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For instructor candidates who want to teach the Red Cross Professional Responder Program and who have already taken Fundamentals of Instruction.

Professional Responder Instructor (BLS, FR, EMR)

Professional Responder Instructor (BLS, FR, EMR)

For instructor candidates who want to teach the Red Cross Professional Responder Program and who have already taken Fundamentals of Instruction.

The Canadian Red Cross Professional Responder Instructor discipline-specific classroom component focuses on the specific skills of the Red Cross Professional Responder Program.

Instructor candidates must be 18 years or older, have a valid Canadian Red Cross participant level certification in the highest level you wish to teach (BLS + AM + OT, FR, or EMR), have successfully completed a skills evaluation with a Teaching Experience Supervisor or Instructor Trainer for that same level of skills, and have completed the Fundamentals of Instruction course (or are a current Red Cross First Aid & CPR or Wilderness & Remote First Aid Instructor).

The last step in the certification process is to complete a Teaching Experience online module (30-45 min) and a classroom component with the support of a Teaching Experience Supervisor. Once certified as an instructor, you will need to work with a Red Cross Training Agency to process participant certifications.

Check out the Instructor Pathway laid out below for more information.

Full Course Length 16 hours

Course Details

Instructor Pathway

Step 1: Evaluate Skills and Check Prerequisites

To become a Professional Responder Instructor, you need to have a participant-level certificate in the course you want to teach, as well as a skills assessment for that course done within the past 12 months. For example, you must hold a current First Responder certificate in order to be certified as a First Responder Instructor.

The certification options are:

  • Basic Life Support Instructor (BLSI) - certified to teach Basic Life Support, Airway Management, and Oxygen Therapy,
  • First Responder Instructor (FRI) - certified to teach Basic Life Support, Airway Management, Oxygen Therapy, Marine Advanced First Aid, and First Responder, and
  • Emergency Medical Responder Instructor (EMRI) -certified to teach Basic Life Support, Airway Management, Oxygen Therapy, First Responder, Emergency Medical Responder, Advanced First Aid, and Marine Advanced First Aid.

Contact us for help with your participant-level certification or skills assessment if needed.

Step 2: Fundamentals of Instruction

Online: Approximately 8 hours, to be completed prior to the in-class portion

Classroom: 14 hours 30 minutes

If you are already a certified First Aid & CPR Instructor or Wilderness First Aid Instructor, you will have already completed this step.

If not, you will need to complete this course prior to taking the Professional Responder Discipline-Specific Classroom Component (what you are looking at right now). 

Contact us for more information.

Step 3: Discipline-Specific Classroom Component

That's this course! 

Classroom: 14 hours 30 minutes

You have 6 months from when you complete Step 2 to move to Step 3. This component teaches canadidates how to teach Professional Responder courses.

Step 4: Teaching Experience

Online: 30 minutes

Classroom: Can vary depending on the course you will be teaching

The Teaching Experience consists of an online component and a classroom component. The online component (included in the cost of this Professional Responder Discipline-Specific course) details what to expect during your Teaching Experience and provides guidance on how to prepare for it.

The in-class component must be done with either a Teaching Experience Supervisor or Instructor Trainer. You don't have to complete it with us, but if you do decide to complete it with us, there is an additional cost for the Teaching Experience.

Step 5: Certification

Upon completion of all these steps, your instructor certificate will be issued! Certification is valid for 3 years.

FAQs

How do I become an EMR instructor?

As an Instructor Development Center for the Canadian Red Cross we can only speak to the process of becoming a certified Red Cross EMR instructor, although there may be a different process if you want to teach for a different agency. First you must be currently certified as a Red Cross EMR, or hold a valid EMR license issued by the EMA Licensing Board. Next you must do a skills check with another current EMR Instructor. Next you will need to take the Red Cross Fundamentals of Instruction course which has an online component and a 2 day in-class component. Next you will need to take a 2 day in-class Professional Responder Discipline-Specific course. The final step will be to successfully teach an EMR course along with a current EMR instructor. For details, please give our office a call. The process is flexible and you may be eligible tyo bypass certain steps if you currently teach other disciplines or with different agencies.

What is an EMR instructor?

