In order to become an AHA Instructor, there are several steps that you will need to take. First of all, you will need a current certification in the discipline you plan to teach, such as AHA Heartsaver or AHA BLS Provider.
Next, you'll need to complete the online instructor essentials course, which can be done at your own pace and must be completed before the instructor course.
You also need an instructor manual and a student provider manual. The instructor essentials course, instructor manual, and the student manual are all included in both our AHA BLS and AHA Heartsaver instructor courses. We will ship these items and all the necessary equipment for the instructor course to you.
If you're going to be taking an AHA instructor course, we would recommend that you choose to become an AHA BLS Instructor to give you the most class-type options that you will be able to teach.
The American Heart Association offers two distinct paths to certification as a BLS Instructor or Heartsaver Instructor. You may opt to become an AHA BLS instructor, allowing you to teach both BLS and Heartsaver classes. As a BLS instructor, you can teach BLS and all Heartsaver course choices, including First Aid, CPR, AED, and bloodborne pathogens. If you become an AHA Heartsaver teacher, you'll be able to teach various courses, including First Aid, CPR, AED, and bloodborne pathogens.
Note: You do not need to have a healthcare background in order to teach AHA BLS or AHA Heartsaver courses.
Register for the AHA BLS Instructor Course
Register for the AHA Heartsaver Instructor Course
Whichever type of instructor you choose to become, you will have the ability to teach at your place of employment or outside of work, teaching individual classes such as starting your own business. You will also have the ability to issue certification cards directly to students and post your classes on the American Heart Association website. As an AHA Instructor, you also can teach classes anywhere in the United States.
To become an AHA Instructor, you must align with a training center. You will be aligned with our training center as part of the instructor course. I provide ongoing support by assisting you in getting started quickly, answering all of your questions prior to and following your instructor's class, and assisting you in becoming comfortable teaching the material. I am available via phone, text, or email and will promptly respond to your inquiries. We enjoy helping new instructors and can offer as much or as little assistance as requested.
Among the other benefits of joining our training center are that you will receive competitively priced eCards, a quick turnaround on all ecard orders, the ability to teach in any of the 50 United States, and the ability to post your community classes on the AHA class connector. We do not charge for instructor recording, instructor renewal, or instructor transfer. Through your instructor portal, you will be able to submit course records and order ecards at your convenience.
As part of the instructor course, monitoring will take place in a mock class during the afternoon of the instructor course. You will teach a small section of the BLS or Heartsaver class. This will count as your initial monitoring.
AHA instructors must teach four classes within two years. For BLS instructors, you can teach a combination of BLS and Heartsaver classes. For Heartsaver instructors, you can teach any combination of the Heartsaver classes.
The qualifications will include completing the online portion of the training, submitting a candidate application, and possessing a current American Heart Association certification in BLS or Heartsaver. Before class, you should read over the instructor's manual and become familiar with the topics. We have a complete class scheduled from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with breaks throughout the day and time for lunch. Following the course, specific documentation will need to be completed and submitted. Your instructor card should come in two to five days after the final documentation is completed, at which point you can begin instructing AHA classes. We try to make the process as easy as possible and have never had a student that didn't pass either the BLS Instructor or Heartsaver Instructor course.
Yes, you can use your own equipment for the instructor's class. Here is what you will need for the class:
BLS Instructor Course
Heartsaver Instructor Course
If you do not have your own equipment, you can add it to your class, and we will ship it to you. When registering, you will see an option to have class supplies sent to you to borrow for your class.
I'm always available to speak with you about becoming an instructor and answering any of your questions. Please feel free to contact me at 800-808-9240, then press 0. If I'm in a class and you get my voicemail, please leave me a message, and I'll return your call as soon as I can. I always return calls the same day. Thanks, Tracy
American Red Cross Classes
American Red Cross (ARC) - Adult CPR / AED
American Red Cross (ARC) - Adult and Pediatric CPR / AED
American Red Cross (ARC) - Adult and Pediatric First Aid / CPR / AED
American Red Cross (ARC) - Adult First Aid / CPR / AED
American Red Cross (ARC) - Basic Life Support (BLS)
American Red Cross (ARC) - Bloodborne Pathogens
American Red Cross - First Aid Only
American Heart Association Classes
American Heart Association (AHA) - BLS Provider
American Heart Association (AHA) - BLS Provider Skills Check Only
American Heart Association (AHA) - Heartsaver First Aid / CPR / AED
American Heart Association (AHA) - Heartsaver CPR / AED
American Heart Association (AHA) - Heartsaver Skills Check Only
American Heart Association (AHA) - Heartsaver First Aid
American Heart Association (AHA) - Heartsaver First Aid Skills Check Only
