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Prerequisites by Instructor Development Program

Each Red Cross Instructor role has specific prerequisites to ensure you’re fully prepared to guide learners with confidence. Review the requirements below to see what you’ll need before applying to your chosen program.


Explore the instructor pathway

Youth Leader

  • Minimum age of 18 years old (or 16–17 years old with adult support)
  • Red Cross Standard First Aid & CPR/AED Level C certification (or equivalent)

Instructor Development Discipline-Specific Programs

General requirements:

  • Minimum age of 18 years old
  • Proof of current learner-level certification in the discipline you want to teach

Program-specific prerequisites:

  • CPR Instructor (CPRI): CPR C certification
  • First Aid Instructor (FAI): Standard First Aid – Level C certification
  • Basic Life Support Instructor (BLSI): Basic Life Support, Airway Management, and Oxygen Therapy certifications
  • First Responder Instructor (FRI): First Responder certification
  • Emergency Medical Responder Instructor (EMRI): Emergency Medical Responder certification
  • Psychological First Aid Instructor (PFAI): Psychological First Aid certification
  • Remote First Aid Instructor (RFAI): Remote First Aid certification
  • Wilderness First Aid Instructor (WFAI): Wilderness First Aid certification
  • Wilderness First Responder Instructor (WFRI): Wilderness First Responder certification

Instructor Development Teaching Experience

Supervisor

  • Minimum age of 18 years old
  • Proof of current Canadian Red Cross Instructor-level certification (discipline-specific)
  • OR Youth Leader certification (ages 16–17 with adult support accepted)
  • A completed skills evaluation form is required for all candidates except:
    • Youth Leaders (must hold current Standard First Aid – CPR C)
    • Psychological First Aid Instructors (skills evaluation not required)

Instructor Trainer

  • Minimum age of 18 years old
  • Current Canadian Red Cross Instructor certification
  • Proof of having taught at least 5 courses within your most recent 3-year certification period
    • At least 2 of the 5 courses must be in the specified discipline

Master Instructor Trainer

  • Minimum age of 18 years old
  • Successfully completed the Master Instructor Trainer selection process and onboarded as a Canadian Red Cross volunteer
  • Must have experience teaching:
    • Fundamentals of Instruction classroom component
    • Discipline-Specific classroom component
    • Instructor Recertification classroom component