This is an article that didn’t get published so I’m publishing it here as I believe that what’s stated is important for students and instructors alike.
Introduction
When you think of a ‘certificate mill’, what comes to mind? A printing press with certificates being pushed out? A shadowy individual sitting at a desk printing certificates to pass out for a price? My goal is to use this time to shed light on this questionable practice.
Allow me to be clear: my purpose here isn’t to bash instructors that are conducting their business in this sort of unethical manner. While I could easily mention their names here, I’m simply not going to. What good would that accomplish? Would it change anything? Maybe? Maybe not? The purpose, instead, is to educate both instructors and students to make the right decisions as we begin this new year.
Before we dive into this subject, we must first define what a ‘certificate mill’ is.
What Is a ‘Certificate Mill’?
Imagine a well-known puppy mill of the dog breeding world. The basic operation is geared towards mass production of “in demand” breeds by over breeding, which results in harm to genetics, dog health and the quality of bloodline. A ‘certificate mill’ operates in a similar fashion! See, the instructor is like the puppy mill and the student is like the over-bred dog. The knowledge and training – the results from over breeding in this example – may not be presented correctly, corners may be cut in order to get students through (ex: instructor loads the magazines instead of the student, minimum accuracy standard is non-existent, and so on), or even completely breaking the law such as providing a certificate even though the student did not attempt or complete the range portion of the concealed carry class in a state that has a live fire requirement such as Michigan.
For example, Michigan currently doesn’t require a minimum percentage to pass the range qualification of the concealed carry course so it’s up to each individual instructor to decide the course of fire. With that said, the student can miss 100% of their fired rounds and still “pass”. By doing so, the so-called “instructor” is guaranteeing a pass and a certificate in exchange for money as long as the student attends the class regardless of performance. This is what a ‘certificate mill’ is! This concept can be applied towards training courses in self-defense (ex: firearms and martial arts), First Aid/CPR/AED, and so on. Honestly, I would not be surprised if it has been applied to all of these types of courses as I’m aware of instances where concealed carry classes have been and currently are conducted in this manner. To provide some perspective, in my concealed carry course, I do require a minimum of 70% accuracy during the range qualification to pass, and the student is allotted three attempts and six months to complete their qualification. When it comes to my security training courses, it’s a minimum of 80% to pass during the range qualification.
I’ve said this both on and off record, regardless of state (ex: MCRGO) or national (ex: USCCA, NRA, and IALEFI) affiliation, I have zero respect for any “instructor” that conducts their courses in this manner. Not only is it a disservice to the students because they are not properly prepared or trained as responsibly armed Americans ought to be if something were to happen, but it’s also a disservice to the local community as the students are representative of the instructor’s teachings. This also harms the 2A community at large as these students may escalate a situation rather than try to de-escalate, violate the law when they thought they were justified or accidentally hit an innocent bystander because they weren’t taught proper sight alignment. This creates a poor picture for those on the fence of purchasing a firearm for protection, as well as, can be used by anti-gun groups and the media to further their agenda. There’s a saying that I had heard years ago that goes something like this, “students only make up 10% of the class, but the teacher makes up the other 90%”. This also falls in line with a quote by Pat Morita (aka Mr. Miyagi) in The Karate Kid: “There’s no such thing as bad student. Only bad teacher.”
With that said, what’s the solution to this issue?
The Solution
Like any business, money is important as I have to be able to invest in supplies, equipment, utilities, rent, and my certifications and credentials in order to give my students the best possible up-to-date training. Not to mention, I have a family that I need to support. I’m as much of a capitalist as anyone else (perhaps even more so at times) but I will not try to cut corners to make an easy buck as I also have a reputation to keep up, regardless of who may be taking one of my courses. I’m straight-forward, patient, have integrity, and I am passionate about what I do as this is more than just a livelihood. As an instructor, to summarize Ryan McGhan who is another instructor in my local area, my goal is to “educate those that need to be educated, to instruct those that need instructing and to ensure that every student feels safe with their firearm [along with being confident in their ability with the information that’s presented to them from any of my courses] before they leave.”
As far as a solution goes, I firmly believe that the associations need to implement stricter policies regardless of what the minimum requirements are for each state that would remove an instructor’s credentials if it’s proven to be that they’re conducting a certificate mill if it results from an internal investigation as well as implement stricter Training Counselor requirements. This would be preferred over having the state getting involved in these matters as the last thing that we need is for OSHA or a similar department involved (that’s my Libertarian side talking). Another possibility is to have a third-party instructor from the association that the instructor is certified with to conduct the range qualifications rather than the training business and its associates. There simply needs to be more accountability than there currently is. I also recommend that students do thorough research before deciding to sign up with an instructor in order to be sure that they’re getting the best training possible.
While these policies could be implemented, it still boils down to a moral position – are these ‘certificate mills’ willing to make a moral change for the betterment of the students?
Conclusion
I hope that you’ve learned something from this article and that it sheds more light on the issue. If you’re an instructor – whether you’re seasoned or new – if what was said applies to you or might apply to you, I urge you as a peer to consider making changes this new year as you begin 2024 and commit to actually BE an instructor with high standards and ethics rather than to treat your classes like a factory and students as objects on a conveyor belt. It’s our job as instructors to give our students the knowledge necessary to prepare for the worst-case scenario. There’s a quote from a Spiderman character that you may recognize: “With great power comes great responsibility.” That’s true regardless if you’re in politics, business or are a firearms instructor.
If you’re a student, whether you’re a new gun owner looking to take a basic class or someone that’s been around firearms their entire life, I encourage you to research the instructors thoroughly to figure out the best fit for your needs even if you may have to travel outside your immediate area. Furthermore, even though someone might have the title of “instructor” or possess the credentials, doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re a true instructor.
Whether you would like to discuss this topic more or inquire what I have to offer, feel free to reach out via email.
