Heartsaver®
Instructor Candidate Workbook
May 2013

© 2013 American Heart Association

Contents
Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 4
Background ......................................................................................................................... 5
The Early Days ........................................................................................................... 6
AHA Mission .............................................................................................................. 7
AHA Global Mission .................................................................................................. 7
Emergency Cardiovascular Care Mission ...................................................................... 7
The Science Process and Why Materials Change Every 5 Years ............................... 8
Turning Science Into Training .................................................................................... 9
Making an Impact ..................................................................................................... 10
The Instructor-AHA Partnership............................................................................... 11
Step 1: Prepare .................................................................................................................. 12
Preparing Yourself ........................................................................................................ 12
Glossary .................................................................................................................... 12
How to Find Information .......................................................................................... 14
The Role of TCs and TC Faculty .............................................................................. 14
Preparing Your Materials .............................................................................................. 15
How to Get the Forms You Need to Teach............................................................... 15
How to Get the Materials You Need to Teach .......................................................... 16
How to Get and Use a Course Agenda ..................................................................... 16
How to Get Written Exams and When to Use Them ................................................ 16
How to Get Skills Testing Documents ..................................................................... 17
How to Get Course Completion Cards ..................................................................... 17
Preparing the Room and Equipment ............................................................................. 17
How to Prepare the Room ......................................................................................... 17
Setting Up the Equipment ......................................................................................... 18
Preparing the Students .................................................................................................. 18
Manual ...................................................................................................................... 19
Skills Testing and Skills Sheets ................................................................................ 19
Step 2: Teach..................................................................................................................... 20
Using Lesson Maps ................................................................................................... 20
How You Should Identify and Correct Weak Skills ................................................. 20
Feedback ................................................................................................................... 21
Answering Student Questions ................................................................................... 22
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Step 3: Test ....................................................................................................................... 23
Testing Accurately .................................................................................................... 23
Remediation .............................................................................................................. 23
Step 4: Close ..................................................................................................................... 25
Course Paperwork ......................................................................................................... 25
Rosters....................................................................................................................... 25
Evaluations ................................................................................................................ 26
Skills Testing Sheets ................................................................................................. 26
Optional Written Exam Answer Sheets .................................................................... 26
Next Steps ..................................................................................................................... 26
Course Completion Cards ......................................................................................... 26
Cleaning the Classroom and Manikins ..................................................................... 27
Step 5: Keep Current ......................................................................................................... 28
Updates ..................................................................................................................... 28
Maintaining Instructor Status .................................................................................... 28
Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 29
Useful Information ............................................................................................................ 30
Quick Self-Quiz ................................................................................................................ 31
Comparison of Heartsaver Courses .................................................................................. 32
FAQ................................................................................................................................. 323

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Introduction
Welcome to the American Heart Association (AHA) Heartsaver®
Instructor Course.
At the AHA National Center, we often get questions about how the
AHA works overall and where this course fits into the broader
AHA spectrum. The following information answers those
questions.

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Background
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

The Early Days
AHA Mission
AHA Global Mission
Emergency Cardiovascular Care Mission
The Science Process and Why Materials Change Every 5 Years
Turning Science Into Training
Making an Impact
The Instructor-AHA Partnership

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The Early
Days

A pioneering group of physicians and social workers formed the
first Association for the Prevention and Relief of Heart Disease in
New York City in 1915. They were concerned about the lack of
heart disease information. At that time, patients with heart disease
were considered doomed, limited to complete bed rest. So these
physicians conducted studies in New York City and Boston to find
out whether patients with heart disease could safely return to work.
Similar groups in Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago evolved into
heart associations in the 1920s.
Interest spread widely in other cities across the United States and
Canada. Recognizing the need for a national organization to share
research findings and promote further study, 6 cardiologists
representing several groups founded the AHA in 1924. Here is a
timeline of some key dates and events in the AHA’s history:
1924

The American Heart Association AHA was founded.

1948

The American Heart Assocation AHA was transformed from a scientific
society into a voluntary health agency with national
headquarters located in New York City.

1975

A rapidly growing AHA moved its National Center
to Dallas, Texas, to better serve affiliates and local
divisions nationwide.

