AHA CPR Instructor Course, Texas | First Steps
Become a credentialed AHA Instructor and teach the skills that save lives. As one of only a select few AHA Training Centers in the nation — with Texas as our home region — we guide you through every step, from application to your first monitored class.
Apply to Become an InstructorSee the 4 Steps
Teach for the AHA — Backed by a Leading Training Center
The AHA CPR Instructor Course prepares you to teach American Heart Association Instructor-led and blended-learning courses to healthcare providers and the community. Working through an authorized Training Center is required to earn your Instructor credential — and the strength of your Training Center shapes your entire teaching career.
As an AHA Training Center that ranks among a small group nationwide, Alamo CPR Certification provides the faculty, monitoring, materials, and ongoing support you need to become — and stay — a confident, current instructor. Most of our candidates complete their hands-on sessions right here in San Antonio, TX.
The 4 Steps to Become an AHA Instructor
The AHA defines a clear pathway to instructor certification. Here is exactly how it works with our Training Center.
Get Accepted by Our AHA Training Center
Before you can enroll in an Instructor Essentials Course, you must be aligned with a Training Center. Submit an Instructor Candidate Application and an Instructor Potential (IP) recommendation letter, then complete a brief interview so we can confirm the discipline and format that fit you best.
Application + IP recommendation on file
Hold Current AHA Provider Status
You must have a current AHA Provider card in the discipline you intend to teach (for example, BLS Provider to become a BLS Instructor) and be proficient in all skills of that discipline. Cards from non-AHA programs do not qualify. New to AHA courses? We offer the provider courses too.
Current provider card in your discipline
Complete the Instructor Essentials Course
This blended course has two parts: a self-guided online portion (about 1.5 hours, requiring a post-test score of at least 84%) followed by an in-person, hands-on classroom session (roughly 5–7 hours) led by our Training Center Faculty. Finish the online portion before attending the classroom session.
Online (≥84%) + hands-on classroom session
Teach a Monitored Course
Our Training Center Faculty observes you teaching your first course — typically within six months of completing Instructor Essentials. Once you successfully complete this monitored teaching, your instructor process is finished and you are issued a two-year AHA Instructor card.
Monitored teach-out → 2-year Instructor card
Then: Keep Your Credential Current
AHA Instructor cards are valid for two years. To renew, you teach a minimum number of courses, stay monitored on schedule, and complete the required Instructor Updates whenever the AHA publishes new Guidelines. We track your renewal timeline and send reminders so your card never lapses.
Don’t Have Your Provider Card Yet? Start With Us.
Instructor training requires current AHA Provider status first — and we teach those courses too. Alamo CPR Certification offers BLS, ACLS, PALS, and Heartsaver Provider courses seven days a week, so you can earn your prerequisite and complete your instructor pathway all in one place, with the same faculty. View provider courses & schedule →
What You’ll Master: The AHA Instruction Cycle
Every AHA Instructor teaches using the same five-step Instruction Cycle. The Instructor Essentials Course trains you to deliver each phase consistently and to AHA standards.
Instructor Pathways We Offer
BLS Instructor
Teach Basic Life Support to healthcare providers: high-quality CPR, ventilations, and AED use for adults, children, and infants.
ACLS Instructor
Teach Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, including high-performance team dynamics and management of cardiac emergencies.
PALS Instructor
Teach Pediatric Advanced Life Support for the recognition and treatment of critically ill infants and children.
Heartsaver Instructor
Teach CPR AED and First Aid to workplaces, schools, and the community — ideal for reaching lay responders.
Before You Enroll — Quick Checklist
- ✓Current AHA Provider card in your chosen discipline (BLS, ACLS, PALS, or Heartsaver)
- ✓Proficiency in all skills of that discipline
- ✓Completed Instructor Candidate Application on file with Alamo CPR Certification
- ✓Instructor Potential (IP) recommendation letter from a Training Center Faculty, Course Director, Instructor, or employer
- ✓Ability to attend an in-person hands-on session in San Antonio, TX
Why Train With Alamo CPR Certification
National Standing
We are one of only a select few authorized AHA Training Centers in the country — a level of oversight and quality most candidates never have access to.
Texas Roots
Texas is our primary region, so you get local faculty, local hands-on sessions, and a Training Center that understands your market.
Full Faculty Support
From your monitored teach-out to renewals and Instructor Updates, our faculty stays with you across your entire teaching career.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become an AHA Instructor?
The online portion of Instructor Essentials takes about 1.5 hours and the hands-on classroom session runs roughly 5–7 hours. After that, you complete one monitored teaching session, typically within six months, to finish the process.
Do I need a current provider card first?
Yes. You must hold a current AHA Provider card in the discipline you want to teach and be proficient in all of its skills before enrolling. Cards from non-AHA programs are not accepted. If you don’t have it yet, we also offer the provider courses, so you can earn your prerequisite with us first.
Can I become an instructor in more than one discipline?
Yes. Each discipline (BLS, ACLS, PALS, Heartsaver) has its own Instructor Essentials module and its own provider prerequisite. Many instructors add disciplines over time.
How long is my Instructor card valid?
AHA Instructor cards are valid for two years. Renewal requires teaching a minimum number of courses, staying monitored on schedule, and completing the required Instructor Updates when new AHA Guidelines are released.
Why do I have to go through a Training Center?
AHA Instructors are credentialed and monitored through an authorized Training Center — it is a required part of the process. The quality of your Training Center affects your training, monitoring, and ongoing support, which is why partnering with a nationally recognized center matters.
Ready to Start Teaching?
Apply to become an AHA Instructor with a Training Center that ranks among the best in the nation. Our team will confirm your prerequisites and get you scheduled for your hands-on session in Texas.
Tuition: $250 per candidate
