AHA BLS Instructor

The BLS Instructor Course is designed to prepare American Heart Association (AHA) instructors to disseminate the science, skills, and philosophy of resuscitation to participants enrolled in AHA courses. Upon successful completion of this course, Instructors will be able to teach all AHA Basic Life Support courses, including BLS CPR, Heartsaver CPR/AED, Family & Friends CPR, CPR in Schools, First Aid, & Pediatric First Aid.

The class will start promptly at 9:00 am. Doors will be locked at 9:05 am. If you arrive after 9:05 am, you will be denied entry into the class.  Please plan to arrive 5-10 minutes early.

Please read and familiarize yourself with our attendance and cancellation policies below.

Becoming an AHA BLS Instructor

As an AHA BLS Instructor, you will be certified to teach all of the following courses:

  • BLS for Providers
    • Instructor-Led Training
    • HeartCode BLS
  • Heartsaver First Aid/CPR/AED
    • Instructor-Led Training
    • Blended Learning

The AHA has defined these 5 core competencies for all instructor candidates:

  1. Skills: Instructors need to demonstrate mastery of all course skills. This includes both cognitive skills and psychomotor skills.
  2. Course delivery: Instructors must teach AHA materials correctly, as outlined in the appropriate Instructor Manual and Lesson Plans.
  3. Testing: Instructors must be able to test students effectively.
  4. Professionalism: Instructors must maintain high standards of ethics and professionalism when teaching AHA courses.
  5. Program Administration: Instructors need to manage time, space, materials, and paperwork in compliance with AHA guidelines.

Please complete the following steps for the AHA BLS Instructor Course:

Step 1 – Complete and submit the required items below to the email provided. This must be completed at least 5 business days before the class date.

  • Please email all items to: info@respondright.com.
  • Copy of your current AHA BLS Provider CPR card  (If you don’t have this, take your course here)
  • Copy of the AHA BLS Instructor Essentials Online certificate of completion
    • Purchase and complete the BLS Instructor Essentials course here:  AHA BLS Instructor Essentials 2025
    • Download the Instructor Essentials Instructor Candidate Workbook.  This workbook will help you complete the BLS Instructor Essentials course.  You will also be required to bring this workbook with you on the day of the instructor course.  Save it to your computer or print it.
    • If you have questions about the BLS Instructors Essentials course, please contact the AHA directly.  Respond Right EMS Academy does not run or operate this course.
  • Copy of the Completed Instructor Candidate Application
    • Download and complete this form. Please follow the directions on the form to complete it. Instructor Candidate Application
    • Section 1.
      • Application for Instructor Status – This section will be completed by you, the Instructor Candidate.
        • Discipline:  Please make sure to check the box marked “BLS” when completing this section.
        • Renewal Date of provider card:  Enter the expiration date of your AHA BLS provider card
        • Candidate Name and address:  Provide your personal information, not your company information
    • Section 2.
      • Instructor Commitment  -This will be completed by you, the Instructor Candidate.  You must agree to all 5 boxes, sign, and date.
    • Section 3.
      • Verification of Instructor Potential  – This section mustbe completed by either a Training Center Faculty (TCF) Member,  Training Center Coordinator (TCC), or the Instructor who taught your AHA BLS Provider course.
        • To be approved to take the AHA Instructor Course, you must meet one of the criteria listed on the form.
        • The Training Center Faculty who completed the form must sign the form and date it.
        • You may provide this form at the Training Center where you took your last AHA BLS course.  If the instructor feels that you meet the above criteria, they will recommend you to their TCF or TCC for approval.
        • If you are not able to get this section of the form completed and want to attend an Instructor Screening, please pay for your screening here:  Instructor Screening
          • Email info@respondright.com with several dates you are available to attend the screening.  An Instructor Screening will give you the opportunity to schedule a session with our Training Center Faculty to demonstrate your skills and knowledge.  There is a fee associated with this, and you will be required to demonstrate your knowledge.  There will be no teaching during this screening.
  • Instructor Candidates must be at least 18 years of age

These prerequisites MUST be completed and emailed to info@respondright.com at least 5 business days before the scheduled class date.

Step 2 – Purchase your Instructor Manuals for Class

As a BLS Instructor, you will be required to purchase and bring with you to the Instructor class, both the BLS and Heartsaver First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor Manuals.  Be advised – these manuals are used to teach the classes.  These manuals include the lesson plans, equipment lists, etc., to assist you in teaching the courses.  Additionally, you will be required to purchase all necessary equipment and streaming access or a USB to teach the BLS and Heartsaver courses.

