There has never been a better time to become a CPR instructor, as more people are learning CPR than ever before. And with the technological advancements in online instruction, CPR instructors have the option of teaching in-person classes or online courses, or even a combination of both.
The question for most folks, like yourself perhaps, isn’t if you want to become a CPR instructor, but rather, how to become a CPR instructor. And you’re right to be a little confused, as the long list of CPR instructor certification courses is immense and still growing.
Then you add in the scammers and fly-by-nighters touting CPR instructor courses that are not going to help you reach your goal to become a CPR instructor. For a lot of people, they give up before even getting started. Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen to you.
CPR Instructor Courses: So Many to Choose From
The process of becoming a CPR instructor isn’t that difficult or even time-consuming. And really there are just three steps in that process:
- Choose a CPR instructor course.
- Get your CPR instructor certification.
- Become a CPR instructor.
So, let’s begin by looking at step one, which is where many folks give up, and for good reason.
If you Google the phrase, how to become a CPR instructor, you’re going to get more results than you ever thought possible. You’ll get reputable in-person courses from providers you likely have heard of. You’ll get reputable online CPR instructor courses from providers you may not have heard of. And then you’ll get online courses from disreputable providers.
The first step is deciding if you want to take an in-person CPR instructor course and then weeding out the disreputable online providers if you choose to get your CPR instructor certification online.
In this blog post, we don’t want to take up too much time helping you decide between online and in-person CPR courses. Instead, here are a couple of posts that may help you make that decision if you haven’t already:
3 Benefits of Getting CPR Certification Online
CPR Classes: Online vs. Classroom
The information you’ll get from both of those posts applies whether you’re getting trained to be a CPR instructor or not, and it may shed some vital light on your decision-making process.
Once you’ve decided whether to take an online CPR instructor course or one that you must attend in-person, the next step is to find a CPR instructor certification course provider you can trust. Thankfully, in our digital age where good decisions are never more than a few reviews away, this shouldn’t be difficult.
Visit the websites of providers you are considering. Read the reviews. Check out the course offerings and the curriculums for each, if there is more than one course. See if they have any free lessons you can view before deciding. And if you still have questions, reach out to them and see for yourself how they respond.
Getting Your CPR Instructor Certification
Let’s assume that you already have a CPR certification. If not, that’s fine, but then let’s assume you’ll do that first before making the decision to move on to getting your CPR instructor certification. Though there’s nothing wrong with planning ahead and if you choose a CPR certification provider wisely, you should be able to get all your shopping done at just one place.
By this point in the process, you’ve chosen a CPR instructor course. Now you just have to take that course. If you’ve chosen an online course, you’ll have to manage your time, which means setting aside some of that time each week to work on your CPR instructor certification.
Planning and goal setting are crucial, so don’t discount these. Decide where and when you’ll get your study and practice time in and then don’t deviate from that plan. Success is about taking all the necessary small steps down the road that lead to something great.
Finish your course and pass the final exam. Congratulations! You are now certified to become a CPR instructor.
Become a CPR Instructor
Becoming a CPR instructor involves more than just getting your CPR instructor certification. Though, that was a crucial and necessary step. But now, you’ll have to decide how and where you’ll teach and how and where you’ll find students.
However, for many of you, you may already have a CPR instructor job waiting for you. But if you don’t, it’s now time to consider your options.
This year and beyond, our world is beginning to feel limitless. Here are four CPR instructor job options for you to consider:
- Start a business teaching CPR instruction to students online. Perhaps specialize in a particular group. Maybe even a group you’re already a part of.
- Start a business teaching CPR instruction in-person to schools, corporations, fitness centers/personal trainers, or other organizations where CPR is a critical component to their staff training.
- Start a business that combines both one and two, thereby maximizing your income potential.
- Get a job teaching CPR with a large organization that provides online or in-person CPR training already.
Whatever you choose, just remember to keep your CPR instructor certification valid. It doesn’t last forever and it will need to be renewed from time to time, and this may vary depending on your individual circumstances.
One last thing to consider: you can also acquire other skills that you can then teach to others, like BLS (Basic Life Support), bloodborne pathogens, or even pet CPR and first aid. Keep an open mind and continue to learn whenever the opportunity arises, and you’ll make yourself much more valuable to your employer or to yourself if you go the route of starting your own business.
If your dream is to become a CPR instructor, consider ProTrainings. We’ve been training CPR instructors for many years and are recognized by a number of state boards and other certifying organizations. Click on that link above and discover what ProTrainings can do for you.