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Become an Instructor

Instructors are the key to spreading Mental Health First Aid across the country. Instructors are individuals certified to teach the course in their communities and beyond.

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4 Reasons to Become a

Mental Health First Instructor

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Connect Bring your community together
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Advocate Reduce negative attitudes about mental illnesses
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Educate Build mental health literacy
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Lead Show others how they can help

What Instructors Do?

Instructors are on the frontlines of the program and train people in their communities in Mental Health First Aid. Certified instructors are required to teach the course at least three times per year. Instructors teach from a national curriculum, tailor discussions to their participants and compile a list of local resources for help.
Instructor Role

How to Become Certified as an Instructor

Instructor certification results from a 5-day or 3-day training that presents the Mental Health First Aid course and provides in-depth instruction on facilitating the curriculum. The training includes a written exam and evaluates each candidate’s ability to present the Mental Health First Aid course to a variety of audiences. Become certified to teach the adult or youth curriculum, or both. Certification Process

Maintaining Certification

Once certified, Instructors must teach the course at least three times per year to maintain their certification. Dual certified Instructors must teach a minimum of three courses per year with at least one course from each curriculum (Adult and Youth) annually to maintain certification. Mental Health First Aid USA will provide ongoing technical assistance and marketing support to certified Instructors to help them disseminate the course in their communities. For full details on obtaining and maintaining certification, see our certification standards. Questions about maintaining instructor certification? Contact us at MHFAinfo@thenationalcouncil.org or 202.684.7457, option 3.
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