Several years ago when I became a CPR instructor I found that the Red Cross was looking for volunteers and went through the class to become an instructor as well as had the intent to make a little money on the side because several students in the area were required to have CPR training for professional programs in school. Well way back in 2007, it did not take as much as it does today to freelance and become a business person in the CPR world. Today there are so many more challenges in order to make that happen.Â

As a certified instructor I have progressively gone through the changes over the last 12 years and have found that it is way more expensive to do this as a part time gig. With becoming a independent entity offering accredited curriculum from some of the big well known names, I have had to purchase so much stuff. Some of those things include having general liability insurance, workers comp insurance, filing a business name and becoming a LLC, equipment, equipment maintenance, new updated equipment and so much more.Â

One day I sat down and said, as a part timer doing CPR classes as needed isn’t going to pay the must have bills listed above and I need to think about doing this for real or getting out of the business. I decided to stick with it and really push this as a full time business and opening up an official office instead of working out of my home and lugging my equipment everywhere (which I still do this).Â

CPR alone is not as profitable as one might thing, I teach instructor training classes and many people who take the class think I just paid $300-$600 for this class, this will be so much easier than hiring someone to come in and teach our staff. What they do not realize is that the cost per card is still an expense when you are teaching certification classes. There is also supplies such as breathing barriers, manikin lungs and such you must purchase for each class.Â

In January 2019, feedback device manikins must be used in order to teach in accordance with the most recent ECC (Emergency Cardio Vascular Care) Guidelines. The manikins themselves are roughly $500 each, but here are variation and adaptions you can get for existing manikins so replacing your entire stock of manikins is not necessary. But my question is if you are doing this as a part time gig are you staying on top of the trends and changes? I hope so.Â

Am I trying to talk you out of being an instructor? NO, but I am wanting you to realize all the fees associated with becoming someone who is credible and doing this to teach others to save lives the right way and not the easy fast way. I spend hours each year on continuing education and reading material on updated trends and process as well as having to go to a CPR class myself and it is something I have dedicated my life to, it is not something I am doing on a whim anymore. I truly value the position I have and grown my business from renting manikins to owning my own manikins and teaching multiple levels of CPR as well as other seminars and health and safety related material.Â

As I look at my office I see bags upon bags of manikins and equipment old and new, and boxes upon boxes and hundred and hundreds of dollars worth of disposable supplies. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I teach in excess of 2500 people each year offering 15 different types of CPR/health and safety classes for all ages and all professions. And every five years, I have to dispose of my curriculum and purchase the updated curriculum which in itself is a few thousand dollars. But I network and I hustle to get the clients to make it a business.Â

Take a class, be prepared and network often!!