In case you haven’t heard, starting this 2025-2026 winter season, the Redbook Safety Certification will no longer be accepted at CO Biathlon Club (CBC) and other USBA events and ranges. Whether you are a new or long-standing competitor, you will not be able to race at SMR or any USBA sanctioned events this year or future years using a .22 rifle without passing the U.S. Biathlon Basic Rifle Safety Course (BRSC). Requirements for training on the CBC range are also changing to comply with USBA standards. More details on that will be shared soon, but the BRSC will be one component so even if you do not plan to race this winter but intend to train on the range, you need to complete this certification.
The BRSC certification requires 2 steps: 1) Passing an online Basic Rifle Safety Course, BRSC (you will get an email confirmation once you pass the course), and 2) Passing an in-person Basic Rifle Safety Assessment, for which you must show your proof of online BRSC course completion. Once you have completed both 1) and 2), you will receive an email with a certificate good for 10 years allowing you to participate in races with a .22 rifle. USBA will track your certification as part of your membership.
1) Basic Rifle Safety Course (BRSC) [Online]
If you are 13 years old or older and have not done so previously, you should create a profile in your name at https://center.usbiathlon.org/memberships/156/login
You can access the U.S. Biathlon Basic Rifle Safety Course (BRSC) on the U.S. Biathlon Center site: https://center.usbiathlon.org, click on Education at the top of the page, then choose US Biathlon Courses.
PARENTS OF U13 (12 or under) PARTICIPANTS USING THEIR OWN .22 RIFLE: Parents will log into the Center, https://center.usbiathlon.org/memberships/156/login, create a profile in your name if you have not already done so, then add a dependent to your profile by going to My Account, Update My Profile, and Add Dependent. Then go to the Center Education site (https://center.usbiathlon.org) to access the Basic Rifle Safety U13 Course (ages 12 and under). Once you login, be sure to choose your child’s name from the dropdown menu or it will look like you are taking the course, not your child. While you can supervise and help your child, you should not take the course for them. Please note that these are manually graded (unlike the 13 and older version), so do not have your child wait until the last minute to do the course or it may not be graded in time to get the assessment done.
2) BRSC Assessment [In-Person]
Once you have the certification that shows you have completed the online BRSC, you are eligible to schedule an in-person BRSC Assessment. The assessment is an in-person knowledge and safety check covering the BRSC material, taking place with your rifle (no ammunition). These are the only guaranteed times for you to complete the certification process prior to the winter racing season. CBC may not have additional certification times before your first race. Do not put this off or you may not be able to race with a .22 rifle at your first event of the season. We know that some club members live several hours away from both certification locations and those members should contact Brent (prez@coloradobiathlon.org) to arrange their certification.
In-person assessments will be available at the following days/times for those with existing Redbooks:
Boulder Rifle Club – 4810 N. 26th St, Boulder CO 80301
Wednesday, September 10: 5:00pm-6:30pm
Wednesday, October 1: 5:00pm-6:30pm
Wednesday, October 15: 5:00pm-6:30pm
Snow Mountain Ranch
Sunday, September 7: 12-2pm
Friday, September 12: 4-6pm
Sunday, September 14: 3-5pm
Sunday, October 5: 9-11am
Saturday, October 25: 12-2pm
For new participants without an existing Redbook, CBC will be holding October and spring CBC Level 2 Certification
courses covering both BRSC and range safety for racing and training with a qualified Range Safety Officer.
You must sign up for a BRSC Assessment (no drop-ins). To do so, please provide the following to secretary@coloradobiathlon.org, Subject: “BRSC Assessment – Redbook Holders”:
a) Three preferred dates
b) Indicate if you are 13 years or older, a U13 competitor, or parent responding for a U13 competitor
c) Date you completed the online BRSCcourse (bring proof of completion to the assessment)
d) Redbook Number
e) Mobile number for changes, cancellations, questions
Thanks-tertia (on behalf of the CBC Board)
