AHA CPR Instructor Business

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Does anyone have experience with becoming an AHA Certified BLS and HeartSaver CPR Instructor? I am looking to become certified and start my own business where I go to businesses and offices to certify people. I am confused with the information I got from the Training Center I have to take the class through. Once you take the class, are you allowed to go out on your own to businesses and teach the class? Or do you have to teach it at the TC or a certified Training Site? I'd like to hear from someone who has done this and how your got things rolling in your respected area. Thanks!

No I don't have for my LLC. They charge me 3 bucks a card whether it's BLS ACLS or PALS I'm an instructor for all 3. I send over a list a head of time of my class n they email me the e cards so I have them available the day of , I also have a graphic designer who does all my advertising. I can take payment in any form. Also going rates in Washington DC area BLS 100 bucks 2 years n 180-200 for acls n pals. I can buy cards ahead of time as well. But with e card no longer have to do that.

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That's awesome! The TC I took my course through charges $25 for card and then another 38% ($9.50) for a fee. If I align with them I get paid by them per hour, which is not what I want to do. Looking for a TC that has the same setup your TC has. Is your TC a hospital? I have heard they typically are more lenient with their instructors and don't try to micromanage enrollment or money. The TC I went through is a community college.

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Hi Tarn,

I would like to know if you can share how you were able to market your business? Are you able to conduct classes full time?

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Specializes in Occupational Health.

Hi there - I started a LLC teaching AHA BLS, Heartsaver, First Aid, and Bloodborne Pathogens. About half of my clientele are companies and businesses and the other half are community classes I teach almost every Saturday (mostly other healthcare workers needing their BLS renewals). Going through the previous statements I wanted to address a few things I've learned over the past 2 years I've been in operation:

1. Absolutely purchase , especially if you are going to other businesses to teach. It's not expensive (I go through State Farm) and I provide a COI (certificate of insurance) when I go to a new customer. COI's are good for a year so you don't need to provide another one if you are doing multiple trainings within that year.

2. Many hospitals and fire departments have their own training centers and your coordinator would be an excellent resource for more advanced questions as they are in the medical field. I use a local hospital as my training center and my coordinator is the asst EMS coordinator there so he has been an excellent resource for student questions I don't have the answer to.

3. Become a member of your local chamber of commerce(s) and get involved with events that not only promote your business but show that you are a business that gives back to the community. Many chambers also do monthly networking events,  provide sponsorship opportunities for your business, and provide you a mailing list of all the businesses who are also members so you (or your marketing person, if you hire one) can reach out to.

4. Don't forget to also promote you are a nurse. The CPR business can be competitive, depending on where you live, and medical training outside the AHA instructor course is not required to be an instructor. Showing that you have a medical background builds credibility and trust and can give you a step up over your competitors.

5. Build a solid brand for your business. Hire a graphic designer (I was fortunate to have a son who just graduated college with a graphic design degree) to design a logo, come up with your mission statement, build a website to advertise your classes and showcase what you can provide. I used GoDaddy to host my domain and website and it's central to my business as it's where I list my pricing, my community classes, and share in a blog what my business has been up to.  Also use social media - Facebook and Instagram are big in helping getting the word out as well as help connect with other businesses in your area.

6. Get into the Google search engine algorithm ASAP. This one takes time and patience - GoDaddy help set me up with this one and it takes roughly a year before you start showing up near or at the top of the list. Now when people in my area type "CPR classes near me", I show up at the top of the search results.

Best of luck to you in your new business - feel free to email me if you have any questions.

 

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