7 BLS/CPR Instructor Tips

Written By Adam Voydik

If you are currently unemployed or are looking for an additional stream of income consider becoming a CPR Instructor. Consider these 7 tips before becoming a CPR/BLS Instructor.

1) Occupational Outlook

You may ask yourself “what does a CPR/BLS Instructor do?” CPR Instructors teach others how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Maybe you are curious about a CPR/BLS Instructor’s salary. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 15% growth for instructors between 2019 and 2029. PAYSCALE.com estimates a full-time BLS Instructor’s average annual salary as $71,001. A more interesting statistic however comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics; over 50 percent of the fastest-growing jobs between 2019 and 2029 require CPR certification. What else should you consider before entertaining the thought of becoming a CPR/BLS Instructor? Research. Research. Research.

There are two primary vendors, whose CPR credentials are accepted by a great many employers, the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Red Cross (ARC). The AHA conducts ongoing research into Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and provides current Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) guidelines. ARC is commonly associated with industrial environments and disaster-related scenarios. 

Without pigeonholing vendors, it can be stated that the AHA is universally accepted by all employers. AHA Instructors can teach both basic and advanced curricula. Basic AHA instructors can teach Heartsaver® and Basic Life Support (BLS) curriculum. Heartsaver® is geared toward non-medical individuals and covers first aid and/or CPR AED certification. BLS is a curriculum generally for medical providers who perform patient care in some capacity. The following paragraphs will provide a brief insight into the process of becoming an instructor.

2) Market Analysis

Your first step in becoming a CPR/BLS Instructor should involve a market analysis. Gain an understanding of who your client base encompasses. Many occupations that you would not normally consider require CPR certification. Teachers, daycare workers, caregivers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, warehouse and industrial employees, lifeguards, linemen, fitness trainers, and medical providers in various settings i.e. hospitals, clinics, laboratories, dental offices, home care, nursing homes, and transport services, to name just a few, all require CPR certification. CPR and first aid are not always job requirements, sometimes people take these courses for peace of mind. Anyone can be a CPR/BLS instructor’s client.

3) Competing Vendors

Rural and metropolitan areas alike would greatly benefit from a CPR/BLS Instructor’s services. Logic says that where a demand resides so does competition. Metropolitan areas are generally more competitive than rural areas, but the quality of service you provide is a significant point of consideration for clients. Although you may compete with other vendors who provide the same service, CPR Instructors have the luxury of being highly mobile. A brick and mortar facility is not required to instruct CPR classes. CPR classes can be taught at the instructor’s or client’s home, rent conference rooms, or facilities where your client(s) work. Word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool, the higher the quality of your instruction the more customers you will have.

4) Employment Type

Before embarking on your CPR Instructor endeavor consider how you want to employ your future skill set. Do you want to be an independent contractor or would you prefer to work for an employer? Certain organizations hire professional educators as a cost-saving measure and offer salary wages. As an independent contractor, you set your rates and the number of clients you provide services to. Regardless of the path, you take all CPR Instructors must align with either a Training Center (TC) or Training Site (TS). Your alignment is significant in that you will purchase the cards you issue to your students from that entity. 

TCs and TSs charge a fixed rate for certification cards. Independent instructors and employers are responsible for paying for their cards. Shop around and inquire about instructor responsibilities, financial obligations, and eCard rates before choosing your TC or TS. TSs report to TCs and TCs report to the AHA. Seek a TS or TC that provides same-day eCards, ensures a high standard of professionalism, and communicates regularly with their instructors. The last thing you want to deal with is waiting days to hear back from your TS or TC. 

5) Start-up Costs

Instructors who work for an outside employer should not incur any out-of-pocket costs for their instructor certification or the supplies required to conduct a class. Independent contractors can expect to invest between $1000 and $2500 for the initial start-up. 

Rough Breakdown:

Purchasing your manikins new or used can impact the overall start-up cost. A widely utilized vendor for new CPR supplies is worldpoint.com. A fiscally savvy instructor will keep an eye on sources like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Mercari, and Offer Up for used or discounted CPR supplies. 

6) Class Pricing

Independent CPR Instructors set their class prices. Prices range widely throughout the marketplace. Class price is generally driven by one of two factors volume or quality. Vendors who charge lower fees instruct classes with large student numbers. Vendors with higher prices teach fewer students per class and focus on higher-quality instruction. Remember, you don’t work for free. Classes consume supplies, your eCards come at a premium, and your time is valuable. The national average hourly income for BLS instructors is $27.27 depending on your geographic location there is a potential for higher earnings. Calculate your supply burn rate, hourly instructor rate, income taxes, and any additional business-related fees before setting your prices. Lastly, survey your local area to see what other instructors are charging. Your pricing should be comparable if not slightly lower than your nearest competitor(s), so long as you remain profitable.

BLS Instructors can make as much or as little money as they desire. The customer base is broad and the opportunities are endless. If you are a self-starter and are interested in the promising opportunities as a BLS Instructor contact EMskillz, LLC as we would be incredibly happy to help you on your journey.  

7) Next Steps

Now that you have at least contemplated some of the big considerations for becoming a CPR/BLS Instructor you may be curious about how to formally start the process of becoming an instructor. If you are still interested in becoming a CPR/BLS Instructor, allow EMskillz to seamlessly guide you through the process. Contact one of our team members who would be happy to assist you.

 

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Fitness Trainers and Instructors, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/fitness-trainers-and-instructors.htm (visited December 09, 2020). 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Fastest Growing Occupations, 

at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/fastest-growing.htm (visited November 21, 2020).

Q: How Much Do CPR Instructor Jobs Pay per Hour in 2020? (n.d.). Retrieved December 13, 2020, from https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/CPR-Instructor-Salary-per-Hour

Training Instructor Salary. (n.d.). Retrieved December 16, 2020, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Training_Instructor/Salary 

Adam Voydik https://www.emskillz.com
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