The Firearms Training Academy

What The Firearms Training Academy does

The Firearms Training Academy, Inc. is a privately held, founder-owned firearms and personal-protection training school headquartered in Davie, Florida, led by Director Richard A. Smith. The company delivers in-person instruction across three integrated pillars: (1) student-level NRA courses covering pistols, rifles, shotguns, defensive shooting, reloading, and home firearm safety; (2) Florida-regulated security officer licensing (Class D unarmed and Class G armed) plus requalification and non-lethal weapons training (ASP baton, handcuffs, SABRE pepper spray) and AHA First Aid/CPR/AED/BLS; and (3) a full NRA Instructor Development pathway producing certified instructors across 10+ disciplines. A fourth ancillary line—private investigation, executive protection, background checks, surveillance, and expert witness services—is operated through sister company Security & Investigative Services, Inc. (Florida Agency A1200286 and B1200287). The core product is hands-on, classroom-and-range instruction delivered at the Davie academy with range time conducted at the partner NEXUS Shooting Facility, supplemented by on-site home security audits and executive protection in the field.

The business model is direct-to-consumer education and professional licensing: one-time course fees per student, with deposits of $40-$100 to hold seats, a minimum class size of 4 for firearms courses and 10 for seminars, and final in-class balance paid in cash. Customers span Florida security professionals seeking D/G licensure, civilians pursuing personal protection and concealed carry credentials, families seeking home-defense training (including the Eddie Eagle program), and aspiring firearms instructors pursuing NRA credentials. There is no disclosed enterprise contract base, no recurring SaaS revenue, and no external investment. Geographic reach is regional South Florida (Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Collier, and Monroe counties), with local SEO targeting Miami and Fort Lauderdale as the primary acquisition channel and NRA affiliation as a community credibility anchor. The operating model is fundamentally reliant on the credentials and personal reputation of a single principal, which is both the company's strongest asset and its most concentrated risk.

Name

The Firearms Training Academy

Legal name

The Firearms Training Academy, Inc.

Website

https://ftaguns.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Firearms Training Academy is a Davie, Florida-based firearms school founded by Richard A. Smith, offering NRA-certified pistol, rifle, shotgun, and defensive courses, full NRA Instructor Development certifications, and Florida Class D/G security officer licensing, alongside private investigation and executive protection services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Firearms Training Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Armed Security & Firearms Training & Qualification (BPAKAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Security Officer (Unarmed) Training & Certification (BPAKAOAA), Defensive Tactics, Use-of-Force & De-escalation Training (EDAOAMAM), Firearms, Range Safety & Less-Lethal Weapons Training (EDAOAMAN)

Keywords

• Firearms training services
• NRA certification courses
• Concealed carry training
• Security officer licensing
• Private investigation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Davie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Firearms Training Courses: One-time course fees for NRA-certified firearms instruction including Basic Pistol, Personal Protection In/Outside the Home, Rifle, Shotgun, Defensive Pistol, Range Safety Officer, and Home Firearm Safety courses. Revenue generated per student per class with deposits of $40-$100 required to hold seats.
2. NRA Instructor Certification Courses: Instructor-level courses that certify individuals to teach NRA courses. Multi-day courses requiring prerequisites and NRA certification fees. Higher price points than student courses due to extended duration and additional materials.
3. Florida Security License Training: State-mandated courses for Florida Class D (Security Officer) and Class G (Armed Security Officer) licenses including requalification courses. Professional licensing pathway for security industry employment.
4. Private Investigation Services: Licensed PI services including surveillance, background checks, missing persons, criminal/civil investigations, and executive protection. Billed per service or case basis through sister company Security & Investigative Services, Inc.
5. Non-Lethal Training: ASP Expandable Baton, ASP Tactical Handcuff, and SABRE OC/Pepper Spray certification courses. American Heart Association First Aid, CPR, AED, BLS certification courses. Complementary safety training services.
6. Home Security Audits: On-site residential security assessments providing safety evaluations, safe room design consultation, alarm system recommendations, and comprehensive home defense strategy development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Firearms Training Academy delivers in-person NRA-certified firearms instruction (basic pistol, rifle, shotgun, defensive pistol, personal protection, home firearm safety, range safety officer, reloading, and FIRST Steps courses), Florida state security officer licensing (Class D, Class G, and G requalification), non-lethal weapons training (ASP baton, handcuffs, SABRE OC spray), AHA first aid/CPR/AED certification, NRA instructor development courses, home security audits, and private investigation services. All training is conducted at the Davie, Florida facility with live-fire conducted at the partner NEXUS shooting range.

