instructor certification – First Aid & CPR Training GTA | First Aid Responder

In Person

5 days · approx. 40 hours

Online

First Aid & CPR Instructor Certification Program

Teaching first aid well is a profession of its own. Our Instructor Development Program is a five-day, approximately 40-hour program (Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM) that builds two skill sets at once: mastery of Intermediate-level first aid and CPR content, and the instructional craft to teach it to adults — followed by a supervised teaching experience before final instructor status is granted.

Course information

First Aid & CPR Instructor Certification Program

Duration

5 days · approx. 40 hours

Format

Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Online theory

In person

Practical day

Supervised teaching experience

Formerly

Instructor Candidate → Instructor

Course overview

The week moves from content mastery to teaching mastery. Days 1–2 build and assess your Intermediate First Aid + CPR/AED knowledge and skills. Days 3–4 develop your instructional fundamentals and first aid-specific teaching technique. Day 5 is practice teaching and instructor assessment.

Candidates who complete the classroom component are recognized as Instructor Candidates and receive final instructor recognition after satisfying the required supervised teaching and program requirements.

Key benefits

A real teaching practicum

You will plan lessons, demonstrate skills, teach mini-lessons and be coached — not just tested.

Structured assessment

Clear evaluation across knowledge, demonstration, facilitation and professionalism.

Supervised teaching experience

You teach real learners under supervision before final status — the step that turns a candidate into an instructor.

A professional pathway

Ideal for experienced first aiders, workplace trainers, security and healthcare professionals, and educators expanding into safety training.

The five-day program

Day 1

Intermediate First Aid + CPR/AED

Core content review and skills development at the Intermediate level.

Day 2

Intermediate First Aid + Assessment

Scenarios and skills assessment — you must hold the content before you can teach it.

Day 3

Instructor Fundamentals

Adult learning principles, facilitation, professionalism, inclusive instruction, communication, classroom management, feedback and positive classroom culture.

Day 4

Teaching First Aid & CPR

Lesson planning, demonstrations, AED trainer use, manikin instruction, skills stations, coaching, scenario facilitation, assessment and time management.

Day 5

Practice Teaching & Instructor Assessment

Teach mini-lessons, demonstrate skills, receive feedback and complete formal instructor evaluations.

The instructor pathway

Five-Day Instructor Development Program + Supervised Teaching Experience.

1 Complete the 5-day program

Content mastery, instructional fundamentals and practice teaching.

2 Become an Instructor Candidate

Graduate the classroom component with candidate recognition.

3 Complete supervised teaching

Teach real learners under supervision — the step that turns a candidate into an instructor.

4 Complete required evaluation

Satisfy all supervised teaching and program requirements.

5 Instructor recognition

Teach mini-lessons, demonstrate skills, receive feedback and complete formal instructor evaluations.

Who should take this course

Experienced first aiders seeking an instructional role
Workplace trainers, supervisors and health & safety professionals
Security, healthcare, education and recreation professionals adding instruction to their credentials
Educators and community leaders who want to deliver safety training

What you will learn

How the week unfolds

1 Day 1 — Intermediate First Aid + CPR/AED

Core content review and skills development at the Intermediate level.

2 Day 2 — Intermediate First Aid continued

Scenarios and skills assessment. You must hold the content before you can teach it.

3 Day 3 — Instructor Fundamentals

Adult learning principles, facilitation, instructor professionalism, inclusive instruction, communication, classroom management, different learning needs, giving feedback and creating a positive classroom environment.

4 Day 4 — Teaching First Aid & CPR

Lesson planning, instructor preparation, teaching practical skills, CPR demonstrations, AED trainer use, manikin instruction, skills stations, coaching, correcting technique, scenario facilitation, assessment, equipment and time management.

5 Day 5 — Practice Teaching & Instructor Assessment

Candidates teach mini-lessons and demonstrate skills, receive individual feedback and complete instructor evaluations across knowledge, accuracy, facilitation, demonstration, communication, safety, classroom management, learner engagement, professionalism and time management.

Certification information

Graduates of the classroom component are recognized as Instructor Candidates. Final instructor recognition is granted after successful completion of the supervised teaching experience and all program requirements. This program prepares instructors to deliver first aid and CPR education within First Aid Responder’s authorized training-provider framework; it is not affiliated with any other national training agency’s instructor program.

Frequently asked questions

Will I be a certified instructor at the end of the five days?

You’ll be an Instructor Candidate. Final instructor status follows the supervised teaching experience and completion of all program requirements — a structure that protects the quality of the learners you’ll eventually teach.

What are the prerequisites?

Current first aid certification (Intermediate level strongly recommended) and the ability to commit to the full week plus supervised teaching. Contact us to confirm your eligibility.

