- BLS Instructor
- Heartsaver Instructor
- Red Cross Instructor
CPR Instructor Certification in San Francisco
There are three ways to become a CPR instructor from San Francisco. AHA BLS Instructor lets you teach BLS and every Heartsaver course. AHA Heartsaver Instructor covers Heartsaver first aid, CPR and AED. Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor covers basic-level Red Cross courses. AHA instructors must align with an AHA Training Center and be monitored teaching; Red Cross candidates complete practice-teaching assignments and an exam. Send an inquiry and we reply with the options we can offer.
Instructor courses
Three ways to become a CPR instructor
Side by side
AHA and Red Cross instructor requirements
From the AHA's and the Red Cross's own course documents. Your Training Center or Instructor Trainer confirms the details for your course.
| BLS Instructor | Heartsaver Instructor | Red Cross Instructor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teaches | BLS and every Heartsaver course | Heartsaver courses | Basic-level Red Cross First Aid, CPR and AED |
| Card you need | Current AHA BLS Provider | Current AHA Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED | Current Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED (or higher) or equivalent |
| Minimum age | 18 | 18 | 16 on the last day of the course |
| Training Center | Must align with an AHA Training Center | Must align with an AHA Training Center | Taught by a certified Instructor Trainer |
| Format | Online portion, then hands-on session | Online portion, then hands-on session | Online content, skills session and classroom |
| To finish | 84% exam, then monitored teaching within 6 months | 84% exam, then monitored teaching within 6 months | Three practice-teaching assignments and an 80% exam |
| Credential | AHA BLS Instructor eCard, issued by your AHA Training Center | AHA Heartsaver Instructor eCard, issued by your AHA Training Center | American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor certificate, valid 2 years |
AHA
Training Center alignment and monitoring
Alignment with an AHA Training Center
Every AHA instructor candidate needs an AHA Training Center that agrees to accept them once Instructor Essentials and monitoring are complete. After the Instructor eCard is issued, you align with that Training Center in Atlas, the AHA instructor system.
Monitored teaching
After Instructor Essentials, AHA candidates are monitored teaching within 6 months of the hands-on session. The Training Center Coordinator can ask for more monitoring if needed.
FAQ
CPR instructor certification: common questions
Which instructor course should I take?
Pick the organization your students or employers ask for. AHA BLS Instructor suits people who will teach healthcare workers and also covers every Heartsaver course. AHA Heartsaver Instructor suits people who only teach workplace and community first aid, CPR and AED. Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor suits groups that ask for Red Cross courses.
Do AHA instructors need a Training Center?
Yes. AHA instructor candidates need a Training Center that agrees to accept them before the hands-on session, and they align with it in Atlas once their Instructor eCard is issued.
Source: American Heart Association, How to Become an AHA Instructor
What is the minimum age?
The AHA requires instructors to be at least 18 to teach Heartsaver and BLS. The Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor course requires candidates to be at least 16 on the last day of the course.
Source: American Heart Association, FAQs about AHA Training (Instructor Courses)
What happens after the instructor course?
AHA candidates are monitored teaching within 6 months of the hands-on session, then their Training Center issues the Instructor eCard. Red Cross candidates who meet the course requirements receive an instructor certificate valid for 2 years.
Source: American Heart Association, BLS Instructor Essentials Faculty Guide (2026)
Does CPR San Francisco list dates or prices for instructor courses?
Not on this site. Send the inquiry form with the course and timing you want, and we reply by email or text with what we can offer.
Sources for the facts on this page
- American Heart Association, How to Become an AHA Instructor
- American Heart Association, How Do I Become an AHA Instructor? (Atlas how-to guide)
- American Heart Association, BLS Instructor Essentials Faculty Guide (2026)
- American Heart Association, Heartsaver Instructor Essentials Faculty Guide (2021)
- American Heart Association, FAQs about AHA Training (Instructor Courses)
- American Red Cross, First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor (blended learning) class description
- American Red Cross, First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor Course fact sheet
- American Red Cross, Instructor Training, Certification and Bridging