One of the key’s to NASP®’s success and popularity is the quality of our instructor and trainer certification process. In NASP®’s early years we simply used USA Archery’s Level 1 and 2 certification materials. However, by the middle of 2004 we realized our training was so specific to what classroom teachers needed in order to provide safe, effective student archery classes, we had to overhaul our training lessons and procedures.
So, we re-wrote the teacher training program, top to bottom. Every teacher in the program must attend and pass an 8-hour certification class called “Basic Archery Instructor” (BAI). We’ve certified about 70,000 teachers and others to date. Of course, someone has to train the teachers and that person must go through a 3-day certification process to become a “Trainer” (BAIT). There are just under 2,000 of these. Finally, about 120 people, mostly those who administer NASP® in the states, provinces, and countries, have been recommended to become “Specialists” to certify the trainers (BAIT S). Each year we certify about 7,000+ adults as instructors and trainers. Retaining certification once it has been achieved is simple. The certified person must continue to use the training and must file a very brief, annual, on-line report indicating that they have used their training.