1980s

The American Heart Assocation gained a foothold as a visible champion
of public health. The AHA developed guidelines
for the nation’s healthcare system and supported
the federal government’s attempt to improve access
to healthcare. The AHA focused its planning in 3
areas: cardiovascular science, cardiovascular
education and community programs, and
fundraising efforts.

Mid-1990s

The AHA’s scientific findings began to move more
quickly from laboratories and clinics to physicians’
offices and American households.

1995

The AHA’s strategic driving force for moving into
the 21st century became providing credible
information about heart disease and stroke for
effective prevention and treatment.

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American Heart Association Mission

The AHA's mission is to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular
diseases and stroke. That single purpose drives all we do.
The American Heart Assocation is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health
organization dedicated to saving people from heart disease and
stroke, America’s No. 1 and No. 4 killers, respectively. The
association is the trusted leader in emergency cardiovascular care
and trains people around the world in how to save lives with CPR
and first aid.

American Heart Association Global
Mission

Through collaboration with global partners and through
knowledge transfer of its proven programs and strategies, the AHA
strives to reduce the global burden of cardiovascular disease and
stroke.

The AHA’s Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) Programs
Emergency
Cardiovascular department is responsible for implementing program initiatives
Care Mission and providing guidance and support to the ECC Training Network.
The ECC mission supports this responsibility.
The mission of ECC Programs is to reduce disability and death
from acute circulatory and respiratory emergencies, including
stroke, by improving the Chain of Survival in every community
and in every healthcare system.
ECC Guiding Philosophy:
•
•
•
•
•

Improve the Chain of Survival in every community
Increase quality and timeliness of materials
Identify and expand training
Document effectiveness
Improve efficiency

The goal of ECC Programs is to be the world’s premiere
resuscitation organization and serve the global community of
scientists, healthcare providers, and citizens as a critical leader in
discovery, processing, and transfer of resuscitation science. Its
programs, products, and services focus on maximizing survival
from life-threatening cardiovascular emergencies.

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The Science
Process and
Why
Materials
Change Every
5 Years

Scientists and physicians from the International Liaison
Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) continuously evaluate
current and new evidence about resuscitation. Every 5 years,
ILCOR holds an International Consensus Conference, during
which these scientists and physicians discuss and debate and then
come to a consensus about the best ways to apply the science in
resuscitation. This is documented in the ILCOR International
Consensus on CPR and ECC Science With Treatment
Recommendations.
The American Heart Association is a member council of ILCOR, and the AHA
Guidelines are written on the basis of the ILCOR consensus.

ILCOR International Consensus

↓

AHA CPR and ECC Guidelines

↓

ECC Training Materials

This process allows the American Heart Association to incorporate the most current
science into its materials, so that faculty, instructors, and students
have up-to-date information on the best practices.

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Turning
Science Into
Training

The 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and ECC are based on the
most current and comprehensive review of resuscitation literature
ever published, the ILCOR 2010 International Consensus on CPR
and ECC Science With Treatment Recommendations. The 2010
evidence evaluation process included 356 resuscitation experts
from 29 countries who reviewed, analyzed, evaluated, debated,
and discussed research and hypotheses through in-person
meetings, teleconferences, and online sessions (“webinars”) during
the 36-month period before the 2010 International Consensus
Conference. The experts produced 411 scientific evidence reviews
on 277 topics in resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care.
The process included structured evidence evaluation, analysis, and
cataloging of the literature. It also included rigorous disclosure and
management of potential conflicts of interest.
The recommendations in the 2010 Guidelines confirm the safety
and effectiveness of many approaches, acknowledge the
ineffectiveness of others, and introduce new treatments based on
intensive evidence evaluation and consensus of experts.
These new recommendations do not imply that care using past
guidelines is either unsafe or ineffective. In addition, it is
important to note that the new guidelines will not apply to all
rescuers and all victims in all situations. The leader of a
resuscitation attempt may need to adapt application of these
recommendations to unique circumstances. The AHA may update
courses if there is a published scientific breakthrough that impacts
practices in our educational materials.
Part of the proceeds from AHA courses goes to funding research,
which means that the AHA supports the scientists whose research
may one day impact our course materials.
The AHA leads the charge in applying evidence-based science into
every product it creates.

