Instructor Certification

Now Teaching to the AHA 2020 Guideines Current instructor class will certify you to teach the 2020 Guidelines!

Looking to transfer your AHA or ASHI Instructor Affiliation to ERT? Email us for details.

ERT provides instructor certifications for American Heart Association (AHA). Instructors completing our AHA Instructor Certification may also elect to receive Health & Safety Institute (HSI) (previously known as ASHI) certification through us with minimal cost and effort.

ERT has nationally recognized Regional Faculty and Training Center Faculty on staff that teach, mentor and monitor CPR and First-Aid instructors.

Becoming an instructor is more of “a process” than simply taking a single course.

To become an instructor you must be certified with the AHA at either the “BLS Provider” or “Heartsaver CPR/AED” level. You must have a currently valid (not expired) certification and have been certified for a minimum of two years. You must also possess a high level of skill and comfort in performing CPR and First Aid. That is, you must have taken the course you want to teach and you can’t teach something you’re not good at...

We teach one of the most comprehensive Instructor courses in the area! And, when you’re done, we’ll be there to help guide you as you teach your classes. The instructor program is two-days with the first day having you attend a BLS Provider classroom course. The goal is to have you take a course taught by an AHA faculty member to ensure you have received the best, most complete course possible.

In preparation for the instructor course you will be required to complete the AHA online “Instructor Essentials” course. The cost of that program is included with our instructor package. This course teaches how to prepare for teaching AHA courses, use AHA teaching materials, follow AHA policies, and ensure students meet learning objectives.

For BLS Instructors wishing to teach Heartsaver courses you only need to complete the BLS Instructor Essentials course, not both.

The second day is the instructor course which primarily covers course administration, manikin maintenance, CPR skills assessment, and CPR Science. However, it does not go through actual teaching skills; its goal is to make sure you know everything you need to know to go into the classroom and teach.

On completion of the classroom sessions you will join an ERT Faculty member for two CPR courses where you will co-teach those courses. This is where you learn to teach! Generally, for the first of these courses you will monitor a course taught by a faculty member and assist with the course. For the second, you will teach the course with the faculty member observing. On successful completion of these two courses you will be a certified AHA Instructor.

Once certified to teach, you must then be affiliated with an AHA Training Center. All students completing our instructor program are welcome to affiliate with ERT. We offer our affiliated instructors competitive pricing on certification cards, discounts on training supplies, support for all your administrative and technical questions, and a rental program for classroom space and equipment.

Costs to become an Instructor and the instructional materials are broken down as follows:

Certification Cost

For BLS, that would total $461, and Heartsaver $436 (pre-sales tax). We charge a “package price” (all of the above!) of $375 and $350, respectively.

Teaching Materials

These may be purchased after you complete the provider course but you must complete the Instructor Essentials course and review the materials (instructor manual and DVD) prior to attending the instructor course.

ERT will obtain the Instructor Essentials course and all appropriate instructor manuals and DVDs for our instructor candidates.

Pre-registration is required.

Training Equipment

All instructors must have access to their own training materials. Generally speaking that means manikins (with feedback devices), AEDs, pocket masks, and Bag Valve Masks (for BLS). During the instructor program we will go over what is required, our recommendations for equipment, and discounts available.

Note that we do rent our classroom space and equipment to affiliated instructors who wish to hold a course at ERT.


For dates and times of all courses offered in our Woburn training center, please check our Class Calendar. Or Contact Us to set up an on-site course.