How To Become A First Aid Instructor: What It Is and Career Path

What is a first aid instructor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

David McMahan Ph.D.

First aid instructors educate people on giving first aid treatment in emergency situations. They provide courses on the correct actions in response to accidents. They pass on basic skills and knowledge on how to attend to minor injuries. At the end of the course, they issue a first-aid certificate for the attendees.

You will work with groups of people and demonstrate situations and responses. You will need good presentation and communication skills to put your point across and create a relaxed environment where people can focus and learn. You will be there to answer questions, clear up doubts, provide information, and help people feel confident in dealing with unexpected medical situations on the road or in their household.

You might travel for work and give classes after working hours, allowing people to attend in their free time. You will need to be certified to take on this role and have experience in teaching groups. You can acquire the necessary certification by completing a course and passing a test. It would be best if you were friendly, approachable, and confident in performing your demonstrations. You can expect to receive an annual salary of around $32,621.

What general advice would you give to a First Aid Instructor?

David McMahan Ph.D.

Charles A. Dana Professor of Religious Studies, Franklin and Marshall College

Keep open to possibilities beyond the narrow range of what your diploma lists as your major or minor. Whatever job you get trained for today, in 10-20 years, it may be very different. Or it may not exist. Focus on obtaining and maintaining flexibility, critical thinking, creativity, and passion for learning. Being an interesting person is as vital as any credential.

ScoreFirst Aid InstructorUS Average

Salary

3.5

Avg. Salary $44,903

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

4.9

Growth Rate 12%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.53%

Asian 6.03%

Black or African American 10.64%

Hispanic or Latino 15.81%

Unknown 5.74%

White 61.25%

Gender

female 57.49%

male 42.51%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress Level

4.9

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

5.9

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

10.0

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a first aid instructor

Explore first aid instructor education requirements

Most common first aid instructor degrees

Bachelor's

54.1 %

Associate

18.8 %

Master's

12.7 %

Start to develop specific first aid instructor skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	33.21%
PowerPoint	23.00%
Course Materials	22.22%
First Aid/Aed	6.84%
First Aid Training	1.88%

Complete relevant first aid instructor training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New first aid instructors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a first aid instructor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real first aid instructor resumes.

Gain additional first aid instructor certifications

First aid instructor certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific first aid instructor certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for first aid instructors include Instructor and First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor.

More About Certifications

Research first aid instructor duties and responsibilities

Manage verification and maintenance of employee databases which includes all mandatory licensing and certifications.
Provide patient medical care and referrals to rehabilitation services.
Teach all Phlebotomy, EKG, and CPR courses.
Act as first and secondary responder.

Prepare your first aid instructor resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your first aid instructor resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a first aid instructor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable First Aid Instructor Resume templates

Build a professional First Aid Instructor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your First Aid Instructor resume.