For your convenience, we have created Instructor Packages that you can purchase directly through us. These packages will include the required instructional materials for the course. Review each package and purchase the one that best meets your needs. You can purchase the material yourself from another vendor, as long as it meets the requirements below.

Purchase Instructor Materials on Your Own at Any Vendor:

  • Every Instructor MUST purchase/own:
    • 2025 AHA BLS Instructor Manual:  SKU#: 25-3103 for eBook – you can purchase the eBook or the paper book version
    • 2025 AHA Heartsaver® First Aid CPR AED Instructor Manual: SKU#: 25-3114 for eBook – you can purchase the eBook or the paper book version.
    • BLS Instructor Package: Digital & Streaming Videos:  SKU#: 25-1137 for digital access.  You may purchase the streaming access or the USB access.
  • Instructors who want to teach Heartsaver First Aid, CPR, and AED must also purchase streaming access or the USB:
    • You need to purchase/own everything listed above, plus the 2025 AHA Heartsaver® First Aid CPR AED DVD Set SKU#: 25-1123
  • Instructors who want to teach Pediatric  Heartsaver First Aid, CPR, and AED must also purchase the DVD set:
    • You need to purchase/own everything listed above, plus the 2025 AHA Heartsaver® Pediatric First Aid CPR AED DVD Set SKU: 25-1121

Step 3 – Attend the 8-Hour BLS Instructor Course at Respond Right EMS Academy

During the instructor course, we will cover topics such as the AHA Program Administration (PAM), registering on and using the AHA Instructor Network, planning and teaching an effective course, acquiring and using equipment and supplies for your course, classroom setup, course administration, and completing paperwork for your course and completion cards for your students.  You will want to bring a laptop or tablet with you to class.  Make sure you have your Candidate Workbook saved to your laptop/tablet and that you have access to your instructor manuals on the day of class.  We have free Wi-Fi that you can access during the instructor course.  If you purchased the eBook versions of your instructor manuals, you can use our Wi-Fi to access the internet.  If you purchased the paper versions of the manuals, you must bring those with you.  Failure to have your instructor manuals during class will result in removal from class.

Step 4 – Attend Instructor Monitoring at Respond Right EMS Academy

Instructor candidates must be monitored within 6 months of completing their instructor course.  Candidates who fail to meet this requirement will not be able to complete their instructor course.  As part of the instructor course cost, instructor candidates can attend one of Respond Right EMS Academy’s courses for monitoring.  Instructor candidates will be provided with a schedule of classes to choose from.

Please note that if the Instructor candidate does not complete monitoring within 6 months of the Instructor Course, they would be required to complete all the steps from the beginning.

Course Fee $285 (books not included)

Course fees include:

  1. The 8-hour, in-person portion of the BLS Instructor course at Respond Right EMS Academy.
  2. Instructor Monitoring.  Monitoring must be completed within 6 months of attending the in-person portion of the BLS Instructor Course at Respond Right EMS Academy.

*Course Fees do NOT include: Training Center Alignment at Respond Right Training Center.

Instructors must be affiliated with an AHA Training Center.  Respond Right Training Center is currently accepting new instructors upon successful completion of all Instructor Course requirements.  Instructors may choose to align with any AHA Training Center that is accepting new Instructors. Additional Training Center alignment fees will apply.

Instructors must purchase all required materials for teaching BLS and Heartsaver classes, such as course videos, manikins, one-way valves, face masks, BVMs, and feedback devices.  These supplies are not included in the cost of the instructor course.

All AHA BLS Instructor Course times are from 9:00 am – 5:30 pm.

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for the BLS Instructor Course
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Limited Seats

AHA TC

Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)

Respond Right EMS Academy will make every effort to provide reasonable accommodations for physically challenged attendees who require special services. A written description of needs must be submitted when registering for the course.

Cancellation/Transfer Policy

  • More than 3 business days before your course, if you must cancel more than 3 business days before your course you will be refunded the amount you paid minus the 5% refund fee.
  • More than 3 business days before your course, if you must reschedule, you can request a transfer to another class.  A $25 transfer fee will be assessed.
  • 0 – 3 business days of your scheduled course: if you cancel for any reason within 3 business days of your course you will forfeit the course cost and be required to re-register. No refunds will be issued.

Respond Right EMS Academy reserves the right to cancel any course if enrollment does not meet minimum registration requirements.

The American Heart Association strongly promotes knowledge and proficiency in all AHA courses and has developed instructional materials for this purpose. The use of these materials in an educational course does not represent course sponsorship by the AHA. Any fees charged for such a course, except for a portion of fees needed for AHA course materials, do not represent income to the AHA.

If these dates do not meet your needs, or you need to arrange a special class date please contact us. We are able to schedule a personalized class for a group of 6 or more of your group.