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Making an
Impact

Saving lives through training is only one way that the American Heart Association
reaches you. Here are some others:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Childhood obesity prevention
Heart-Check mark
Go Red For Women®
Patient and consumer educational materials
Power To End Stroke®
My Heart. My Life.™
Advocacy—You’re the Cure
The Guideline Advantage™
Professional education and professional membership
Mission: Lifeline®
Research

For more information visit www.heart.org.

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The
Instructor AHA
Partnership

The process for developing course materials is elaborate. After
consensus is reached at the ILCOR meetings, the AHA writes its
guidelines, and then a wide array of volunteer medical
professionals work together with AHA staff, the AHA training
department, and discipline-specific consultants to produce the texts
and DVDs used in courses.
Courses are tested by members of the AHA and AHA Training
Network, and feedback from the test courses is incorporated into
the final product. Every word and image in those texts and DVDs
is evaluated, revised, and finally vetted by experts. It’s an
extensive, detailed, and time-consuming process. The AHA
undertakes this extensive process willingly to produce
scientifically accurate and up-to-date course materials.
The AHA-instructor partnership is critical to the success of the
courses. The AHA develops the DVD and texts that teach the
student the science. The instructors are the hands-on
implementers: they evaluate, coach, remediate, and help students
learn the skills.
This is critical to the course’s success. The DVD can’t determine if
candidates are practicing well—or learning well. The instructors
are the ones who help students learn critical skills.
Thank you for helping us save lives.

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Step 1: Prepare
Preparing Yourself
• Glossary
• How to Find Information
• The Role of TCs and TC Faculty
Preparing Your Materials
• How to Get the Forms You Need to Teach
• How to Get the Materials You Need to Teach
• How to Get and Use a Course Agenda
• How to Get Written Exams and When to Use Them
• How to Get Skills Testing Documents
• How to Get Course Completion Cards
Preparing the Room and Equipment
• How to Prepare the Room
• Setting Up the Equipment
Preparing the Students
• Manual
• Skills Testing and Skills Sheets

Preparing Yourself
Glossary

Course Completion Card: The card given to students who pass the
provider course. You get it from your Training Center Coordinator.
Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC): A global business unit
of the American Heart Association, responsible for publishing the
official AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC and providing lifesaving
CPR, first aid, and advanced cardiovascular care training.
Faculty: The person who teaches instructor courses. Faculty are
appointed. Faculty may be Training Center (TC) Faculty, Regional
Faculty, or National Faculty.
•
•
•

TC Faculty: The people who serve as quality assurance and
educational leaders for the TC.
Regional Faculty: The people who serve as science and
curriculum experts to the TCs and instructors.
National Faculty: The people who serve as science experts
for their discipline (BLS, ACLS, PALS) in their region. Also,
they often facilitate communication between the Regional
ECC Committees and National ECC Program volunteers.

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Instructor: The person who meets the AHA requirements for
teaching a specific provider course. (Requirements vary, depending
on the course.)
Instructor Candidate: The person taking a course to become an
AHA Instructor.
Instructor Network (IN): Once you complete your instructor
training, you’ll join the IN. This website contains a wealth of
information, from how to order materials you need to science
updates. All instructors are required to join the IN.
Instructor Number: The unique number assigned to you once you
register on the IN. This number will be on the back of your instructor
card as well. You can also find your instructor number on your home
page (“dashboard”) when you log into the IN.
Program Administration Manual (PAM): This book is a guide to
the rules, regulations, and requirements for instructors, TCs, faculty
members, and other people involved in AHA ECC programs.
Provider Courses: These are the courses that teach a defined set of
skills and knowledge for a specific audience. Examples are PALS,
ACLS, and Heartsaver.
Student: Anyone taking a provider course.
Training Bulletins: When policies are changed in the current PAM,
the new policies are announced in Training Bulletins. Training
Bulletins supersede the related information in the PAM.
Training Center (TC): The American Heart Association has established a network of TCs.
These centers’ goal is to help deliver ECC educational courses and
strengthen the Chain of Survival. All instructors must be aligned with
a TC.
Training Center Coordinator (TCC): The person who can answer
your questions related to the teaching and administration of AHA
courses. The TCC is your first resource for information about AHA
training programs.
Training Memos: Memos clarify current policies and introduce new
educational materials and programs, as well as changes to existing
programs.

