Professional Responder
Instructor Development
Course
The Canadian Red Cross has multiple disciplines instructors can teach. One discipline of the Canadian Red Cross Instructor Development courses is Professional Responder. This course allows students to teach First Responder (FR), Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) and Basic Life Support (BLS) training courses to current and future first responders.
Our Professional Responder Instructor Development course teaches candidates the proper way to host these advanced safety courses through online and in-class modules. Learn how to teach a small group of students by practicing teaching methods and more. Once you successfully complete your Professional Responder Instructor course, you will be certified to teach FR and EMR!
Professional Responder Instructor Pathway
1. Evaluate Skills & Check Prerequisites
Prerequisites:
you must be 18 years or older, hold a valid Canadian Red Cross Basic Life Support, First Responder or Emergency Medical Responder certification and must have successfully performed a skills evaluation (if you wish to teach FR and EMR, then you only need an Emergency Medical Responder certification).
There are sets of skills checklists for each program and course available on the Instructor Network. The candidate must successfully complete all skills without coaching.
2. Fundamentals of Instruction
Course Length:
8 hours online, 14.5 hours (2 days) in-class
Learn the Fundamentals of Instruction online prior to attending an in-class session. The information you learn online will be applied to your in-class training which is why it is mandatory that you complete the online training successfully.
You must attend and participate in 100% of the course.
3. Discipline-Specific Classroom Component
14.5 hours (2 days) in-class
Complete a First Aid & CPR discipline-specific class successfully.
You must attend and participate in 100% of the course.
4. Teaching Experience
Course Length:
30-45 minutes online, in-class time varies on participant’s competency
Complete the online Teaching Experience module prior to successfully demonstrating a classroom component with the aid of a Teaching Experience supervisor.
5. Certification
Earn a digital copy of your First Aid & CPR Instructor Certification.
- Valid for 3 years
- Teach: Emergency First Aid, Standard First Aid, Marine Basic First Aid, Emergency Child Care First Aid, Standard Child Care First Aid and CPR training courses
Post-Course Requirements
Meets the requirement of the co‐teach form as outlined by the Instructor Trainer
6. Teach with Coast2Coast
After you earn your Instructor certification, you may apply to complete a “co-teach” session at Coast2Coast.
You will be required to teach a section of a First Aid & CPR training course under the supervision of one of our experienced instructors. Once the course is complete, the instructor will provide you with feedback and confirm if you are ready to teach.
If an instructor fails you, you must complete the co-teach again.
Registration Process:
To enroll in the Instructor Training course correctly, you must register for two separate components. Please follow these steps for registration:
- Complete registration for the Skills Evaluation and Fundamentals of Instruction component
- Complete registration for the Discipline-Specific component
Duration:
4 Days + 1 Skills Day
Requirements:
- Hold a valid Canadian Red Cross Standard First Aid certificate
- Demonstrate a positive attitude
- 100% attendance of the course
- Demonstrate knowledge of the individual approach to instructing
- Be able to demonstrate at any time all first aid and CPR/AED skills that are required for the course according to the Canadian Red Cross standards
- Be flexible and adapt to the needs of each group
- Be able to positively motivate and influence a group
- Represent the Red Cross in a professional manner
Teaching Ability:
- Understand how people learn
- Effectively communicate information to a small group
- Accept and give appropriate feedback
- Teach and evaluate participants according to established standards
- Identify how to include all participants in the course
Certification:
The Canadian Red Cross in accordance with the standards established by the Society must certify all Canadian Red Cross First Aid Instructors/Instructor Trainers. The certification of a Canadian Red Cross First Aid Instructor/Instructor Trainer is proof that all requirements have been met and that the Instructor/Instructor Trainer is certified and eligible to offer Canadian Red Cross First Aid courses to the public.It is the responsibility of all Red Cross Instructors to ensure that their Instructor certification is current and valid to instruct Red Cross courses. No Instructor is to instruct if not holding a valid and current Instructor certification. Instructor certifications are three years in length.
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Looking for an instructor course that isn’t quite as advanced? Check out our First Aid & CPR Instructor Development course instead!
This course will allow you to teach members of your community important life-saving skills they can apply at home, work or out in public when an emergency occurs.
Make a change in the world and complete an Instructor Development-First Aid & CPR training.

Hear From Our Students!
Video Testimonial Compilation
At Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics, our mission is to offer community-focused initiatives that empower people with vital life-saving abilities. We are dedicated to equipping every participant in our courses with the essential skills to effectively respond to diverse emergencies. Although we sincerely hope that such circumstances never occur, we are fully prepared to act promptly and efficiently when necessary. Our facilities, located throughout Canada, are furnished with cutting-edge First Aid and CPR equipment and resources. Discover our wide array of Canadian Red Cross programs or contact us for assistance in choosing the course that aligns perfectly with your requirements and situation.



Testimonial
As someone whose first language is not English, I sometimes found it difficult to fully understand some of the technical terms and hands-on instructions. However, Hosam was incredibly patient, kind, and supportive throughout the entire course. He took extra time to explain things clearly and made sure I understood each step. His friendly attitude really made me feel more confident and comfortable.
I truly appreciate his dedication to teaching and highly recommend him as an instructor — especially for anyone who may feel nervous or unsure. Thank you again!
the future, I learned a lot from him His name is Scott thank you for him and for the Red Cross in Etobicoke I appreciate it .
One challenge I encountered was accessing the building; I was accidentally locked out on two occasions, which caused some inconvenience. Improving entry instructions or access support could enhance the overall experience.
Despite that, I truly appreciated the quality of instruction and the collaborative atmosphere. I would recommend the course to others seeking a dynamic and immersive learning experience.
I would like to sincerely thank Coast2Coast for the amazing First Aid and CPR course I completed on July 5, 2025. The course was well-organized and very informative.
A special thanks to Mr. Joseph, our instructor, who was very talented, clear, and easy to understand. He made both the theory and practical parts of the training very engaging.
The training hall was clean, spacious, and comfortable—not hot at all despite the size—which helped us focus and enjoy the session fully.
I truly learned a lot and feel more confident now in emergency situations. I’m excited to share this experience with my family and friends and encourage them to take this important course.
Hussein Abdirahman Abdi
Herald Patel
Our First Aid & CPR Training Facilities in Canada
Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics provides WSIB-approved and OHS-approved First Aid, CPR, EMR, Youth training courses and more in over 23 locations in Canada! We pride ourselves on providing the best training experience possible, ensuring our students leave their course feeling confident in their life-saving skills.