How to Train as an ACLS Instructor

The American Heart Association's (AHA) Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) instructor course prepares individuals with the ability to provide skills beyond that of a ACLS provider. Instructors are taught how to instruct others on resuscitation skills and knowledge. Prospective candidates must currently have an ACLS provider card, and a motivation to teach. ACLS instructors can earn an income by charging a fee per hour or per person. Although there may be other companies that offer an ACLS instructor course, the AHA is the program most widely recognized.

• 1

  Complete a Core Instructor Course to become an instructor. The AHA offers three ways to take this course: online, in a classroom or from the CD that is included with the workbook. This part of the certification takes approximately eight hours to complete.

• 2

  Contact an approved training center or hospital upon successful completion of the Core Instructor Course in order to take the ACLS instructor course. Training centers can be located by going to the AHA website and putting a zip code into the search engine. Certification will depend on a student's ability to pass a written test, evaluate another student running a megacode, successfully remediate another student and instruct the group of peers on the team concept.

• 3

  Complete the instructor monitoring portion once the ACLS instructor training course has been achieved. The monitored part of the test must be scheduled as soon as possible. This consists of the student being monitored by a certified instructor, while teaching a class. The instructor ensures AHA guidelines are followed. If all standards are met, the student is ready to become an ACLS instructor. At that time the training center will issue an AHA ACLS instructor card.

• 4

  Update your card every two years by taking a recertification class. Once the card expires, there is no grace period; if the card is lapsed by even one day, the complete course must be retaken. Failure to follow the AHA guidelines of procedures and standards will result in the instructor card being revoked. The ACLS instructor is required to teach at least two classes per year.