Product overview

The Firearms Training Academy is a premier Florida-based training company offering a broad portfolio of firearms education, security licensing, private investigation, and personal protection services. The offering is structured as a unified training platform organized around three pillars: (1) student-level NRA firearm courses covering pistols, rifles, shotguns, reloading, and defensive/concealed carry; (2) state-level Florida security licensing (Class D and G) and non-lethal training (ASP baton, handcuffs, SABRE pepper spray, AHA first aid/CPR); and (3) a full instructor development track leading to NRA certified instructor credentials in multiple disciplines. Complementing the core training business, the academy operates a private investigation division (Security & Investigative Services, Inc.) offering criminal/civil investigations, executive protection, background checks, missing persons, and surveillance. Home security audits and expert witness services round out the advisory offerings. The portfolio is delivered primarily through in-person classes at the academy's Davie, Florida location, with range training outsourced to the NEXUS shooting facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NRA Basic Pistol Course Foundational NRA firearms training covering safe gun handling, pistol parts and operation, ammunition, shooting fundamentals, and range rules, leading to NRA certification. Targeted at novice shooters and concealed carry permit applicants.
• NRA Personal Protection In The Home Course Defensive shooting skills, home safety strategies, and response to violent confrontation, including firearms and the law and handgun selection for self-defense. For homeowners seeking self-defense training.
• NRA Personal Protection Outside The Home Course Knowledge, skills, and attitude for avoiding dangerous confrontations and responsible concealed carry for self-defense outside the home. For individuals with concealed carry permits or intent to carry.
• NRA Home Firearm Safety Course Non-shooting course teaching safe handling and storage of firearms and ammunition in the home. For families and individuals new to firearms ownership.
• NRA Range Safety Officer Course Training on roles and responsibilities of a Range Safety Officer, standard operating procedures, range inspection, emergency procedures, and firearm stoppages. For individuals supervising shooting ranges.
• NRA Basic Rifle Course Classroom and range instruction on rifle shooting fundamentals, including safe handling, parts and operation, ammunition, and shooting positions. For new rifle owners.
• NRA Shotgun Shooting Course Basic knowledge, skills, and attitudes for safe and proper use of a shotgun in shooting moving targets. For new shotgun owners and home defense.
• NRA Defensive Pistol Course Techniques for developing a defensive mindset, concealed carry presentation, confrontation avoidance, and defensive shooting under stress. For intermediate to advanced permit holders.
• NRA FIRST Steps Course Line (Pistol / Rifle / Shotgun) Hands-on introductions to safe handling and proper orientation for a specific pistol, rifle action type, or shotgun model. Abbreviated alternatives to the corresponding NRA Basic courses. For new firearm owners.
• NRA Basic Metallic Cartridge Reloading Course Beginning reloading course covering safe reloading of metallic cartridges, components, equipment, and reloading process over 8 hours. For hobbyist reloaders.
• NRA Basic Shotgun Shell Reloading Course Beginning reloading course covering safe reloading of shotgun shells, components, equipment, and reloading process over 6 hours. For shotgun hobbyist reloaders.
• NRA Refuse to be a Victim Seminar NRA crime prevention seminar covering home security, carjacking avoidance, cyber safety, situational awareness, and personal safety devices. For the general public regardless of firearm ownership.
• Private Firearm Instruction One-on-one personalized firearms instruction tailored to individual skill level and training goals. Premium format requiring 50% non-refundable deposit.
• NRA Basic Instructor Training (BIT) Mandatory 6-hour prerequisite for all NRA certified instructor training covering teaching policies, procedures, and effective instruction methods. For aspiring NRA instructors.
• NRA Pistol Instructor Course Line (Basic Pistol Instructor) Instructor-level courses (10–16 hours depending on BIT inclusion) certifying graduates to teach NRA Basic Pistol, covering revolvers, semi-automatics, and range instruction. Includes First Steps Pistol coverage. For aspiring instructors.
• NRA Personal Protection In The Home Instructor Course 2-day instructor certification for teaching NRA Personal Protection in the Home, covering defensive shooting and home defense strategy. For aspiring instructors.
• NRA Personal Protection Outside The Home Instructor Course 2-day instructor certification for teaching concealed carry and self-defense outside the home, including multiple shooting positions and concealment techniques. For aspiring instructors.
• NRA Basic Rifle Instructor Course

