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CPR instructor Course
More than 2 million students worldwide

CPR instructor Course

Become a certified CPR instructor with the knowledge, teaching skills, and confidence to train others to save lives. This course covers everything from cardiac arrest physiology and adult learning theory to skills assessment and course management. Whether you're entering the field or formalising your expertise, this is the complete professional foundation you need.

Dedika for businesses

What you'll learn:

In this course, you will master the science behind CPR and learn how to teach it effectively to adult learners of all backgrounds. You will develop flawless personal execution of every CPR skill, including high-quality chest compressions, rescue breathing, AED operation, and choking management. You will learn how to design lesson plans, write measurable learning objectives, and sequence skills for maximum retention. You will also build coaching and feedback skills that correct errors before they become habits. Finally, you will learn how to run a complete CPR course, conduct objective skills testing, maintain accurate certification records, and continuously improve your own instructional performance.

How you study in practice CPR instructor Course

How you practise CPR instructor Course

For businesses looking to train their team

With Dedika for businesses, the course includes exercises and examples tailored to your own business and the way your company needs.

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Course content

8 Chapters • 37 LessonsDuration between 4 and 360 hours (you decide)

Chapter 1See details

Foundations of CPR Instruction

  • Lesson 1 • Adult Learning Theory for Instructors

    Introduces andragogy, motivation drivers, and prior-experience activation. Connects learning theory directly to CPR skill retention and participant engagement.

  • Lesson 2 • Regulatory and Certification Framework

    Surveys resuscitation guideline bodies, update cycles, and certification hierarchies. Instructors learn how to stay current and align courses with recognised standards.

  • Lesson 3 • Cardiac Arrest Physiology Basics

    Covers the chain of survival, cardiac arrest causes, and tissue oxygenation during arrest. Grounds instructors in the science that justifies every CPR skill taught.

  • Lesson 4 • CPR Instructor Role and Scope

    Defines instructor responsibilities, ethical boundaries, and scope of practice. Clarifies what instructors may and may not teach or advise beyond the classroom.

Chapter 2See details

Core CPR Skills Mastery

  • Lesson 1 • Scene Safety and Initial Assessment

    Covers hazard recognition, personal protective equipment use, and victim responsiveness checks. Accurate initial assessment determines the entire response sequence that follows.

  • Lesson 2 • High-Quality Chest Compressions

    Teaches rate, depth, recoil, and hand placement for adult, child, and infant victims. Compression quality is the single greatest determinant of CPR survival outcomes.

  • Lesson 3 • Two-Rescuer CPR Coordination

    Teaches role assignment, switch timing, and communication during two-rescuer CPR. Coordinated teamwork sustains compression quality over extended resuscitation efforts.

  • Lesson 4 • Rescue Breathing Techniques

    Addresses airway opening, mask seal, tidal volume delivery, and ventilation timing. Proper ventilation prevents gastric inflation and ensures adequate oxygenation.

  • Lesson 5 • AED Operation and Integration

    Covers AED pad placement, rhythm analysis, shock delivery, and immediate post-shock CPR resumption. Seamless AED integration reduces hands-off time during resuscitation.

Chapter 3See details

Choking and Airway Obstruction Management

  • Lesson 1 • Back Blows and Chest Thrusts

    Teaches back blow delivery and chest thrust application for infants and obese or pregnant victims. These alternatives protect victims for whom abdominal thrusts are contraindicated.

  • Lesson 2 • Abdominal Thrust Technique

    Covers hand positioning, thrust direction, and force for conscious adult and child victims. Correct technique dislodges obstructions without causing internal injury.

  • Lesson 3 • Recognising Airway Obstruction Severity

    Distinguishes mild from severe obstruction using universal choking signs and victim behaviour. Accurate severity assessment determines which intervention the rescuer applies immediately.

  • Lesson 4 • Unconscious Choking Victim Response

    Addresses transitioning to CPR, mouth sweeps, and blind finger sweeps when a victim loses consciousness. Instructors learn the exact decision points that govern each action.

Chapter 4See details

Instructional Design for CPR Courses

  • Lesson 1 • Selecting and Adapting Course Materials

    Guides selection of videos, job aids, and reference cards aligned to current guidelines. Instructors learn to adapt materials for literacy levels and special learner needs.

  • Lesson 2 • Blended and Online Learning Integration

    Covers HeartCode-style blended formats, pre-course online modules, and flipped classroom design. Blended delivery maximises hands-on practice time during in-person sessions.

  • Lesson 3 • Sequencing Skills for Maximum Retention

    Applies spaced practice, interleaving, and whole-part-whole sequencing to CPR skill sets. Proper sequencing reduces cognitive overload and accelerates skill consolidation.

  • Lesson 4 • Lesson Planning and Time Management

    Covers lesson plan structure, pacing, and contingency planning for variable group sizes. Effective time management ensures all required skills receive adequate practice time.

  • Lesson 5 • Writing Measurable Learning Objectives

    Teaches objective construction using performance, condition, and criterion components. Clear objectives align every activity and assessment to a specific, observable skill outcome.

