The American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED instructor course trains instructor candidates to teach the First Aid/CPR/AED courses.

The First Aid/CPR/AED instructor course r.21 is a blended learning offering with the following: 

1. Online Introduction to the First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor Course that includes additional instructor candidate resources, along with how to conduct skill and assessment sessions and critical eye videos.


2. In-person class (5 hours and 30 minutes). Classroom session begins with a Practice and polish skill session followed by sessions in which instructor candidates will have 2 practice teaching assignments. 

To be eligible to participate in the course a First Aid/CPR AED instructor candidate must: 

• Be at least 16 years of age on the last day of the instructor course. 
• Possess a current basic-level Adult CPR/AED certification or equivalent or higher (see equivalency information below). 

Upon successful course completion, candidates will receive an American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor certificate valid for 2 years.

Prior to the in-class session, all participants must complete an online Instructor course thru the Red Cross Learning Center.

You will receive a separate email from the Red Cross with information to complete the online portion of the class. Please read the email carefully and follow the link in the email to complete the online portion before the classroom session.

If you signed up for the class last minute and did not receive the online course information, please reply to your registration confirmation email or call our office immediately. Otherwise, we will assist you at the start of the class.

Links to all course materials will be emailed to instructor candidates when you register for a class.  Participants may bring the materials to class in either digital format on a laptop, iPad or tablet, or printed hard copy. Print versions of these materials are available for purchase from the Red Cross Store.

Each Instructor Candidate must complete two Practice Teaching Assignments during the class.

You will receive an email with your assigned Practice Teaching Assignments and instructions to prepare for teaching your assigned topics/skills. If you do not receive the email at least 3 days before your scheduled class please contact our office at 800-916-1213.

Note: We are not required to provide your practice teaching assignments before the class, we do this as a courtesy to help Instructor Candidates prepare ahead of time. Not receiving an email or not checking your email is NOT an acceptable excuse for rescheduling a class. Practice teaching assignments will be assigned at the start of the class for those who didn’t receive the email.

If you decide to leave the class for any reason, you will NOT receive a refund and will NOT be eligible to transfer to a different class.

The following items are REQUIRED for the class:

• Proof that you are at least 16 years old (photo ID)
• Current American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED certification or equivalent
• Online Instructor Course completion certificate
• Class Waiver Form (printed)
• Practice Teaching Assignments/Class Forms (printed)
• First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor’s Manual
• First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual
• First Aid/CPR/AED Course Presentation
• Adult and Infant CPR pocket masks (may be purchased at class for $20/set)

Program Policies for Instructor Courses

Refund Policy: Class fees are nonrefundable and no refunds will be issued once fees have been submitted. Class materials and supplies such as course manuals and textbooks, CPR masks and all other class supplies are nonrefundable.

Transfer Policy: The class transfer fee is $150.00 and registered participants are required to complete a Online Transfer Request at least 72 hours prior to the class date in order to be eligible to transfer. Transfers will only be granted if space is available in a future class with-in 60 days of the original class date. Only (1) transfer is allowed per registration.

No Show Policy: If a registered participant is a no-show and absent from their scheduled class, the participant will not receive a refund of any kind and is not eligible for a class transfer.

Class Space is Limited: If a registered participant decides to leave the class for any reason, they will NOT receive a refund and will NOT be eligible to transfer to a different class.

Cancelled Class Policy: Heart CPR reserves the right to cancel classes as needed. In the event a class is canceled registered participants will be offered a transfer to a different class at no additional charge or a full refund.

Visitor Policy: Only registered class participants are allowed in the classroom during training. All visitors must wait in the parking lot.