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How to Find
Information

The American Heart Association is a large organization and has a number of departments,
guides, and manuals. If you need to know something specific or have
questions, there are several resources you can use. Check these
resources in the following order, and you’re most likely to find what
you want quickly and easily:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Your Instructor Manual
Your TCC
Your TC Faculty
The IN
The PAM

The PAM provides information about how to administer courses in
general. It has all the overall rules and guidance. The Instructor
Manual tells you what you need for a specific course.

The Role of
TCs and TC
Faculty

TCs administer and run the courses and manage instructors. They also
support the instructors by offering information and updates. TCs also
make sure that the American Heart Association courses taught through the TC meet AHA
standards and are taught as intended.
Each TC has at least 1 TC Faculty member in each discipline. The
faculty member is an expert in the subject and may also help the AHA
develop and update courses. Faculty members are excellent resources
for instructors.

Each TC will have specific instructions and ways of meeting AHA
goals. The PAM outlines all AHA policies, but your TC may have
policies that expand on those found in the PAM while still meeting the
PAM’s requirements. For example, the PAM says completed course
paperwork must be submitted to your TC within 10 business days
after the completion of the course. Your TC may require that the
paperwork be submitted sooner, but not later, than the guidance in the
PAM. TCs may have specific policies about
•
•
•
•

How to register to teach classes
How much notice you need to give the TC to arrange a class
How to advertise
How to communicate with students

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In the back of this book, we have several blank pages for you to take
notes. You can also list your TC’s policies here.

Preparing Your Materials
How to Get
the Forms
You Need to
Teach

The Instructor Manual has a checklist of everything you’ll need to
prepare for and teach a course, including paperwork that you will
need to download and turn in to your TC. However, the Instructor
Manual doesn’t always define the different kinds of paperwork.
Here is a quick summary:
Course rosters: Course rosters are used to keep track of students.
Rosters are available on the IN, or you can get them from your TC.
As you are preparing to teach, download and print a course roster.
Course evaluations: Every instructor is required to give course
evaluations to students to complete at the end of the course.
Download these from the IN or get them from your TC and bring
them to class.

Other forms: Nearly every form you’ll need is available on the IN
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or through your TC. Many are also available in the back of the
Instructor Manual, including the skills sheets and testing checklists
you’ll use when testing students’ skills.

How to Get
the Materials
You Need to
Teach

How to Get
and Use a
Course
Agenda

You’ll need the required student materials for the course you are
teaching. You will also need all of the equipment on the equipment
list in your Instructor Manual. Your TCC can provide you with a
list of the authorized AHA distributors in your area.

A course agenda is the basic outline of how the course will go. It
should provide a map of the course for both you and the students so
that everyone knows what to expect. Every Instructor Manual has
sample course agendas that you can use and adapt to fit your specific
needs.

As part of designing a course agenda, it’s important to note which parts
of a course can be adapted and which can’t. For example, in
Heartsaver, you may teach adult, child, and infant CPR or just adult
CPR.

No matter which course you are teaching, every course agenda should
include the following information:
•
•
•

How to Get
Written
Exams and
When to Use
Them

How long the course is
The specific times for each section of the course
When breaks will occur and how long they will be

Get written exams from your TCC. Follow your TC’s procedures
about how and when to get the written exams. Have the exams ready
before you teach the class.
Written exams should be secured. Follow your TC’s policies and the
AHA guidelines for maintaining exam security. Additional
information about exam security can be found in the PAM.

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How to Get
Skills Testing
Documents

The documents you need for skills testing can be found in your
Instructor Manual and on your instructor CD (if applicable). You can
also find them on the IN or get them from your TCC.

How to Get
Course
Completion
Cards

You get course completion cards from your TCC; you may need to
notify your TCC in advance. Learn your TC’s policies before you plan
a course.

