AHA BLS Instructor Essentials (AHA BLS Instructor)
  • Upcoming Event Dates
    Request Enrollment
  • 4/17/2026 - A.Manzione

  • AHA BLS Instructor Essentials Course

    The American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) Instructor Essentials course is designed to teach instructor candidates who hold current AHA BLS Provider certification how to teach AHA BLS Provider and Heartsaver courses.  The course fee includes the prerequisite Instructor Essentials Online course and in-person classroom with an AHA Training Faculty.  Once both are successfully completed, you may request alignment as an instructor under our training center, Tidewater Center for Life Support (TCLS).  Approved instructor status provides access to the current science for emergency cardiovascular care, course updates, and training resources and tools through the AHA's Instructor Network. 

    Requirements:

    To become an American Heart Association (AHA) ACLS Instructor through Tidewater Center for Life Support (TCLS) you must complete the following steps:

    1. Be at least 18 years of age.
    2. Be accepted by an AHA Training Center (TC) before enrolling in an Instructor Essentials Course and have completed an Instructor Candidate Application submitted to that TC.
    3. Provide your current AHA BLS Provider card to vhs-lifesupport@odu.edu and be proficient in all the skills of BLS.
    4. Obtain the AHA BLS Instructor Manual (current edition) and bring it with you to class.  AHA offers a hardcopy and digital eBook format, you may purchase either depending on your preference.  There are also instructor packages available on the ShopCPR.heart.org website.
    5. Successfully complete the online BLS Instructor Essentials Course before attending the in-person session.  The online course is included in the course fee, and a link to activate your online coursework will be available in your dashboard after enrollment.
    6. Attend the required in-person classroom session with our AHA BLS Training Faculty on your selected date, and pass the written provider and instructor exams and skills checkoff.
    7. Successfully be monitored teaching your first course BLS Provider course within six months of completing the hands-on session of the Instructor Course. Training Center Coordinator and/or Training Faculty can require additional monitoring to ensure your success as an instructor.

     

    Course Fee is $395.00 per Instructor Candidate (includes AHA BLS Instructor Essentials Online course and classroom instruction; does not include the required AHA Instructor Manual).

    The American Heart Association strongly promotes knowledge and proficiency in all AHA courses and has developed instructional materials for this purpose. Use of these materials in an educational course does not represent course sponsorship by the AHA. Any fees charged for such a course, except for a portion of fees needed for AHA course materials, do not represent income to the AHA.

    **If the minimum number of required course participants is not met, a coordinator may reach out to you 2-3 business days prior to class to reschedule your session.