is £82, and for under 25s is £30.

This includes all checks and referencing along with full membership up until the end of the year from the point you have completed both your 3 month minimum probationary period and passed the full Probationary course.

Probationary training fees for 2025

Modules 1 – 4 cost £142 per module. The under 25 fee is £86 per module.

Shooting Club costs £44 per half day session, excluding firearms hire and ammunition which needs to be booked separately through the NRA Armoury.

Final Briefing Session costs £71. The under 25 fee is £43.

NRA Member Benefits

NRA Support, Advice & Discounts

• Liaison with police on Firearms queries and FAC applications, renewals and visitor permits
• Support for range application and safety certificates
• Reduced entry fees for NRA meetings
• Comprehensive insurance cover

Training, Development & Events

• Training courses including RSO/RCO and Club Coach
• Exclusive NRA member training fees
• Regional support to deliver club training
• Accreditation of club training courses
• Full calendar of competitions open to NRA members

Regional Support

• Access to and help from regional representatives throughout the UK
• Regional training officers to deliver courses throughout the UK

NRA Journal & Communications

• NRA Journal 4 times per year which includes shooting news, results and articles
• Monthly e-zine communication keeping you up to date with the latest news from the NRA

Bisley Benefits

• Hire targets at the world famous Bisley camp
• Hire of firearms by the day from the NRA, within provisions of the Firearms Act
• Shoot at ranges up to 1200 yards
• Eligible to register for the NRA Shooting Club

Probationary Training Manual: CLICK HERE