Is this program affiliated with the Canadian Red Cross?

No. This is First Aid Responder’s own instructor development program. It reflects common professional instructor-development practices — adult education, lesson planning, practice teaching, mentoring and supervised teaching — but it does not grant any other organization’s instructor credential.

Can I teach anywhere after graduating?

Can I teach anywhere after graduating? Graduates teach within First Aid Responder’s authorized training-provider framework. If you plan to instruct for another agency, check their instructor pathway requirements.

Related courses

Intermediate First Aid + CPR/AED

16 hours total

Blended (online theory + full-day practical)

Ontario’s comprehensive workplace certification — formerly commonly called Standard First Aid. Self-paced online theory plus a full day of in-person skills: patient assessment, injuries, burns, environmental emergencies and team scenarios.

Basic First Aid + CPR/AED

8 hours total

Blended (online theory + in-person practical)

Ontario’s entry-level workplace first aid certification — formerly commonly called Emergency First Aid. Complete theory online, then build real skills in a hands-on, four-hour practical session.

In Person

5 days · approx. 40 hours

Online

First Aid & CPR Instructor Certification Program

Course information

First Aid & CPR Instructor Certification Program

Course overview

Key benefits

A real teaching practicum

You will plan lessons, demonstrate skills, teach mini-lessons and be coached — not just tested.

Structured assessment

Clear evaluation across knowledge, demonstration, facilitation and professionalism.

Supervised teaching experience

You teach real learners under supervision before final status — the step that turns a candidate into an instructor.

A professional pathway

Ideal for experienced first aiders, workplace trainers, security and healthcare professionals, and educators expanding into safety training.

The five-day program

Day 1

Intermediate First Aid + CPR/AED

Core content review and skills development at the Intermediate level.

Day 2

Intermediate First Aid + Assessment

Scenarios and skills assessment — you must hold the content before you can teach it.

Day 3

Instructor Fundamentals

Adult learning principles, facilitation, professionalism, inclusive instruction, communication, classroom management, feedback and positive classroom culture.

Day 4

Teaching First Aid & CPR

Lesson planning, demonstrations, AED trainer use, manikin instruction, skills stations, coaching, scenario facilitation, assessment and time management.

Day 5

Practice Teaching & Instructor Assessment

Teach mini-lessons, demonstrate skills, receive feedback and complete formal instructor evaluations.

The instructor pathway

1

Complete the 5-day program

Content mastery, instructional fundamentals and practice teaching.

2

Become an Instructor Candidate

Graduate the classroom component with candidate recognition.

3

Complete supervised teaching

Teach real learners under supervision — the step that turns a candidate into an instructor.

4

Complete required evaluation

Satisfy all supervised teaching and program requirements.

5

Instructor recognition

Teach mini-lessons, demonstrate skills, receive feedback and complete formal instructor evaluations.

Who should take this course

What you will learn

How the week unfolds

1

Day 1 — Intermediate First Aid + CPR/AED

Core content review and skills development at the Intermediate level.

2

Day 2 — Intermediate First Aid continued

Scenarios and skills assessment. You must hold the content before you can teach it.

3

Day 3 — Instructor Fundamentals

Adult learning principles, facilitation, instructor professionalism, inclusive instruction, communication, classroom management, different learning needs, giving feedback and creating a positive classroom environment.

4

Day 4 — Teaching First Aid & CPR

Lesson planning, instructor preparation, teaching practical skills, CPR demonstrations, AED trainer use, manikin instruction, skills stations, coaching, correcting technique, scenario facilitation, assessment, equipment and time management.

5

Day 5 — Practice Teaching & Instructor Assessment

Candidates teach mini-lessons and demonstrate skills, receive individual feedback and complete instructor evaluations across knowledge, accuracy, facilitation, demonstration, communication, safety, classroom management, learner engagement, professionalism and time management.

Certification information

Frequently asked questions

You’ll be an Instructor Candidate. Final instructor status follows the supervised teaching experience and completion of all program requirements — a structure that protects the quality of the learners you’ll eventually teach.

Current first aid certification (Intermediate level strongly recommended) and the ability to commit to the full week plus supervised teaching. Contact us to confirm your eligibility.

Can I teach anywhere after graduating? Graduates teach within First Aid Responder’s authorized training-provider framework. If you plan to instruct for another agency, check their instructor pathway requirements.

Related courses

Intermediate First Aid + CPR/AED

Basic First Aid + CPR/AED

Train your whole team

This course is available as on-site group training at your workplace, anywhere in the GTA.

Where we train

Scheduled sessions across York Region, Durham Region and Toronto. Training locations vary by course date.

Ready to book Instructor Certification?

Browse upcoming classes across the GTA, or ask us which certification level you need.