This course provides registrants the opportunity to become an AHA instructor, who is passionate about saving lives and can facilitate learning in a group setting, while teaching learners to understand complex concepts about BLS. An instructor candidate must complete all requirements and align with an approved primary AHA TC (Training Center) authorized by the AHA to teach in that territory before teaching a course other than the initial monitored course. Only instructors aligned with a TC are authorized to teach courses and issue course completion cards. Upon successful completion of this course, Instructors will be able to teach all AHA Basic Life Support courses including Heartsaver CPR/AED, Family & Friends CPR, K-12 Heartsaver CPR/AED, Heartsaver First Aid, and Pediatric First Aid.
The mission at UT Austin School of Nursing - AHA Training Site (TS) is to provide quality heart health educational opportunities for students of all ages, community outreach, and healthcare professionals.
Course Registration Process
STEP 1 – SIGN UP: Participants must first check the upcoming class schedule and secure a spot by enrolling in the class.
Click to enroll in an AHA BLS Instructor Candidate Training Class
STEP 2 – PAYMENT: After you have enrolled, please submit payment using the link below.
AHA BLS Instructor Candidate Training - Click here to submit payment – $450.00
Contact: For questions, please email BLSClasses@nursing.utexas.edu, and we will respond within 24 hours.
NOTE: You are not guaranteed a spot in class until payment for registration has been submitted (step 2). If payment is not submitted upon registration, you will be dropped from the class. (Invoiced participants are exempt.) A cancellation fee of $10 will be charged to those who fail to attend a class unless prior notification has been given.
*UT School of Nursing reserves the right to cancel a class with less than 5 participants registered. An email will be sent to those on the roster 24 hours before the class is cancelled.
Criteria for Becoming an AHA BLS Instructor:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have current AHA provider status in the discipline for that Instructor Course and be proficient in all the skills of that discipline. Discipline: BLS Provider.
- Email BLSClasses@nursing.utexas.edu and request a candidate application.
- After being accepted by The UT Austin School of Nursing AHA Training Site, an Instructor Candidate Application will be sent via email to be completed.
- Register, submit payment, and attend the instructor Candidate Training Class lecture.
- Successfully complete the Instructor Essentials Course, skills review, and instructor exam.
- Successfully be monitored teaching within 6 months of completing the hands-on session of their Instructor Essentials Course (TC Coordinators may require additional monitoring, if needed).
Course Fee Includes:
- BLS provider and Instructor certification ecard
- BLS provider certification course (optional for new instructors)
- BLS Instructor manual, provider manual, and instructor candidate workbook
- BLS Instructor Essentials online module
- Alignment, review of Instructor Network and Program Administration Manual (PAM), retention folders, and policy instructions
- Monitoring and practice of course curriculum
- Monthly course paperwork retention, forms assistance, AHA updates
- Free BLS instructor renewal every 2yrs – per AHA guidelines
Note: Instructors will need to purchase all required materials to teach BLS and Heartsaver classes such as course videos, manikins, one-way valves, face masks, BVMs, feedback devices, etc. These supplies are not included in the cost of the instructor course.
Course Schedule:
- Sample Agenda: 8:15am – 3:30pm
- Introduction
- Review instructor packet/Instructor manual/provider manual
- Instructor Candidate application
- AHA Texas State University (TSU) TC and UTSON (University of Texas School of Nursing) Training Site – Alignment
- ECC, AHA Monthly Ebeat, and Newsletter
- AHA BLS Course Administration/Policies—Program Administration Manual (PAM)
- Break 10min
- BLS Digital Video and Instructor manual review
- Where to find class documents and review UTSON policy – OneDrive
- eCards: How to order ecards through TSU and issue on the Instructor Network
- Lunch 45min
- BLS Provider Skills Practice/Check off—Feedback Devices
- BLS Exam and Review—Open Resource Testing
- BLS Provider Instructor Exam and Review
- Manikin Maintenance
- Questions
AHA Defined 5 Core Competencies for all Instructor Candidates
- Skills: Instructors need to demonstrate mastery in all skills for the courses they teach. This includes cognitive and psychomotor skills.
- Course Delivery: Instructors need to teach AHA materials correctly and as outlined in the appropriate Instructor Manual and Lesson Plans.
- Testing: Instructors must be able to test students effectively.
- Professionalism: Instructors need to maintain a high standard of ethics and professionalism when teaching AHA courses.
- Program Administration: Instructors must manage time, space, materials, and paperwork in compliance with AHA guidelines.
Once you become an instructor, you will have access to the most current emergency cardiovascular care (ECC) science, course updates, training resources and tools through the online AHA Instructor Network.