A Canadian Red Cross EMR Instructor is somebody who is able to teach and issue certification for any of the Red Cross Professional Responder courses, including BLS, First Responder, Advanced First Aid, Marine Advanced First Aid, and Emergency Medical Responder.

How long is EMR training?

Red Cross EMR Training is typically an intensive 2 week course with 80 hours of classroom time and additional homework expectations. If you wish to become licensed through the BC EMA Licensing Board you will need to schedule an additional test through the board.

What degree do you need to be an EMR?

You only need EMR certification to be an EMR - there are no prerequisites for this course, and it can be completed in as little as 2 weeks. Many employers however, including BC Ambulance Service will require that you become Licensed by the EMA Licensing Board, which involves an additional written and practical exam which will need to be arranged through the Board.

Certification

An electronic certification will be issued upon completion of this course, the online Teaching Experience module and the classroom Teaching Experience. Potential certifications include: BLSI (certified to teach BLS, AM, OT), FRI (certified to teach BLS, AM, OT, MAFA, FR), and EMRI (certified to teach BLS, AM, OT, FR, EMR, AFA, MAFA). Certification is valid for 3 years.

Training Schedules & Locations
There are no certification classes at this time. Please check back.

Materials

Emergency First Aid & CPR Manual

The Professional Responder Discipline-Specific course includes the following materials:

  • Professional Responder Instructor Manual (hard copy)

The Alert Advantage

Free Manual + App

Deep Discounts

3-Year Guarantee

Replacement certs

Learn More

Who should take this course?

  • Red Cross Professional Responder Instructor Candidates who have already completed the Fundamentals of Instruction course

Looking for a group class?

If you have a group of people and would like us to come to you to teach a
Professional Responder Instructor (BLS, FR, EMR) course, we offer this course in the following locations:

Victoria | Langford | Esquimalt | Sooke | Cobble Hill | Mill Bay | Duncan | Lake Cowichan | Cedar | Ladysmith | Nanaimo | Parksville | Qualicum Beach | Port Alberni | Coombs | Parksville | Campbell River | Saltspring Island | Pender Island | Powell River | Gabriola Isand | Burnaby | Coquitlam | Delta | Langley | Maple Ridge | New Westminster | North Vancouver | Pitt Meadows | Port Moody | Richmond | Surrey | Vancouver | West Vancouver | White Rock | Langley |

Give us a call at 1.866.282.5378, or send us an email at to arrange a group course.

Instructions & feedback were clear w/ interesting tidbits to enhance understanding.

Katherine Krause CPR, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

"Great presenter, his humour made the weekend run really smoothly, as well as his personal experiences."

Michael Geselbracht Wilderness and Remote First-Aid, Gabriola Island, B.C. More Testimonials

"Our instructor Jason was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humour, which made the course fun and the atmosphere relaxing. I will be back to re-cert and recommend Alert to family and friends."

Sarah Layne CPR HCP, Victoria, B.C. More Testimonials

"I was pleased that CPR procedures are so much simpler than in the past. I feel equipped to handle an emergency now, because most of it just reinforces common sense. Although, it is crucial to know that what you're doing is the best thing for someone who needs help."

Kathleen Monaghan Standard First-Aid and CPR-C, Victoria, B.C. More Testimonials

Nathan is an all star instructor. What a fantastic teacher! Such enthusiasm! A real joy. I'm ready to be a First Aid-er.

Jenn Bell Standard First Aid, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

Excellent instructor, enthusiastic, really wanted us to learn & understand the content. Thank you.

Lisa Rintoul Standard First Aid, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

So happy I took this course. I would recommend it to others.

Amy Waines Standard First Aid, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

Once again Gary proved to be an excellent teacher! He is very good at teaching in a way that is understandable and fun. Who could not want to take this course? It was very well done!

Emerald Ayres Standard First Aid, Nanaimo, BC More Testimonials

Kept my attention all day! Great scenarios.

Jane Hamm Emergency Childcare First Aid, Victoria, BC More Testimonials

This was the most informative, fun first aid course I've taken! I appreciate how hands on it was.

Alana Emergency Childcare First Aid, Victoria, BC More Testimonials
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