SHOT University

SHOT University is an online continuing-education resource for firearm industry professionals. Created by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the coursework includes dozens of elearning modules covering everything from OSHA and ATF compliance to training program creation, social media best practices, and retail store management, all specific to the specialized needs of firearm-related businesses.

Currently listing over 44 courses (and growing), each one contains a series of modules discussing the subject in depth. These are broken down into Retail and Range courses with a series of subcategories. Some examples. The 2023 Firearm Industry Compliance Education Series covers legal concerns conducted as a monthly, live webinar series, with a focus on topics such as ATF inspections, store/shop security, OSHA lead and noise compliance, and firearm sales.

Completing the New Form 4473 covers transfers to inspections to trace and the new (as of 2023) Form 4473. This provides a step-bystep big-picture overview presented by retired ATF deputy Director Wally Nelson and retired ATF Inspector Jean Zabel. Sales Training Series for the Firearm Industry Retailer covers retail, customer satisfaction, growth, and return rate.

Insurance for the Shooting Sports Industry reviews the types of insurance, including workers’ compensation, property, and management liability related to the shooting sports industry. For businesses that also include a range, the Range Training Equipment and Program Design Course covers range training equipment essentials and their effect on short and long-term sales, Building a Range Training Program explains how to create classroom training to benefit long-term and engaged customers.

NSSF Research Reports provide a synopsis of industry trends and how they impact your business. These include an Industry Reference Guide, Financial Benchmarking Report comparing operation financials around the industry, and Customized Market Research reports that address your specific region, customer demographics, and buying habits. These courses are free to NSSF members.

The Firearm Retailer/ Range Membership helps with essential issues such as marketing, compliance, security, safety, and many more topics unique to our industry. This membership is designed for firearms retailers, gunsmiths, indoor and outdoor shooting ranges (with or without a retail component), and not-for-profit shooting ranges and can be had for $100 per year. Visit PathLMS.com/NSSF and NSSF.org/membership/ nssfs-shot-university-online for details.