Emergency First Response Instructor (EFR)

The Emergency First Response Instructor allows a student to teach skills based on internationally recognized emergency care guidelines that can offer the course to anyone. PADI Assistant Instructors as well as instructors from other dive training organizations who want to become PADI Instructors must complete this program. Successfully completing the program qualifies a Student to teach the Emergency First Response Course and is a pre-requisite requirement to attend the PADI Instructor Examination.

The program runs 9 hours over 1 day. In order to graduate, a Student must:

  • Attend all sessions

  • Complete 4 Academic knowledge reviews

  • Participate in all 8 required Emergency First Response Instructor Course Presentations

  • Teach at least 2 primary or secondary care skills from the Emergency First Response Primary Care, Secondary Care or CPR & AED courses

  • Teach at least 1 skill from the Care for Children course

  • During skill teaching presentations candidates must identify problems or ineffective techniques and appropriately correct them using at least 2 of the following coaching methods:

    • Allow self correction then reinforce positive outcome

    • Reinforce proper technique by pointing out effective demonstrations by other participants, staff or in EFR training videos

    • Specifically identify what was effective about a participant's skill demonstration

    • Foster teamwork by asking participants to encourage and guide each other

    • Make general statements and suggestions that avoid singling out individuals and causing embarrassment.

  • Demonstrate Roll Model technique for all 15 Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care course skills

  • Demonstrate Role Model technique for Care for Children skills

  • Successfully complete the Instructor Course Final Exam with a score of 75 percent or higher

Upon successful completion of the program a student will be issued a certificate of completion, which permits the Student to attend the PADI Instructor Examination. Course numbers in the EFRI program start with the prefix EFRI and are numbered sequentially. One clock hour constitutes 55 minutes of class time and 5 minutes of break time.

CPR and first aid are key skills that are important to everyone, not just scuba divers. As an Emergency First Response Instructor, you teach skills based on internationally recognized emergency care guidelines, and you can offer courses to anyone. The great thing about EFR courses is they make learning easy by providing a comfortable environment to practice emergency care skills. Your students finish the course feeling confident with their new skills and ready to help someone in need.

Emergency First Response Instructor Requirements:

The only requirements are that you're at least 18 years old and have Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (CPR and First Aid) training within the past 24 months. An EFR Instructor rating is required to become a PADI Instructor, but you don't have to wait until you're ready to go pro. You can complete or refresh this training during your PADI Instructor training.

Your role as an EFR Instructor is to be a coach that creates a positive learning environment. Along with learning how to structure and organize EFR courses, you practice:

  • Presenting course content.

  • Encouraging self-discovery in students.

  • Evaluating student understanding and skill mastery during hands-on skills practice.

  • Managing effective scenario-based learning experiences.

 Key Largo header image