It is the purpose and intent of the National Range Officer Institute to train and certify Range Officers, Chief Range Officers, Match Directors and Range Masters.  The NROI Instructor Corps consists of highly trained, experienced Range Master Instructors who provide instruction in all levels of certification, either in person or via correspondence courses.  In order to maintain levels of professionalism and proficiency, certain standards must be met.  This document outlines expectations for students, what the students should expect from us, and the requirements for certification and recertification at each level.  

What We Expect From You

• All students, regardless of any past or current NROI certification, are required to be registered in the class and included in the seminar fee structure. The seminar organizer, if holding a current NROI certification, will be allowed to attend the seminar at no charge and will not count toward the class minimum. Unpaid or unregistered class observers are not authorized, unless they accompany a minor who is registered for the seminar.
• The host club will provide punctual transportation to and from airports or other travel hubs, to and from classroom facilities and to and from range practice areas, as well as any other necessary travel needs for the instructor during a seminar visit to insure the seminar proceeds and concludes on time.
• The host club, organization, or individual must provide an accurate count of students to the NROI coordinator, and provide a shipping address for class materials at least two weeks in advance of the class.  If this is not done, the host is liable for expedited shipping charges.  
• The host must bring the materials to the instructor or to the classroom, unopened, prior to the beginning of the seminar.
• Students must participate in all class activities, such as open discussions, tests, scenario exercises, course design, and live fire practice.
• While classes are taught on a fairly informal basis, students must limit disruptions in class, such as loud talking, "war stories", and the like.
• Cell phones must be turned off during class hours. Students must limit telephone conversations to break times.
• Students should ask questions as needed, but stay on topic and avoid political, anecdotal remembrances or other inappropriate queries.  The instructors are there to provide training in the rules, not to second guess calls made at last week's match.
• Range practice (Level One) is an absolute requirement for certification; therefore, students must be present for the entire seminar.  The instructor may coach or provide guidance during the live fire exercise.  Accept any coaching graciously and in the spirit intended.
• Students must complete and return the final exam in a timely fashion.

What You Can Expect From Us

• The instructor will be punctual and arrive on time for the seminar, pending punctual transportation from the host club.  This includes providing an accurate itinerary to the host club, so that transportation needs can be taken care of in advance.
• The instructor is knowledgeable about his subject matter, and will answer questions correctly, or be able to research the answer in a timely fashion.
• The instructor will be professional in both appearance and demeanor, and will conduct himself in a professional manner at all times.
• The instructor will be efficient, keeping the seminar moving and on track.  Off-topic discussions will be limited to breaks and after-hours.
• The instructor will be clear and concise, and will detail the expectations and requirements for the seminar at the beginning.
• The instructor will be organized and have his teaching materials ready to go when class starts.
• The instructor will coach the students as required, when required, and be patient but firm.   

Certification Requirements, Level One (Range Officer)

• Level One certification is pass/fail, and consists of two parts:  the practical exam (or range practice) and the written, final exam.   
• Successful completion of the practical exam (range practice) is required in order to become certified.  The instructor will observe your performance on the range, and grade you based on several criteria, such as:

Some of these involve subjective judgments, but the instructor will be looking at the "big picture", and won’t expect you to be a professional RO on your first attempt.

Successful completion of the final, written exam is also required for certification.

• A score of 85 percent is required on the 50-question written final exam. The exam is open book, but students are expected to do their own work with no teamwork or assistance.  We are interested in teaching you where to find the rules when you need to, and how to work in the rulebook.  If you have questions about a particular rule, contact your instructor for guidance.
• Each question is valued at 2 points:  one point for the correct answer, one point for citing the correct rule(s).
• Should you fail on the first attempt, you may retake the final exam once.  The instructor will return a new exam to you, with the missed questions      highlighted.  Only the highlighted questions need to be answered.
• If an exam is failed twice, the student must take the course again.

Certification Requirements, Level Two (Chief Range Officer)

Level Two training can be obtained by attending a level two seminar or by enrolling in a level two correspondence course. Level two training deals with course design and the rules governing course design.  There is no on-range exercise.  You must have a minimum of a year's certification as a Range Officer before either taking the CRO seminar or beginning the CRO correspondence course. In addition, prospective students must have experience working matches prior to enrollment. The current requirement is two level II matches or one level III match.

