How to Become an ALS or PALS Instructor

At the American Red Cross, we make it easy for current ACLS and PALS instructors to become certified as Red Cross ALS or PALS Instructors. Through our free, online Instructor Bridge program, those currently certified with approved, equivalent training organizations, including the American Heart Association (AHA) and ASHI, can become certified to teach with the American Red Cross.

How it Works

If you're already an instructor with the AHA or ASHI, becoming an ALS and/or PALS instructor with the Red Cross is simple. All you need to do is register and provide copies of your current provider-level (basic-level) certification, plus one of the one of the equivalent instructor certifications listed in our Instructor Bridge table.

Expand tables to learn more about Instructor Bridge Prerequisites:

Once approved, you can enroll in our free, online self-paced ALS or PALS course and complete it at your leisure. Because there are no in-person classes or skills sessions, the entire course only takes about an hour – and once you’ve successfully completed it, you'll be able to teach your first Red Cross class.

Register for the ALS and/or PALS Instructor Bridge – and expand your teaching options.

search for a class

Support You Can Count On

As an ALS or PALS instructor with the Red Cross, you'll have anytime access to all of our digital materials, which are available for free in our Learning Center, or you can purchase our affordable printed materials in the Red Cross Store. Plus, when you login to the Red Cross Learning Center, you can chat with Red Cross experts, connect with other instructors, review our FAQ, check out the latest news, or explore information from a wide range of resources. No matter what you need, we'll here for you every step of the way.