Anyone who has already completed Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider training with the Irish Heart Foundation may be ready to take the next step: teaching it to others. The IHF BLS Instructor Course trains healthcare professionals to deliver recognised CPR, AED and Basic Life Support training to colleagues, workplaces and community groups.
What is the IHF BLS Instructor course?
This is a 2-day Irish Heart Foundation Instructor Course, delivered following IHF and AHA facilitation standards. It covers adult, infant and child CPR, foreign body airway obstruction, recovery positioning and AED use, along with the use of bag valve masks and barrier devices.
Alongside these practical skills, the course focuses on facilitation: how to run a BLS Provider course, manage a classroom of learners and deliver clear, confident instruction under a recognised accreditation.
Course details
Become a certified BLS Instructor with UFAS Training
- Location: Dublin
- Dates: 14th and 15th September 2026
- Duration: 2 days
- Cost: €500 per person
- Certification: valid for two years, with re-certification required after that
- Places are limited, so early booking is recommended.
Who is this course for?
The course suits healthcare professionals who already hold current BLS Provider certification and want to move into teaching. This includes nurses, paramedics, doctors and other clinical staff who deliver, or want to start delivering, life support training within their own organisation.
It is not a starting point for BLS itself. Instructor candidates need to already be confident and proficient in the practical skills before the course begins.
Entry requirements
To join the course, participants must hold current Irish Heart Foundation BLS Provider certification, completed within the last two years, and be able to demonstrate the practical BLS skills covered at provider level.
What counts as valid BLS provider certification
If your BLS Provider certificate is close to expiring or has already lapsed, it needs to be renewed before starting the instructor course. If you are unsure whether your certification qualifies, contact us before booking and we can confirm.
Common questions about becoming a BLS Instructor
Who can attend the IHF BLS Instructor Course?
Healthcare professionals who hold current Irish Heart Foundation BLS Provider certification and are confident in the practical skills involved.
How long does the course take?
Two days, covering both the practical CPR, AED and BLS content and the facilitation and teaching skills needed to run a course.
What happens after I qualify as an instructor?
New instructors are usually required to teach and be monitored on their first few BLS Provider courses within a set period, so they can be signed off to run courses independently.
How long does BLS Instructor certification last?
Certification is valid for two years, after which re-certification is required to keep teaching.
Can I run private, in-house courses once qualified?
Yes. Many instructors go on to deliver BLS Provider training directly within their own healthcare organisation or workplace, as well as on public courses.
How First Aid Coaching can help
Our instructors bring hands-on experience of delivering accredited first aid and life support training across healthcare, workplace and community settings. Whether you are working towards your first instructor qualification or looking to add another accreditation, we focus on practical, well-paced training and clear guidance from qualified, experienced instructors.
We can also talk through what other instructor-level courses might suit your career path, or how this fits alongside our wider first aid and emergency care courses and healthcare-specific first aid training.
Book Your Place
If you’d like to book your place on the IHF BLS Instructor Course in Dublin or find out more, contact First Aid Coaching. We’re happy to talk through what’s right for you and confirm your BLS Provider certification qualifies before you book.
Email: firstaid@firstaidcoaching.ie
Call: +353 (01) 5549708