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Where Can I Get a CPR & First Aid Instructor's License?

First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, can prevent injury and death during disasters and everyday medical emergencies. Teaching these techniques multiplies their success, thus increasing the likelihood that a life can be saved.

  1. Answer

    • The American Red Cross certifies instructors to help train lifesaving skills to nearly 12 million people, or about 1 in 23 Americans, every year. Instruction can be found at any of several types of locations, such as Red Cross facilities, hospitals, fire stations and training companies.

    Requirements

    • Aside from a solid background in the subject matter, a potential instructor needs to be able to communicate clearly and listen carefully, have a positive attitude, be patient and flexible and be able to manage a group of people.

    Prerequisite

    • Before he can take any of the specialty training courses, an instructor needs to take a 4-hour Fundamentals of Instructor Training (FIT) prerequisite, which is valid for 12 months or as long as the instructor rating is maintained.

    Recommendations

    • The Red Cross recommends people take courses as a student before learning to teach them. This lets the student empathize with her charges because she sees training from their point of view.

    Example

    • For example, before taking "First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor," one can take the "Adult, Child, Infant CPR and First Aid" course.

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