How To Become a Freelance First Aid Trainer

If you love to train others, are interested in the medical industry, and want to run your own business, becoming a freelance first aid trainer is a worthy option. First aid training is needed in every country in the world. In this post, we’ll discuss how to become a freelance first aid trainer to help you get started on your freelance business.

Training students in first aid provides them with life-saving skills. These skills can make the difference in how easily someone heals from an injury or if they live or die. Becoming a first aid trainer is as respected and rewarding as it is needed.

The training allows you to travel to different locations to train students onsite. This allows you to meet a lot of people and visit a lot of places. Performing the difficult and repetitive tasks of first aid, such as CPR, has the extra benefit of helping the trainer stay fit. You’ll get to work both indoors and outdoors.

Freelancing provides freedom that’s difficult to obtain any other way. As a freelancer, you have full control over your business. This includes your schedule, the clients you choose to work with, the services you provide, how you work, where you work, and more. You are your own boss.

First aid training is always in demand. Becoming a freelance first aid trainer is a business that can keep you busy for many years.

If you’re interested in a related business, take a look at the article How to Become a Freelance Medical Writer.

Now that we’ve seen why anyone would want to become a freelance first aid trainer, let’s look at what’s required to make it happen.

Set Up Your Freelance First Aid Trainer Business

Even a freelance business needs to be a legal business. There are several types of business entities you could choose, and these will vary based on your location. Each has different legal, tax, and insurance needs. Options in the U.S. include sole proprietorships, LLC (Limited Liability), and corporations.

Most freelance businesses are sole proprietorships. This works well for companies owned by a single person. Regardless of the business type you want to create, having the required business license ensures your business works within the laws of your country.

For more about starting a freelance business, see the article How to Become a Freelancer in 30 Days.

Obtain First Aid Certification

There are minimum requirements you’ll have to meet before starting your freelance first aid trainer business. This includes instructor prerequisites, certifications, age limits, etc. The requirements may vary depending on your location.

First, you’ll need to get the first aid introductory qualifications. This requires you to take an introductory first aid course to obtain your certification. There are lots of popular courses available.

First Aid at Work (FAW) is a popular course offered by many organizations, so you’ll need to search for courses in your location. This certification isn’t required if you already have a certification as a paramedic, nurse, doctor, or similar in the medical industry.

The training will include knowledge of the proper first aid techniques, kits, and tools including blood pressure monitors, glucose monitors, etc. You’ll also learn how to properly use bandages, splints, slings, anastatic sprays, antibiotic creams, and medications. This will include how to give a patient a shot and selecting medicine.

Obtain First Aid Trainer Certification

Once you’ve met the introductory qualifications, you need to acquire first aid teacher qualifications. This training will include several techniques for teaching individuals, groups, and students with different learning needs and goals.

Excellent speaking and teaching skills are crucial for any trainer. They’re especially crucial for a topic as important as first aid. The first aid trainer must be easy to understand and thorough. Students should not easily get confused by the training. The teacher should speak from experience and be able to answer questions.

Teaching techniques will include spoken presentations, one-on-one guidance, and hands-on training. Teacher certifications will include learning theories and student assessment training.

This will help you help the students to get the most out of this important topic. First-aid teacher certification courses are sometimes offered by organizations that provide first-aid training.

Obtain Freelance Business Training

Regardless of the freelance topic, it’s a good idea to learn how to start and manage a freelance business. As a freelancer, you have the responsibility over every aspect of your business. This includes getting clients, scheduling, billing, making business decisions, and more.

The Small Business Association provides lots of information about starting a legal business in the U.S.

Choose Your First Aid Courses

There are several types of first aid courses you can teach. Options include:

• Emergency
• First Aid at Work
• Pediatric
• Sports

It’s best to specialize in the most popular needs in your work area. As your business grows, you can offer more courses.

Choose Your Class Location

You can host the classes at your client’s locations, so you’ll go to them, or find a location yourself, so they’ll come to you. There are advantages and disadvantages to both options. You may need to work out the options on a case-by-case basis.

If they come to your site, you’ll need a large enough area for training and parking. You may need to rent space from a local office. You’ll also need to pay the costs involved.

There will be organizations that won’t be able to leave their site. This is especially true of larger companies or small offices. Larger companies usually have space that can be used for classes.

Fortunately, there is usually space available, such as classrooms and conference rooms, in offices, churches, libraries, community centers, hotels, small businesses, large businesses, banks, etc.

Many of these rooms can be rented weekly. They’re easy for clients to locate and you won’t need to worry about many of the other expenses. This is a great way to get started, and you can find a permanent location as your business expands.

