The following video is a promotional and demonstration video of a small arms instructor. The NRA and the state of South Carolina recognizes this instructor with certifying paperwork, which is more official documentation than some military and police small arms instructors may have.
Some maintain that only taking formal instruction is valid training while competition should be avoided as it is not training (ignoring how dictionaries actually define the word training) and that it leads to bad habits/ training scars. So you should only take a class from a certified instructor to avoid bad habits.
Firearm User Network 
Shan
Feb 19, 2016 @ 09:37:22
As someone who has gone through five different NRA instructor courses (to be an instructor for Pistol, Rifle, PPitH, PPotH, and RSO), I can honestly say she’s not the worst person I’ve seen graduate with a “certified instructor” certificate.
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John M. Buol Jr.
Feb 19, 2016 @ 09:56:18
Wonderful. The fault there lies with the organization providing the certifications, not the students. I’m confident everyone in attendance at those classes wanted to be at least good enough instruct others. The problem is a certifying organization that hands out certifications to everyone in attendance with a valid credit card.
This could be fixed easily. The NRA recognizes various types of firearm skill via their already-established competitive shooting program. How about make it a prerequisite to have a current Sharpshooter classification in a relevant NRA discipline (Action Pistol or PPC for basic pistol instructor applicants, High Power or Sporting Rifle for rifle, etc.) for an entry/first level instructor certification. Those folks wanting to certify other instructors have a prerequisite of Expert or higher. Even better, provide proof that you coached another shooter into Sharpshooter or better. An instructor or coach should really be judged by how well their trainees perform.
Sharpshooter is the lowest skill classification that must be earned and can be done at any NRA Registered or Approved tournament in the country. Expert is one level higher. This is not difficult to accomplish, but requires finding a hosting club, actually attending a few events, and demonstrating a basic level of skill before being allowed into an instructor course. Instructor courses need to focus on instructor development (how to teach others) and not shooting development because those skills should already be there and proven before. This will also boost match attendance and filter out people that would be better served by first learning the skills they intend to teach.
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