Become an Instructor

Each year, the American Red Cross teaches valuable lifesaving skills to nearly 12 million people - that's 1 in 23 Americans. But we can’t do it alone. Become a certified Red Cross instructor today and join our mission of teaching people to save lives.

An instructor is a member of a select group of trained and authorized individuals, and reflects the standards and ideals of the American Red Cross. Instructors teach Red Cross programs within a chapter’s jurisdiction and impart knowledge and skills consistent with American Red Cross policies, procedures, standards and guidelines.

Successful Red Cross instructors share the following traits:

Good communication skills. Speak clearly, listen carefully and use reinforcing body language to effectively communicate with students;

Strong subject knowledge. Become an expert on the subject matter and keep on top of new developments;

Positive attitude. Share your enthusiasm for the subject matter with others;

Patience and flexibility. Patiently explain facts, answer questions and meet the diverse learning needs of your students; and

Professional behavior. Manage groups of people and adhere to rules and regulations.

Becoming a Red Cross instructor is easy with our new Fundamentals of Instructor Training and instructor specialty courses, which can help you build and refine the skills you need to begin making a difference.

If you have the basic-level skills, contact your local chapter about being trained as an instructor.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What courses do I have to take to become an American Red Cross Lay Responder or CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer instructor?

    The Lay responder should begin by taking basic classes, specifically Standard First Aid with CPR/AED-Adult and CPR - Infant/Child. The Professional Rescuer should begin by taking the CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer class. These help you develop your skills and also enable you to see how Red Cross courses are taught. You must take the following classes:

  2. I want to become an ARC instructor. Do I have to have current CPR and Standard First Aid certification in order to take instructor courses?

    Yes, you need to be certified. These basic courses are required to become an instructor. Not only do they give you a chance to acquire course skills and knowledge - they also show you how American Red Cross courses are run, which is very helpful when you go to teach one yourself.

  3. My basic CPR certification has expired. Do I need to renew it in order to teach?

    No. As long as your instructor authorization is still valid, you can teach. However, most workplaces and organization would like to see a valid base level certificate. You can take a Review or Challenge course to receive a new card.

  4. How long is an instructor's authorization valid?

    The initial authorization is valid until the second December 31 following the completion of instructor training, or, if the training took place in the last three months of the year, until the third December 31 following the training. Reauthorizations are valid for two years, and always end on December 31.

  5. What do I have to do to become reauthorized?

    You must teach or co-teach at least two courses of record during your authorization period.

  6. Can I co-teach a class with a fellow instructor and use that class to recertify myself in CPR?

    No. You can't be both a student and an instructor in the same class. In order to recertify in any class, you can take a basic, Review, or Challenge course.

  7. I'm an instructor in Westchester County. I want to teach in a chapter outside of this unit. What should I do?

    This is called extended authorization. To get extended authorization into another chapter, you should contact them and make arrangements to have them endorse your instructor certificate. They will call us to verify your current authorization status. When you teach a course in that chapter, be sure to submit the original and one copy of the Course Record form along with appropriate fees to them.

  8. I'm currently a Red Cross instructor in Westchester County, but I'm moving and want to transfer my authorization to another chapter. What should I do?

    You need to call the chapter you'd like to transfer to and ask them to send us a written request to transfer your records. After we receive this request and send your records, the new chapter will review them and complete the transfer. In the meantime, if you wish, you can get extended authorization to teach in that chapter.

  9. I'm an instructor from outside this chapter, but I'd like to make this my home chapter. How do I do that?

    Schedule a time to meet with one of our Preparedness department staff to verify your authorizations or mail in your current instructor certification, and we'll begin by extending your teaching authorization to this chapter. After that, you'll need to fill out the Health & Safety Services Instructor Request for Transfer form. We will send it to your previous chapter, and when we receive your records, we'll complete the transfer.

  10. How do I extend my authorization to teach into the Westchester County Chapter?

    You can either mail us front and back of your current instructor certificates or schedule a time to meet with one of our Preparedness department staff to verify your authorizations.