ALS Instructor Recertification Cycle

The need for healthcare professionals to record professional, academic and other related activity has for some time been a requirement of continuing professional and personal development. Following a review of the instructor re-certification process, the Australian Resuscitation Council has adapted from the Resuscitation Council (UK) professional development record (PDR) that will enable you to collect, comment upon and evaluate your ongoing contribution to this specialist area of healthcare education. This is not a replacement of current systems of documentation but may be used as an adjunct to current logbooks, portfolios and other record keeping. The PDR may prove of value and assist in times of professional college development requirements and national registration requirements. Healthcare professionals take responsibility for their own self-development and acknowledging how this contributes to lifelong learning. It is an essential component of continuing professional development. The PDR is a critical account of your ALS Instructor activity, rather than an annotated contents list. This provides you with the opportunity to place into context the work you undertake as an ALS Instructor, and outline where learning/development has taken place. It is advised that Section 2 of the PDR is completed as a minimum. The PDR outline will be the recommended tool for recording the following:

• Number of courses taught
• Details of teaching commitments on each course
• Written feedback/comments relating to the teaching experience
• Reflective writing on the teaching experience

The collection of such evidence of development will enhance any review processes for Instructors when re-certifying or in application for Course Director status.

To maintain current instructor status, Instructors should teach on a minimum of three courses every 2 years. These courses can be full or modular courses where active teaching has been over 50% of those courses. Non-teaching Course Directors may need to seek opportunities to engage in educational delivery to meet these requirements if only undertaking the role of Course Director. (Course results include faculty listings and identify the days present indicating if more than 75% of that time is spent Instructing).

Recommended minimum number of courses every 2 years to recertify:

ALS1 Instructor:

• 3 ALS1 Courses

ALS2 Instructor:

• 3 ALS2 Courses, or
• 2 ALS2 Courses and Multiple ALS1 Courses, or
• 2 ALS2 courses and 2 Instructor Courses.

 

If there has been extenuating reasons impacting your ability to instruct on the minimum number of courses, please discuss with the Australian Resuscitation Council by contacting education@resus.org.au. Alternative opportunities may include the requirement to undertake two recertification courses over a period of time. Upon submission, please include dates of courses and centres in the last 2 to 4 years and all cases will be considered on an individual basis.

When an ALS2 Instructor wishes to only undertake ALS1 Instructing in the future they should inform the Council of this decision by contacting info@resus.org.au and make a request the records reflect this.

 

Expired Instructors

The Australian Resuscitation Council Instructor Certification is four years in duration. Every four years (or sooner) all Instructors must recertify on a course which involves being assessed in educational delivery of a Skill Station and CASTeach. Informal feedback is also delivered on other sessions by faculty. Once the certification has expired, the Council permits a 12-month ‘grace period’ in order for the Instructor to recertify.

• If within the four-year certification period or grace period, the Instructor may recertify on a single ALS course.
• If beyond the grace period, the Instructor must undertake two full ALS courses to recertify. (ALS1 courses will not contribute towards ALS2 recertification).

If the Instructor has gone beyond the four years of certification and is in the grace period, they are expired and are not eligible to undertake the role as a Course Director. Expired Instructors may not apply for Course Director Status.

Contact education@Resus.org.au to discuss your recertification, or re-engagement of instructor status.