Preparing the Room and Equipment
Your Instructor Manual has information about how to set up a room
and equipment for a specific course. The following are general
guidelines, applicable to nearly every course.

How to
Prepare the
Room

Setting up the room is an important part of the class’s success. Arrange
manikins so that students have enough space to move around the
manikins and equipment without interfering with other students who
are performing skills. For example, students need room to tap and
shout and give compressions during CPR. Ideally, there will be
sufficient room around each manikin for students to easily get to and
move around the manikin.

Instructors need enough space to be able to monitor students, and so
on. Some Instructor Manuals have sample floor plans you can follow.
Some do not. Regardless, here are the key elements to setting up a
room well.
•
•
•

Have good acoustics and lighting—make sure all students can
hear and see you.
The video screen should be clearly visible to all students.
The room should be clutter-free.

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Setting Up the
Equipment

Different instructors have or use different equipmentmanikins, for
example, may vary slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer. Setting
up equipment properly in advance makes classes run more smoothly.
Here are some key elements to setting up equipment:
•

•
•

Know your equipment. For example, different manikins have
different pieces. Follow the manufacturer’s directions, but be
sure you know how to work your equipment and begin class
with new or clean equipment.
Make sure the manikins are clean and ready for use.
Make sure the audiovisual equipment, including your remote
control, is in working order.

Overall, the goal is to prepare all your materials ahead of time so that
the class runs smoothly. Each Instructor Manual has a complete list of
the materials you’ll need to teach your course. Use the list to prepare
before class.

Preparing the Students
Students also should prepare before class. Many won’t. Some will.
One of your jobs is to provide students all the information they need so
that they can come to class prepared. In general, students need to know
•
•
•

When and where the class will take place
What to bring with them
How to dress for the course

Students should let you know if they have a latex allergy or need other
special accommodation (Americans with Disabilities Act). See the
PAM for more information.
Sending a letter, by either email or the postal service, is a good idea.
We have included a sample precourse letter in the Instructor Manual.
Use it and adapt it to fit your specific needs.
Each student should receive a Heartsaver Student Workbook to read
before coming to class. Encourage students to review the workbook
after the course to refresh themselves on important concepts.

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Manual

Each student should also be given a Heartsaver Student Workbook to
read before coming to class. The book is part reference guide and part
workbook. Students may write notes in the book and should also refer
back to it after class is over. Students who frequently refresh their
memories about skills remember the skills longer. Reminding students
to review the manual and refresh themselves on skills can help them
perform better.

Skills Testing
and Skills
Sheets

You’ll give skills tests to each student. One of the best ways students
can prepare for a skills test is to know early-on what is expected of
them. Provide students with copies of the skills sheets, which you will
use later to test their skills.
Encourage the students to use the skills sheets during class and to
make notes as they learn.

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Step 2: Teach
•
•
•
•

Using Lesson
Maps

Using Lesson Maps
How You Should Identify and Correct Weak Skills
Feedback
Answering Student Questions

As with many classes taught at the national and international levels,
ensuring consistency is a challenge. To help with this challenge, a set
of Lesson Maps has been designed to indicate which material needs to
be covered when. The Lesson Maps aid instructors and, along with the
video, ensure consistency from class to class.
You’ll learn more about how to use Lesson Maps when you have
practice sessions and role-play in the classroom portion of this course.
Some general principles guide each map. Here are some key pieces of
information about Lesson Maps:
•
•
•

How You
Should
Identify and
Correct Weak
Skills

Resources: Indicates what things you’ll need to teach a
particular lesson
Student Role and Objectives: Tells you what the students
should be doing and what they should be learning
Instructor Role: Tells you what you should be doing

This is one of the most important parts of an instructor’s job. The
AHA goes to great lengths to create the science-based materials.
However, no matter how good the research and science are, only good
hands-on skills will save lives. Instructors are the ones who are
responsible for helping students learn the critical skills.
To identify weak skills:
Use the critical skills description lists and the skills testing sheets for
the skills test. The critical skills descriptions sheet lists all the things
that a student needs to know how to do. Pay close attention not only to
what is described but also to the order of the actions. You should know
these skills by heart before you start teaching so that you will know
exactly when a student misses an important step during skills practice.
The same is true for other skills. It is also very important to pay
attention not just to how each person performs the skills on the

