NRA Range Safety Office class - online

[dogflight]

Has anyone taken the RSO class online? Thoughts? It would sure be a lot easier to do it at my desk as opposed to driving 100 miles and taking a day or two, but I do wonder about not having the range portion as well as the human interaction with the instructor.

[wally775]

I am making a few assumptions.

You are already an NRA instructor. As you probably know is a requirement.

You have a good background and are familiar with firearms and general
safety issues with multi student, not necessarily firearm, instruction.

You are planning on becoming a CRSO.

YOU are comfortable with this type of instruction and control.

I would say go for the online RSO course.

If you think the human interaction is in your best interest then take an
RSO course. You will always benefit from interaction with good Instructors and people.
If you just want to be an RSO then the interaction is worth more than the time.

I did mine through the mail for the same reasons you are giving and
it seemed to work out just fine.

Of course JMHO.

Good Luck.
Good and Safe Shooting.

[dogflight]

I am making a few assumptions.

Your assumptions are spot-on, but for one: the CRSO part. I hadn't thought about that. Thanks for the feedback, wally775.

[Keith B]

As a note, you do not have to be an instructor to be a CRSO.

[n5wd]

And, unless I got short-changed on my course, there is no range time - it's not a shooting course.

[wally775]

You do not have to be an Instructor to be a CRSO.

You do have to be an instructor to take the RSO course
through the mail or as can be completed now online.

You can take the RSO course from a CRSO. Which in a sense makes
the CRSO an Instructor.

You have to take the CRSO from a NRA Trainer.

You must have completed the RSO course before you can become a CRSO.

JMU

[dogflight]

I think I'll go ahead and do it online. What the heck. Thanks for the feedback, guys.

[RossA]

I'm not trying to be a smart here, but someone please help me with the benefits of becoming a RSO or CRSO?

[dogflight]

To me, the RSO class is simply "continuing education" toward making my operation as safe as possible. I should add that I have not yet taken the class, so I can't say whether or not it is useful in that regard.

I think the benefit of being a CRSO is the ability to train new RSOs, if that's something one wishes to do. There may be more to it than that.

[n5wd]

I'm not trying to be a smart here, but someone please help me with the benefits of becoming a RSO or CRSO?

Some ranges /clubs require an RSO (or RSO's, depending on the number of shooters) to be present and watching the firing line and range when activity is going on. Some ranges /clubs hire people to do that, so if you're looking for a part time job, or a way to make points in a club, then being a certified RSO may help in that endeavor.

If you're an instructor, the RSO course teaches you some things that would come in handy if you're conducting the firing portion of a CHL class, if you've never experienced such before.