How to Become an American Heart Association Instructor
Teach Life-Saving Skills. Build a Meaningful Career.
Becoming an American Heart Association (AHA) Instructor allows you to teach CPR, AED use, and advanced life-saving skills to healthcare professionals, workplaces, and community members.
AHA instructors teach courses such as:
✓ BLS (Basic Life Support)
✓ ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)
✓ PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)
✓ NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program)
✓ Heartsaver CPR/AED and First Aid
Many instructors teach part-time, while others build successful training businesses serving hospitals, corporations, and community organizations.
The National Institute for Healthcare Education (NIHE) provides instructor training, mentoring, and Training Center alignment across the United States.
Steps to Become an AHA Instructor
Step 1 — Meet the Prerequisites
Before becoming an instructor, you must hold the required provider certifications for the discipline you wish to teach.
Typical prerequisites include:
- BLS Provider certification to become a BLS Instructor
- BLS Instructor + ACLS Provider certification for ACLS Instructor
- BLS Instructor + PALS Provider certification for PALS Instructor
- BLS Instructor + NRP Provider certification for NRP Instructor
- BLS Instructor + ACLS Instructor + BLS/ACLS/ASLS Provider certifications for ASLS Instructor
Healthcare disciplines such as ACLS, PALS, ASLS, and NRP typically require a healthcare license or clinical credential such as:
- Registered Nurse
- Paramedic
- Physician
- Respiratory Therapist
- Advanced Practice Provider (NP or PA)
Heartsaver and BLS instructor courses may also be appropriate for safety professionals, educators, and workplace safety trainers.
NIHE can help prospective instructors determine the most appropriate discipline based on their professional background and goals.
Step 2 — Complete the AHA Instructor Essentials Course
The American Heart Association requires instructor candidates to complete the Instructor Essentials online course before attending the classroom instructor training.This course introduces:
- AHA course structure
- Instructor responsibilities
- Course administration
- Teaching techniques
Step 3 — Complete the NIHE Instructor Orientation
All instructor candidates aligned with NIHE complete our Instructor Orientation Course.
This orientation prepares instructors for success by covering:
- AHA Training Center structure
- Instructor file requirements
- Course agendas and materials
- Administrative procedures
- Instructor responsibilities
Candidates also upload their instructor documentation during this process, which makes the classroom training much smoother and more efficient.
Step 4 — Attend the Instructor Classroom Course
After completing the required online training, candidates attend the in-person instructor course.
During this course you learn:
- How to teach the curriculum
- How to run skills testing stations
- How to conduct megacodes (advanced courses)
- How to administer exams
- How to manage a class
Instructor courses are taught by experienced Training Center Faculty.
Step 5 — Complete Instructor Monitoring
Before becoming fully active, instructor candidates must teach a course while being monitored by an experienced instructor.
Monitoring ensures instructors:
- Follow AHA course standards
- Teach the material correctly
- Manage the classroom effectively
Once monitoring is successfully completed, the instructor becomes fully active.
Step 6 — Affiliate With an AHA Training Center
All AHA instructors must affiliate with an American Heart Association Training Center.
NIHE is a national AHA Training Center that aligns instructors and training organizations across the United States.
Instructors aligned with NIHE receive:
- Same-day AHA eCard issuance
- Mentoring and business development guidance
- Access to Training Site Conferences
- Instructor growth sessions
- Support from experienced Training Center Faculty
Step 7 — Start Teaching or Build a Training Program
Some instructors teach for hospitals or training organizations. Others start their own CPR training businesses.
Independent instructors operate under a Training Program or Training Site Agreement with the Training Center as required by AHA policy.
NIHE helps instructors grow from individual instructors to successful training organizations.
The NIHE Growth Pathway
Instructor Certification
↓
Training Program
↓
Training Site
↓
Training Center Faculty
↓
Enterprise Training Systems
NIHE provides mentoring and development at every stage of this pathway.
Why Train With NIHE?
The National Institute for Healthcare Education is recognized as a 2025 AHA All-Star Training Center and supports instructors and training organizations across the United States.
When you train with NIHE, you gain more than a certification — you gain a professional network committed to high-quality training and long-term success.
Ready to Become an Instructor?
Whether you want to teach CPR classes occasionally or build a full training organization, NIHE can help you get started.
Become an AHA Instructor today and start teaching life-saving skills in your community.
Start Your Instructor Journey →
800-773-8895
*The American Heart Association strongly promotes knowledge & proficiency in BLS, ACLS, & PALS & has developed instructional materials for this purpose. Use of these materials in an educational course does not represent course sponsorship by the American Heart Association. Any fees charged for such a course, except for a portion of fees needed for AHA course material, do not represent income to the Association.