Quantifiable outcome

• FBI statistics: 1 in 5 homes will be victimized by violent home invasion or burglary
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• NEXUS Shooting FacilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRange partnership for firearms training classes. The Firearms Training Academy moved the range portion of their firearms classes to NEXUS, located 3 miles from their main Davie facility. NEXUS is described as a new 'State of the Art' facility and 'just about the nicest and cleanest gun range in the country.' This partnership ensures comfortable student experience and world-class learning environment.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ASP (Armament Systems and Procedures): OEM and certifying body for expandable baton and tactical handcuff training delivered through a network of certified instructors. Directly comparable to FTA's non-lethal training leg (ASP baton and handcuff certification) and a potential channel partner or curriculum licensor rather than head-to-head competitor.
• American Heart Association (Training Network): National certifying organization for First Aid, CPR, AED, and BLS courses, of which FTA is a training site. Comparable as the credentialing backbone for FTA's safety certification leg rather than as a competitor, and illustrative of the certification-network model FTA uses across multiple product lines.
• SABRE (Security Equipment Corporation): Manufacturer of OC pepper spray and civilian safety awareness programs including the SABRE College Safety Program that FTA delivers. Analogous to FTA on the less-lethal and personal-safety instruction side and represents a curriculum/brand alliance relationship.

Direct peers

• SIG Sauer Academy: Manufacturer-affiliated firearms training facility delivering pistol, rifle, carbine, and defensive courses with multi-day curricula and instructor certification tracks. Comparable to FTA in the depth of its NRA-style curriculum and in serving both consumer and security/law-enforcement audiences.
• Thunder Ranch: Clint Smith-led firearms training operation offering defensive pistol, carbine, and tactical courses delivered to civilians, law enforcement, and security professionals. Comparable to FTA on multi-discipline curriculum, instructor-credentialing reputation, and senior founder-operator identity.
• Gunsite Academy: Long-established civilian firearms training academy offering multi-day pistol, rifle, shotgun, and defensive courses taught by NRA-certified and former-military instructors. Like FTA, Gunsite delivers in-person, curriculum-driven firearms training with instructor-certification pathways and is one of the most recognized names in the defensive firearms training category.
• Tactical Defense Institute: Multi-discipline firearms and defensive tactics training facility offering NRA courses plus defensive tactics, use-of-force, and less-lethal training. Closely comparable to FTA's bundled offering of NRA curriculum plus ASP baton, handcuffing, and security-officer licensing prep.
• Front Sight Firearms Training Institute: Nevada-based firearms training resort offering structured defensive firearm courses for civilians and professionals. Directly comparable as a multi-course, instructor-led training business with NRA-aligned content and a strong consumer-defense brand presence.

Regional players

• Florida Firearms Training: Florida-based firearms and concealed-carry training school offering basic, CCW, and instructor courses targeting the same South Florida consumer market. Highly comparable as a regional in-state NRA-style training competitor and as a benchmark for FTA's addressable market.
• Range Safety Officer / U.S. Firearms Academy: Regional firearms training school delivering NRA Basic, Personal Protection, and instructor-certification courses in a defined state footprint. Comparable business model to FTA — multi-course NRA catalog, instructor-cert pipeline, and consumer-facing firearms training.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheFirearmsTrainingAcademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-firearms-training-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Firearms Training Academy