• Class discussion and participation are critical.  There are several in-class "rules of course design" tests, course critiques, and arbitration exercises that are critical to understanding the fundamentals of a good course of fire.
• The final exam consists of your submission of two courses of fire:

Retaining Certification (Level I & II)

The recertification requirements for Chief Range Officer and Range Officer are the same. Once you've obtained CRO certification, you will be sent a postcard as well as receive notification on your classification page around one month prior to expiration reminding you to take the online recertification exam. You do not need to contact us for this exam; you will be automatically added to the system one month before you expire. Simply complete the exam online and we will take care of the rest. Just be sure to get it back to HQ and we'll get you recertified. If for some reason you do not have internet access you may request a paper copy of the test from HQ, but the burden is on you to request and return it each year. Failure to complete the exam in a timely manner brings the following consequences:

Range Officers: If you do not complete the exam and let your certification lapse for more than six months, then you must take the long version (50 questions) exam. If your certification has been expired for more than a year, you must take another seminar to regain certification. This is necessary to ensure that range officers stay up-to-date on rule changes.

Chief Range Officers: Should your certification expire for a period of more than six months it will be necessary for you to take a fifty-question refresher exam and submit another course of fire suitable for a level III match. If your CRO certification has been expired for more than a year, it will be necessary for you to take the CRO seminar again.

Certification Requirements, Range Master (RM)

Range Masters have extensive supplemental training in range operations, arbitrations, staff management, squadding, and the various fine points of the rules. The Range Master supervises the range officers at major matches.

• You must have a minimum of 2 years service as a certified CRO in order to start the RM program. There are no exceptions to this rule.
• Successfully complete correspondence course. RM students work one-on-one with an instructor.
• Final: Work as CRO, RM, or TD at National-level match.
• Pass an oral review by a panel of Range Masters at the same match.
• Maintain certification by working a level II or level III match as CRO or above each year.
• Log matches worked online.

 
Details about the RM program can be found at: www.nroi.org/rm.html. It's an intensive correspondence program, and can take as long as a year to complete. The training culminates with your service as a CRO at a National-level match and a review before a panel of your peers at the match.

Retaining Range Master Certification

• ANNUALLY work USPSA Matches as:

Should you fail to comply with the recertification requirements, your certification will automatically be changed to CRO. At such time as certification is changed, former Range Masters will be subject to Chief Range Officer recertification procedures.

If you wish to regain your RM certification you must, within the calendar year in which you lost RM certification, meet the following requirements:

Work USPSA Matches as:
CRO RM, or TD at Nationals
--OR--
TD or RM at a Level III match

Upon completion of one of those tasks your RM status will be reinstated. If you cannot complete the requirements, you will remain certified at the CRO level as long as you meet the requirements of that certification or until such time as you again successfully complete the RM training. If you do not satisfy the requirements to maintain CRO certification (annual exam), you will lose all certification completely and will no longer be a certified official with the NROI.


Certification Requirements, (Tournament Director)

A Tournament Director's focus is mainly on match administration. A TD is responsible for all of the details required to get a match off the ground including, but not limited to: budget, staffing, course review, match hotels, supplies, prizes, planning, setup, squadding, etc. The list is long and varied.

• Have at least two years service as a certified Chief Range Officer.
• Successfully complete correspondence course.  Students will work one-on-one with an instructor.
• Final: Successful production of level III match, with appropriate documentation.
• Oral review at Nationals by a panel of Range Masters.
• Maintain certification by working a level II or higher match as CRO or above each year. Log matches worked online at www.uspsa.org.

The TD program is available at: www.uspsa.org.  It's an intensive correspondence program and can take up to a year to complete. The training culminates with the candidate's successful production of a level III match.

Retaining Tournament Director Certification

• ANNUALLY work USPSA Matches as:

Should you fail to comply with the recertification requirements, your certification will automatically be changed to CRO. At such time as certification is changed, former Tournament Directors will be subject to Chief Range Officer recertification procedures. If you wish to regain your certification as a Tournament Director, you must, within the calendar year in which you lost certification, meet the following requirements:

Produce, on paper, an 18-stage Level III USPSA match, including courses of fire, written stage briefings, and squadding to the satisfaction of the Director of the NROI.

Upon completion of this task, your TD status will be reinstated. If you do not complete this task, you will remain certified as a CRO as long as you meet the requirements of that certification or until such time as you again successfully complete the TD training. If you don't satisfy the requirements to maintain CRO certification (annual exam), you will lose all certification completely and will no longer be a certified official with the NROI.