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“patient” but also to how each team member communicates and
functions within the team.
To improve student performance:
While students are practicing, offer positive and corrective feedback.
Begin with what students are doing well. Describe what they are doing
right. Then offer suggestions for how they can improve.
You may also consider using skills testing sheets while students
practice. Fill it out or simply show it to the student. Sometimes being
clear about exactly what they are being tested on helps students
improve performance.
It also helps to watch for common errors, which vary from course to
course. Some examples of common errors in Heartsaver courses
include
•
•
•
•

Holding the epinephrine pen trainer incorrectly, covering the
end of the pen with a finger
Not scanning for breathing in an unresponsive person
Not checking for scene safety
Not applying more gauze for bleeding

The video will show you some common errors that students make, as
well as scenarios in which students complete the skills test correctly.

Feedback

Constructive feedback during hands-on practice can help students
improve their skills. Feedback targets students’ actions, letting
students know which actions need to be continued or changed. For
example, you might say, “Compressions should be 100 beats per
minute. Your compressions were at 90 beats per minute. Push faster.”
Feedback should be positive and specific, letting the students know
exactly what they should do to improve.

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Answering
Student
Questions

Some students ask questions that are outside the scope of the course.
When this happens, you can provide them the answer if you have it. If
you don’t have the answer, tell students you aren’t sure of the answer
yet and will get back to them.
Instructor manuals have FAQs with the most common student
questions (and AHA answers) that are outside the scope of the course.
The IN also has a list of FAQs. Your TCC is an excellent resource;
your TCC will likely either have the answer to the question or be able
to direct you to the person who has the answer.

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Step 3: Test
•
•

Testing
Accurately

Testing Accurately
Remediation

The skills tests are conducted in person. You will test students one at
a time, using the skills sheet/checklist. For more specific instructions,
see the Instructor Manual, which describes in detail how to test
students. The Instructor Course video also shows how to conduct a
skills test.
Instructors can be under pressure to pass students who don’t
necessarily have the skills to pass. Sometimes an instructor may have
his boss or a friend in a class. Other times, an instructor may be
worried about the repercussions for her TC or business if the
client/student isn’t happy. Or a student may not be able to work
without a course completion card—a situation that can evoke
sympathy in an instructor. There are a number of complicated reasons
why an instructor may be inclined to pass the student before the
student is ready.
However, it’s important to make sure the students are properly
prepared and can perform high-quality CPR in addition to advanced
techniques. High-quality CPR improves the chance of survival.
Issue course completion cards only to students who have successfully
completed all the AHA course completion requirements.

Remediation

If a student takes a skills test or written exam and doesn’t perform all
the steps correctly, then the student needs remediation. Remediation
is the student’s chance to go back over the material immediately after
the test or exam. You guide students during remediation to help them
learn the pieces they were missing. Then the students take the test or
exam again, either immediately or at a later date.
Some of the ways you may provide skills testing remediation include
•
•
•
•

Monitoring and mentoring students to identify and resolve
weaknesses
Requesting additional skills practice
Assigning additional reading
Referring students to other courses

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If a student scores less than 84% on the optional written exam, he
needs remediation. You can find more information about skills
testing and remediation in the PAM.

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Step 4: Close
Course Paperwork
• Rosters
• Evaluations
• Skills Testing Sheets
• Optional Written Exam Answer Sheets
Next Steps
• Course Completion Cards
• Cleaning the Classroom and Manikins

Course Paperwork
You’ll complete paperwork both during and after a course and
then submit it to your TC according to its policies. The PAM also
includes more information on paperwork.

Rosters

Rosters document successful course completion. As a result, you
must make sure all roster information is complete and accurate.
A new roster should be completed for each course. Only students
who attend the day of the course can be listed on the roster.
Sometimes students will take an online course and you will
perform their skills testing. You can submit one roster for each day
of skills testing. Online course completion certificates should be
submitted with the roster.
Course rosters can be found on the IN.