Set Your Prices

You’ll also need to decide your pricing and how you’ll handle contracts. Set prices based on the services needed, group size, location, training materials, and expenses. Be sure to include your expenses such as your website and advertising.

One option is to look at the prices of your competition and use that as a starting point. Keep in mind that your competition might have different expenses, services, and experience from yours.

Be sure to include travel expenses such as fuel, food, lodging, wear and tear on a vehicle, etc. This is especially important for traveling longer distances.

If you’re paying for a location, you’ll need to include the costs for rent, utilities, office equipment, office supplies, insurance, etc. Also, consider how the students will get food and snacks.

Gather Supplies

As a first aid trainer, you will provide all the supplies needed for the class. You’ll need first aid supplies, cleaning supplies, hygiene supplies, handouts, and certificates. You’ll also need to teach how to use the kits, tools, and equipment.

Depending on the topic, you might need a training dummy for each student. This is especially important if you’re teaching CPR or how to use a defibrillator.

You may also need a screen with a projector if one isn’t available at the location. In some locations, a microphone and amplifier or a PA system may also be required so you can be heard over the noise.

Printed posters can also be helpful for teaching and demonstrations. They can be placed on tables or have their own stands.

Obtain Your Course Materials

Courses should include all of the first aid techniques including how to use the kits and equipment.

You’ll need to purchase or develop the material for each course you want to provide. This includes the presentations, posters, booklets, handouts, and more. As a trainer, you should know how to create this material.

Presentations, books, DVDs, and other materials are available from first aid organizations that provide certification training. So, you won’t have to create everything yourself if you prefer to purchase the material.

Set Up Your Freelance First Aid Trainer Website

Every freelance business needs a high-quality website to showcase its services and portfolio and make it easy for clients to hire you. It needs to include social proof, such as testimonials from real clients.

The site needs to be designed well and attract the target audience. Fortunately, WordPress makes it easy to build professional quality websites.

Typical pages you’ll need include:

• Home
• About
• Services
• Portfolio
• Contact

For more information about building your website with WordPress, see the articles Top 10 Online Courses for WordPress to Build a Website, How to Start Your Own Business Website, and The Small Business Checklist: Four Things to Consider Before You Build a Website.

Of course, a high-quality website is only as good as its hosting. Here at Verpex, we have the best WordPress hosting available for any size website. Take a look at our WordPress hosting plans and start building your freelance first aid trainer website today.

Obtain Insurance

Be sure to research the types of insurance you’ll need for your business type. Most business types will need professional and public liability insurance in case any issues occur due to your training courses. This helps protect you and your business from harmful claims.

Advertising Your Freelance First Aid Trainer Business

As with any business, advertising is crucial to your success. Since your first aid training will be performed on-site, you’ll need to advertise in the local areas where you want to work. This includes local newspapers, radio, TV, signs, billboards, sales flyers, first aid associations, and more.

You’ll need to reach out to the types of organizations you want to work with that need your services. Fortunately, virtually any type of company can benefit from first aid training.

This includes medical centers, dentist’s offices, physical therapy centers, businesses, schools, churches, elderly care facilities, senior centers, childcare centers, libraries, offices, pools, fitness centers, factories, food preparation, and other types of organizations.

For online marketing, you’ll need to focus on local ads on social media and Google searches. Social media platforms provide the ability to target businesses and consumers in certain locations for ads.

For more information about marketing your local freelance first aid trainer business, see the articles Social Media Marketing in the 2020s and Best B2B Marketing Strategies.

Since you’ll work onsite at specific locations, you’ll also need to focus on your local SEO strategy. This is different from the typical SEO. Local SEO focuses on specific locations. For more information about local SEO, see the articles How to Advertise With Google Ads and 16 SEO Tips for Small Businesses.

Continue Your Training

Once you’ve gotten your certifications and started your freelance business, it’s a good idea to continue your training. Add certifications for CPR, using a defibrillator, training other trainers, etc. Join first aid associations and stay up to date with news and guidelines.

Most certifications only last for two years, so you’ll need to recertify for all those you want to keep. You’ll need to add this time and cost into your planning and budget.

That’s our look at how to become a freelance first-aid trainer. This is a reputable career that provides training needed by many organizations across the globe. Starting a freelance first aid trainer business isn’t difficult, but there are several certifications needed and certain business knowledge required. This post provides the information you need to get started with your freelance first-aid trainer business today.

We want to hear from you. Have you followed any of these tips to become a freelance first-aid trainer? Let us know about your experience in the comments.