How to Become a Red Cross CPR Instructor in North Carolina
While a thorough knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, better known as CPR, is a necessity for instructors, teaching a Red Cross CPR class involves more than just knowing the basics of CPR. If you would like to teach CPR classes for the American Red Cross in North Carolina, you will need to complete a Red Cross course. Although many people don't realize it, the American Red Cross program and the American Heart Association offer different programs for CPR certification. Many Red Cross instructors work as volunteers, although some have paid positions.
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Obtaining CPR Certification
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Your first step towards becoming a Red Cross CPR instructor is to obtain an American Red Cross CPR certification. Your American Heart Association certificate will not suffice, since the programs differ slightly. While the ARC classes were once longer and needed to be renewed every year, recent changes have made the two routes to CPR certification more comparable. Both certifications are now good for two years. Become certified in the area where you want to work, if possible, so you can meet the office staff and become familiar with the workings of the office. The American Red Cross has 37 offices in North Carolina.
Attending Instructor Classes
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Sign up for instructor classes at your local office or the nearest office that offers classes. Instructor training consists of approximately four hours of online instruction and testing followed by around eight hours of in-person training. You must pass the online test with a minimum score of 80 percent to continue with the instructor program. Final certification also requires a minimum score of 80 percent, or 20 out of 25 questions answered correctly. There will be a cost for the instructor class, which may vary by area need. For the Moore County, North Carolina area, the cost is $500 at the time of publication.
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Developing Your Class Skills
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Learning how to run a class is not easy. Classes can be long and tiring. While you may have expert CPR skills, you may need to develop your skills in organizing a group of people, instructing them without giving them too much or too little information, and assessing a person's ability to do CPR correctly. The Red Cross class will teach you these skills, but they take time to develop. Going out with other CPR instructors can help you pick up pointers on how to keep a class focused, how to keep different groups occupied at the same time and how to encourage and motivate without doing too much for the student. A qualified instructor also will accompany you to your first class to assess your skills on teaching the class.
Maintaining Your Certification
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Keep your certification up-to-date by attending any necessary in-services and renewing your certification promptly every two years.
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