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Evaluations

You’ll give students a course evaluation so that they can let you
know how they thought the class went—what worked and what
didn’t.
Evaluations are required and can be a very useful tool. Looking at
several sets of evaluations can show which parts of the classes are
working really well from the students’ perspectives. Evaluations
also can show what’s confusing to students and where they might
need more help.
As the class draws to an end, hand out evaluations to students.
Collect the forms when the students are done. Read them carefully
and use them to help decide how to strengthen your teaching.

Skills Testing
Sheets

If a student needs remediation, make and keep a copy of the
student’s original skills testing sheet. Follow your TC’s policies
about what to do with that copy.

Optional
Written Exam
Answer
Sheets

Students will use answer sheets to record their answers from the
optional written exam. Collect both the exam and the answer sheets
at the end of the course.

Next Steps
Once the course is completed, let the students know when they can
expect to get their course completion cards. You’ll also need to clean
the classroom and manikins.

Course
Completion
Cards

Course completion cards can be purchased only by your TC. Follow
your TC’s policies about how to get course completion cards.

26 Heartsaver Instructor Candidate Workbook

Cleaning the
Classroom
and Manikins

After your course, make sure you leave the classroom tidy.
Rearrange the furniture so that the classroom looks the same way as
when you first saw it. Clean and store manikins and other course
equipment that you used. The PAM contains information on manikin
decontamination.

27 Heartsaver Instructor Candidate Workbook

Step 5: Keep Current
•
•

Updates

Updates
Maintaining Instructor Status

When American Heart Association materials are updated, you will need to complete an
update on the changes to continue teaching. Your TCC will tell
you how to complete mandatory updates. This information will
also be available on the IN.
Each month the AHA publishes a newsletter for instructors: the
ECC Beat, located on the IN. Log on to the IN at least once a
month to read the ECC Beat. Your dashboard on the IN will show
you anything new that’s been posted to the IN, including training
memos and bulletins.
Reading updates, memos, bulletins, and the ECC Beat will keep
you up to date as an instructor.

Maintaining
Instructor
Status

Instructors need to maintain their instructor status. If you want to
know more about maintaining status, refer to your TCC or the
PAM, which has detailed information on the subject.

28 Heartsaver Instructor Candidate Workbook

Conclusion
Thanks for taking this course. We look forward to you joining the
AHA IN.

29 Heartsaver Instructor Candidate Workbook

Useful Information
My Training Center Coordinator (TCC) is
_______________________________________.

The best way to contact my TCC is _________________________________________.

My Training Center (TC) ID number is ______________________________________.

The best person to contact about course cards and paperwork is
______________________________________________________________________.

If I have questions about AHA course content, I should contact ___________________.

These are the steps for getting exams from my TCC:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________.

These are the steps for getting course completion cards from my TCC:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________.

To renew my instructor card, my TCC needs me to do the following:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________.
TCs have agreements with the AHA about where, geographically, they can
offer classes. My TC’s area is ______________________________________________.

30 Heartsaver Instructor Candidate Workbook

Quick Self-Quiz
Write your responses in the space below.

1. What is the PAM?

2. Where do I get skills sheets, rosters, and paperwork?

3. How do I maintain instructor status?

4. How does an instructor become a TC Faculty member?

5. Where do I find information on remediation?

31 Heartsaver Instructor Candidate Workbook

Comparison of Heartsaver® Courses
Heartsaver courses are for anyone with limited or no medical training who needs a course completion card in first aid
and/or CPR AED to meet job, regulatory, or other requirements; and also for anyone who wants to learn the skills of first
aid or CPR AED.