Chapter 5See details

Effective Demonstration and Modelling

  • Lesson 1 • Demonstrating Skills for Diverse Populations

    Adapts demonstration technique for paediatric, infant, and special-population scenarios. Instructors show clear visual distinctions between adult and paediatric skill variations.

  • Lesson 2 • Manikin and Equipment Setup

    Addresses manikin selection, surface placement, and equipment staging for smooth demonstrations. Proper setup prevents interruptions that break learner attention and momentum.

  • Lesson 3 • Using Video and Digital Aids Effectively

    Teaches how to integrate guideline-approved video segments without replacing live demonstration. Video supplements instructor modelling but never substitutes for hands-on skill practice.

  • Lesson 4 • Principles of Skill Demonstration

    Covers show-tell-show structure, positioning for visibility, and narrating key decision points. Structured demonstration reduces learner confusion and accelerates correct skill acquisition.

Chapter 6See details

Coaching, Feedback, and Error Correction

  • Lesson 1 • Real-Time Coaching During Practice

    Teaches verbal cueing, physical guidance, and data-feedback device use during live practice. Real-time coaching corrects errors before they consolidate into incorrect muscle memory.

  • Lesson 2 • Identifying Common CPR Errors

    Catalogues the most frequent compression, ventilation, and AED errors observed during practice. Instructors who recognise error patterns intervene faster and more accurately.

  • Lesson 3 • Debriefing After Skill Practice

    Covers structured debriefing models, self-assessment prompts, and peer feedback facilitation. Debriefing converts practice experience into durable learning and self-correction habits.

  • Lesson 4 • Managing Resistant or Struggling Learners

    Addresses anxiety, physical limitations, and motivational barriers that impede skill acquisition. Instructors apply differentiated coaching strategies to bring all participants to competency.

  • Lesson 5 • Principles of Effective Feedback

    Covers specificity, immediacy, and actionability as the three pillars of instructional feedback. Feedback that lacks these qualities fails to change learner behaviour during practice.

Chapter 7See details

Skills Testing and Competency Evaluation

  • Lesson 1 • Using CPR Feedback Devices in Testing

    Addresses objective data capture from feedback devices and integration with evaluator observation. Device data supplements but does not replace trained evaluator judgement during assessment.

  • Lesson 2 • Conducting Objective Skills Stations

    Teaches station setup, evaluator positioning, and checklist use during live skills testing. Consistent station conditions ensure every candidate is evaluated under equivalent circumstances.

  • Lesson 3 • Remediation and Retesting Protocols

    Covers identifying skill gaps, targeted remediation design, and fair retesting procedures. Structured remediation gives candidates a clear path to competency without lowering standards.

  • Lesson 4 • Record Keeping and Certification Issuance

    Addresses roster completion, digital record submission, and card issuance timelines. Accurate records protect instructors, organisations, and certified participants from compliance risk.

  • Lesson 5 • Assessment Design Principles

    Covers validity, reliability, and standardisation as the foundations of competency assessment. Assessments that lack these properties produce certification decisions that cannot be trusted.

Chapter 8See details

Running a Complete CPR Course

  • Lesson 1 • Managing Group Dynamics and Pacing

    Addresses participant grouping, rotation management, and energy maintenance across a full course day. Effective group management keeps all participants active and on schedule simultaneously.

  • Lesson 2 • Pre-Course Logistics and Setup

    Covers room configuration, equipment inventory, participant communication, and pre-course screening. Thorough preparation prevents logistical failures that erode instructional time and credibility.

  • Lesson 3 • Instructor Self-Evaluation and Improvement

    Teaches post-course self-reflection, participant feedback analysis, and targeted skill development planning. Continuous self-improvement is the hallmark of an expert CPR instructor.

  • Lesson 4 • Opening and Orienting Participants

    Teaches course introduction, objective sharing, and psychological safety establishment. A strong opening reduces anxiety, sets expectations, and accelerates participant engagement.

  • Lesson 5 • Closing the Course and Post-Class Duties

    Covers course summary, participant Q&A, equipment cleaning, and administrative closeout tasks. A professional close reinforces learning and fulfils all organisational reporting obligations.

Certification

Your valid completion certificate

This course is for you:

  • Healthcare professionals: ready to formalise their ability to train clinical colleagues.

  • Workplace safety officers: responsible for keeping their organisation's responders certified annually.

  • Fitness and personal training professionals: wanting to add a credentialed teaching role to their services.

  • Firefighters and EMTs: looking to expand their impact beyond their own emergency response shifts.

  • School administrators or coaches: committed to building a CPR-ready culture among staff and pupils.

  • Career changers: entering the health and safety field through a practical, credential-building first step.

What our students say

Your lessons are perfect. I purchased the one-year package and finally have the opportunity to follow various topics of interest without needing to change platforms... I'm grateful for everything you do, I've already recommended you to other people...
Giulio Carlo
Giulio CarloDigital Marketing Student
I like how the lessons are straight to the point and how I can change chapters and skip content I don't need.
Mariana Ferres
Mariana FerresPhotography Student
I like the content and the way videos are presented and transcribed, which speeds up the process!
Luciana Alvarenga
Luciana AlvarengaNail Design Student
The platform is fast and simple to use. The diversity of content and complementary videos really help with learning.
André Felipe
André FelipePrompt Engineering Student

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