Top 5 Things AHA Instructors Should Look for When Aligning with a Training Center or Training Site
As an American Heart Association (AHA) instructor, your choice of training center or training site can significantly impact your success, career development, and ability to deliver top-quality life saving training. Choosing the right place to align with isn't just about logistical ease; it’s about support, resources, and ensuring you're aligned with a center that enhances your professional growth.
Here are the top 5 things you should consider when deciding who to align with:
1. Accreditation and Compliance
The first and most critical step is ensuring the training center (TC) or training site (TS) is fully accredited by the American HeartAssociation and follows the latest AHA guidelines. You want to work with a site that upholds the highest standards in CPR and emergency cardiovascular care(ECC). Check that the center is committed to maintaining compliance with allAHA training protocols, including using up-to-date training materials and following course guidelines for certification.
Why it matters: Aligning with a compliant and accredited training center assures your students will receive nationally recognized AHA certifications and gives you peace of mind knowing the training provided is both accurate and reputable.
2. Instructor Support and Development
The level of support you receive from your training center can make or break your experience as an instructor. Look for centers that offer ongoing mentorship, professional development opportunities, and resources like marketing materials, training aids, or instructor development workshops.
Key questions to ask:
- Does the TC provide regular updates or instructor refreshers to keep me up to date with new protocols?
- Is there a system in place for feedback and continuous improvement?
- Will I have access to a network of other instructors for knowledge-sharing and support?
Why it matters: The best training centers invest in their instructors’ growth, ensuring you have the tools, confidence, and expertise needed to provide the highest level of instruction.
3. Reputation and Reviews
The reputation of the training center speaks volumes aboutthe experiences of other instructors and students. Research the center'shistory, online reviews, and talk to current instructors to get an insider’sperspective on what it’s like to work with them.
What to look for:
- Positive feedback from both instructors and students.
- A transparent and professional working relationship between instructors and the training center.
- Longevity and consistency in delivering AHA training programs.
Why it matters: A training center with a solid reputation for professionalism, high-quality instruction, and strong instructor relationships provides stability and trust as you align your teaching career with them.
4. Administrative and Marketing Support
One of the main advantages of aligning with an established training center is their ability to take care of administrative tasks and help with marketing. A good training center should manage course registration, payment processing, and paperwork, allowing you to focus on teaching.Additionally, look for centers that assist with marketing efforts—whether by promoting classes on their website, leveraging social media, or reaching out to local organizations for business partnerships.
Questions to ask:
- How does the training center handle student registration, payments, and certificate issuance?
- Will the center help market my classes or provide guidance on how to build my client base?
- Does the center have a streamlined system for maintaining records and reporting training completions to the AHA?
Why it matters: Administrative and marketing support allows you to focus on delivering high-quality instruction without the burden of managing the backend processes.
5. Cost
Shocking to some, cost of eCards is at the bottom of this list due to its importance on growth and scale as an AHA instructor. While keeping your costs low is critical to build your business, support and coaching are more important benefits to aligning with a training center or site. Finding a company to align with that will help you grow your business will pay dividends in the long run, while cheap card prices are often coupled with minimal support, poor quality assurance and slow response time when you need help fast.
What to look for:
- Fair market/ competitive pricing on the cost of eCards
- Avoid roster fees and alignment fees
Why it matters: A training center with market value pricing will help reduce your overall expense. Some centers and sites will also tack on monthly or annual fees, roster fees, or other miscellaneous expenses, while not proving the support you need. This is why we place price at the bottom of this list.
When choosing a training center or training site, you’re choosing a partner in your professional journey. By focusing on accreditation, instructor support, administrative assistance, reputation, and fair pricing, you’ll ensure you’re aligning with a company that’s committed to both your success and the lifesaving mission of the American Heart Association.
Take your time to evaluate your options, ask questions, and choose a training center or site that will help you thrive as an AHA instructor!
