Instructors are responsible for contacting the local chapter office to keep their information current. The chapter will maintain instructor records at its office for instructors that consider that chapter their primary/home chapter. The file will contain contact information, correspondence, certifications, signed paperwork and other pertinent information. Records are maintained in the instructor’s home chapter. Instructor records are also maintained in the American Red Cross Learning Center. The Learning Center data base will maintain the instructor’s current certification records. Instructors can update their own personal information in the system. Instructor will automatically receive an email about updates or changes to courses and materials. Instructors will also be notified when it’s time to recertify their instructor certifications.
Instructors are certified to teach the American Red Cross course for which they are certified anywhere in the United States. Instructors will need to contact the local Red Cross chapter to let them know about any course they will be teaching in their area. Local chapters may require additional paperwork or have different policies and procedures.

Individual teaching and training history will be tracked using the American Red Cross Learning Center. If a paper record of a course is turned in it will be maintained in the chapter office for 7 years. Instructors should keep a copy of the course record for their records as well. Volunteer hours should be tracked by the individual instructor and confirmed by the volunteer coordinator as needed.

Initial instructor certification is generally through an instructor’s course. The instructor or a third party will be responsible to pay for the course fee and any course material costs. Materials are usually included in the course fee. Instructors are expected to pay for any course materials (instructors manual, participant manuals etc.) they need to teach the course. Every effort will be made to keep the cost for materials low. For instructor Upgrades and Bridges, instructors will be expected to pay the cost of their materials. The chapter will provide the upgrade training and bridging at no charge to the instructor.