Instructor Candidate Onboarding Workbook
Welcome to the instructor pathway with Ella Med. This workbook walks you through every step of becoming an American Heart Association instructor, in order, from your point of view. Each step below explains exactly what you must do and what happens next. As you complete each step, write your answers in your own words in the space provided. Do not skip questions.
These steps are not Ella Med preferences — they follow the guidelines of the American Heart Association. Everyone in this process, including your Level 2 Instructor and Ella Med itself, is held to them. You will sign and date this document upon completion.
This workbook was sent to you directly by Ella Med, and it returns directly to Ella Med. Do not hand this document to your Level 2 Instructor, and do not include it in any paperwork you turn in to them. Your Level 2 Instructor will not see this document and will not be told what you write in it.
At the end of this workbook, you will find a section where you can tell us honestly how your training went — what went well, what you would like to see done differently, and any comments, questions, or concerns. Because this comes straight to us, you can speak freely. There will be no retaliation for anything you share.
Before anything else, you must hold a current, valid AHA provider card in the discipline you want to teach. To teach BLS, you must hold a valid BLS Provider card — a Heartsaver card does not qualify you for the BLS instructor pathway. To teach Heartsaver, you must hold a valid Heartsaver card.
- Confirm to your Level 2 Instructor that you have a current card, and provide your eCard so it can be verified.
- Your card will be validated at the official AHA site: https://ecards.heart.org/student/myecards.
- Do not be surprised or offended by this check — it is required for every candidate, with no exceptions.
If your card cannot be verified, is expired, or you do not have one, the instructor process stops immediately. This is not a punishment — it is the required order of operations.
- You must first complete provider training and earn a valid provider card.
- Provider training must happen on a separate day from any part of your instructor course. They cannot be combined into one day.
- Once you hold a valid card, the instructor process restarts from Step 1.
Once your card is verified, you will complete the Instructor Application.
- Download the application, and fill it out completely — including your name, address, phone number, and email address.
- Email the completed application as a PDF to ellamed.org@yahoo.com.
- Your contact information is how Ella Med reaches you directly throughout your training — including sending you this workbook.
Your application must be reviewed and approved by Ella Med before you move to Step 4. Do not begin the online course until you have received approval. Moving ahead without approval means repeating work and delays your certification.
After Ella Med approves your application, you will complete the AHA's online instructor course.
- Go to the American Heart Association website and complete Instructor Essentials Online in your discipline.
- Obtain your own copy of the Instructor Manual for the course you will teach. It is available as an ebook or a physical book — either is acceptable, but you must have your own copy.
- Both must be completed before your in-person training can happen.
With the online course and manual complete, you will attend in-person training led by your Level 2 Instructor.
- This is where you learn how to actually run a course: teaching, testing, skills evaluation, and paperwork.
- Ask every question you have. This session exists so that nothing is unclear before you teach in front of real students.
- You should leave this session feeling confident and ready — if you do not, say so before scheduling your monitoring session.
Next, you will teach a real course while your Level 2 Instructor observes you. This is your monitoring session.
- You lead the class. Your Level 2 Instructor watches and documents your performance using the Instructor Monitor Tool.
- Each competency is rated one of four ways: Yes, Yes with requirements, No, or Not Observed.
- During your monitoring is also when you will request your AHA alignment (see Step 7).
Once your monitoring is complete, your paperwork package is finalized and sent to Ella Med, and you align with Ella Med through the AHA.
- Your completed paperwork package is sent to ellamed.org@yahoo.com.
- You will request alignment to Ella Med's Training Site: Training Site ID TS44546.
- The best time to request alignment is during your monitoring session, so everything is completed while your Level 2 Instructor is present and nothing is left hanging.
The final step before you begin teaching on your own is proving your equipment meets AHA guidelines.
- Provide receipts and/or photos showing your training equipment — including feedback devices — meets current AHA guidelines.
- Once your equipment is verified, you will be issued a login to Enrollware, the system you will use to manage your class rosters, paperwork, and eCards going forward.
This section comes directly to Ella Med by email, separate from any paperwork you turn in to your Level 2 Instructor. Your Level 2 Instructor is not aware of this document and will not be shown your responses. If anything in your training did not go according to the guidelines in this workbook, this is where you can safely tell us. There will be no retaliation against you for anything you share here — your honesty protects you, future candidates, and the integrity of the program.
By signing below, I confirm that I have read this entire document, understand each step of the instructor pathway described above, and have written my own responses in my own words. I understand that these requirements follow the guidelines of the American Heart Association and are non-negotiable. I understand that this document is confidential between me and Ella Med.
Once you have answered every question, completed the confidential feedback section, typed your printed name, signed in the box, and entered the date:
- Tap the “Save Signed Workbook as PDF” button below.
- When the print window opens, choose “Save as PDF” instead of a printer.
- Save the PDF to your device, then email it directly to ellamed.org@yahoo.com.
Do not give this document, or the PDF, to your Level 2 Instructor. It comes straight to Ella Med, and your responses stay between you and us.