Main menu:
The path to becoming a Range Officer within IPSA
To be a RO is not just driving the timer, but a lot more is involved in that.
1 Competency. The RO examination is intended to establish whether the candidate is competent to assume the responsibilities of an RO, an expert in a specialized field in a practical and many faceted sport and one which is continuously developing.
2 Attitude. Past experience has shown that even though a candidate may have extensive knowledge gained from many months or even years on a range, this is not sufficient. He must think as an RO, as opposed to a competitor. This capability cannot be taught, it comes from experience. Some individuals simply never acquire it.
3 Experience. At the same time it is necessary that the RO have general background experience and knowledge that by its very nature cannot be included in a manual like this.
4 The trainee RO who sits the examination must accept that the only way the examiners can establish whether the candidate possesses this background knowledge is to include a few questions of a general nature which are not taken from the contents of this manual or the rules.
5 It is essential that the candidate masters the contents of this manual and does not merely browse through it. Most of the answers to the questions will come from the latest edition of the IPSC rules. Some of the questions will be phrased in such a manner that the answers are somewhat disguised. This will not be a problem for the candidate who has really done his homework, but may be one for the candidate who did not prepare properly.
6 This is not done without reason. It must be accepted that to a greater or lesser extent the whole sport revolves around the RO and this naturally entails responsibility. Just as the shooter who does not put in real effort to practice remains mediocre, so the RO who is not prepared to put in time and effort will be a mediocre one, and he would be doing himself and the sport a favour were he rather to stay out of "range-officering".
7 Just like any other sport, practical shooting needs its officials and the people who are prepared to "graft" - they are the foundation on which the whole sport rests.
8 So in the first place the RO's' "learnership" and examination becomes, as an incidental, a sifting ground. The shooter who is not prepared to put in some solid work to qualify as a RO is also the one who, having qualified, would be a passenger in the ranks of the ROs. We really do not want or need passengers.
9 Pass Mark. Overriding all other considerations is the fact that it is a potentially dangerous sport and, disregarding moral and legal considerations, slackness in safety can do us great harm. It will, therefore, be appreciated that if a pass mark of 80% is called for in both the practical and theoretical examinations, high as it may seem, this is done for good reason.
You will notice that this whole seminar is geared at training a Range Officer and not for (IROA). In the beginning of the seminar the seminar the Range Officers "career path"is explained to the students, which is the following:
INROA (Irish National Ranger Officer Association) ACCREDITATION, STATUS PROGRESSION AND MAINTENANCE POLICY
Trainee Range/Stats Officer
*Requirements
1. Must be a member of IPSA.
2. Must have competed at Level 2 for 2 years.
3. Must be recommended by the club and approved by the National Instructors.
Range Officer
Qualification Requirements
1. Must be a member of IPSA.
2. Must have accumulated 16 level II or higher supervised match points.
3. Must pass a written theoretical exam. (Rules, application and interpretation).
4. Must undergo a practical exam at a level II match, under supervision of a current CRO.
5. Accreditation must be endorsed by the INROA.
Minimum annual Maintenance Requirements
1. Must remain a IPSA member.
2. Must accumulate a minimum of 4 match points per year.
3. An RO certificate is valid for a period of three years. If an RO is not active for two consecutive years, his/her name will be marked as inactive in the RO database and will not be issued with a new RO certificate on expiry of the date on the certificate.
Stats Officer
Qualification Requirements
1. Must be a member of IPSA.
2. Must have accumulated 16 level II or higher supervised match points.
3. Must pass a written theoretical exam. (Rules, application and interpretation).
4. Must undergo a practical exam at a level II match, under supervision of a current CRO and Stats Officer.
5. Must be recommended to the association by a exec member.
6. Accreditation must be endorsed by the association.
Minimum Annual Maintenance Requirements
1. Must be an IPSA member.
2. Must accumulate a minimum of 4 match points per year.
3. An SO certificate is valid for a period of three years. If an SO is not active for two consecutive years, his/her name will be marked as inactive in the RO database and will not be issued with a new SO certificate on expiry of the date on the certificate.
Chief Range Officer
Qualification Requirements
1. Must be an IPSA member.
2. Must be a certified current RO.
3. Must have a minimum of 15 accumulated level III or higher match points.
4. Must have successfully completed a level I IROA seminar.
5. Must be recommended by the chairman.
6. Must have candidacy upheld by a poll of all the board members.
7. Must have the approval of the IPSA Executive.
Minimum Annual Maintenance Requirements
1. Must be an IPSA member.
2. Must accumulate 9 match points per year, of which at least one must be a level III or higher match.
3. A CRO certificate is valid for a period of three years. If a CRO is not active for two consecutive years, his/her name will be marked as inactive in the RO database and will not be issued with a new CRO certificate on expiry of the date on the certificate.
Range Master
Qualification Requirements
1. Must be a IPSA member.
2. Must be a certified current CRO.
3. Must have accumulated a minimum of 35 level III and higher match points with at least one level IV or V match.
4. Must have worked as a Match Director or Range Master at a level III or higher match.
5. Must have the unanimous approval of the IPSA Executive.
Minimum Annual Maintenance Requirements
1. Must be a IPSA member.
2. Must accumulate 9 match points per year, of which at least one must be a level III or higher match.
3. An RM certificate is valid for a period of three years. If an RM is not active for two consecutive years, his/her name will be marked as inactive in the RO database and will not be issued with a new RM certificate on expiry of the date on the certificate.
Any official not attaining their required maintenance match points for the calendar year may re-certify for the next year, at their level, by attaining 4 supervised match points.
As you can see IROA is not mentioned in these requirements. If a RO wants to become an IROA RO there is another set of criteria that has to be fulfilled before he can apply to IROA for accreditation.
To obtain further information please email
Please click here to book a place on the next available RO training course.