Heartsaver
First Aid

Content
First aid basics: scene safety, finding the
problem, calling for help, and more
Medical emergencies: actions for choking,
breathing problems, shock, and more
Injury emergencies: actions for bleeding,
broken bones, burns, and more
Environmental emergencies: actions for
bites and stings, temperature-related
emergencies, and poison emergencies
Adult CPR AED (with a mask)
Adult choking
Child CPR AED (optional)
Child choking (optional)
Infant CPR (optional)
Infant choking (optional)
Optional written exam
Skills practice and testing with AHA
Instructor
Estimated time (hours)

Classroom Options
Heartsaver
Heartsaver
CPR AED
First Aid
CPR AED

Heartsaver
Pediatric
First Aid

eLearning Options
Heartsaver
Heartsaver
Heartsaver
First Aid
CPR AED
First Aid
Online Part 1
Online Part 1
CPR AED
Online Part 1



During course
3-4

*Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid content:
• First aid steps: Prevent, Be Safe, Phone 911, Act
• Illnesses and injuries
• CPR AED and choking for children
• CPR and choking for infants
• Asthma care training for child care providers (optional)
• Use of a mask for child and infant CPR (optional)
• CPR AED and choking for adults (optional)

32 Heartsaver Instructor Candidate Workbook

2-3

5-7

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Parts 2 and 3
5-7

1

1-1.5

1.5-2

FAQ
Q: Do I need to have a current provider card to take the instructor course?
A: Yes, you must have a current provider card to take the instructor course.
Q: Do I have to have a current provider card to maintain my instructor status?
A: Instructors must maintain current provider status. Status can be established 2 ways:
with a current provider card or through a demonstration of acceptable provider skills and
the successful completion of the provider written exam. Find out the policy for your TC.
Q: What do I need to do if I am scheduled to teach a course but cannot make it?
A: Notify your TCC or TC Faculty promptly. Make reasonable attempts to contact the
students if no replacement can be found for you.
Q: What do I do if someone gets ill or injured during a course?
A: Ask your TCC for any specific policies that you should follow regarding illness or
injuries during your course.
Q: What do I do if someone has a physical disability?
A: All reasonable accommodations can be made for persons with disabilities. AHA will
not authorize any core curriculum changes in any course. Each student must be able to
successfully perform all course requirements (skills tests and written exams as indicated)
to receive a course completion card. For more assistance, contact your TCC or TC
Faculty.
Q: How much should we charge for the courses?
A: AHA does not set fees for courses. Contact your TCC.
Q: Is there a dress code for teaching courses?
A: All AHA Instructors are to have good hygiene and dress appropriately for the course
being taught. Your TCC may have specific guidance also.
Q: Is there an age requirement for students?
A: The AHA does not set an age requirement for provider courses. Students must be
physically able to perform the required elements of the course.
Q: Is there an age requirement to become an instructor?
A: The AHA has set a minimum age requirement of 16 to become a Heartsaver
Instructor.
Q: My instructor card has expired. Is there a “grace period”?
A: There isn’t a “grace period” recognized by AHA for courses for providers or
instructors. There are special exceptions that your TCC can take into consideration, and
these exceptions are listed in the PAM.
33 Heartsaver Instructor Candidate Workbook

Q: I want to use the AHA and/or authorized provider course logo on flyers or other forms
for my class. Can I?
A: Contact your TCC for assistance. You can also find information in the PAM.
Q: Can I offer continuing education credit for the courses I teach? Does the AHA offer
continuing education credit for all AHA courses?
A: Contact your TCC for assistance.
Q: I’ve moved. How do I find a new TC to teach with?
A: Find TCs in your area by using the Find a Course tool at www.heart.org/cpr.
•
•
•
•

Enter your ZIP code.
Select the class you need.
A list of TCs in your area will appear.
Contact these organizations directly.

Q: How can I form my own Training Site?
A: The TCC makes this decision based on the needs of the TC. TCs are not required to
have a Training Site.
Q: Can I teach in Canada?
A: US instructors are not permitted to teach in Canada unless they are aligned with a
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada training program.
Q: How do I teach internationally (separate from Canada)?
A: Training outside of the United States and its territories requires special permission
because of international agreements made with certain countries.
To provide International Training:
•
•
•

Download the “International Training Approval Request” form from the IN.
Fill the form out completely.
Email the form to ECC International Training (eccinternational@heart.org).

Incomplete or vague information on the form could delay processing of the request. Your
application request will be given all due diligence.
You will also need to review the training memo “International Training by U.S.
Instructors” from December 2008. It’s on the IN.

34 Heartsaver Instructor Candidate Workbook