I have taught many provider classes where students have expressed interest in taking their skill to the next level to become an instructor. A few have an interest because their workplace needs a competent person to help deliver quality classes to their employees. However, more than not, there are people who see the need for skilled individuals and want to make a difference in their community.
So what do you need to do? To become an American Heart Association (AHA) Instructor you need to be at least 16 years of age and have a provider card in the discipline you are seeking to become an instructor. A Heartsaver Instructor can teach CPR+AED and First Aid classes, and a BLS Instructor can teach both the Heartsaver class and the BLS class. Both Heartsaver and BLS instructors have the option of teaching Bloodborne Pathogens and Friends and Family classes as well.
The next step is to enroll in a one day Instructor class that will take you through the Program Administration Manual (ethics, rules, and management system), Instructor Essential workbook, the Instructor Manual and teaching tips and tricks that will help you when teaching your class. You will then align with an AHA Training Center so you can have access to distribute certification cards.
The one quality that all good instructors share is passion to help others learn a life saving skill. Connecting with students to prepare them for an emergency situation could mean the difference in someone taking or not taking action to help. A good instructor takes time to build confidence in the student, answer student’s questions, and refines their hands on skills.
If you share this desire to help others become ready to act, then becoming a CPR instructor is for you. SIGN UP today!
