In Your Community: Become an Instructor

Mental Health First Aid USA is managed, operated, and disseminated by three national authorities — the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Missouri Department of Mental Health. Only the national authorities can train and certify instructors to teach the 12-hour Mental Health First Aid USA course in local communities.

How You Can Obtain Instructor Certification

Upcoming Instructor Training Programs

Instructor Training Application Form

Instructor Training Interest Form

Mental Health First Aid Community Roll Out

Audiences for Mental Health First Aid 12-hour Courses

Contact us

How You Can Obtain Instructor Certification
Candidates are required to complete a 40-hour Instructor Training Program offered by the national authorities as a first step toward obtaining instructor certification. The interactive training program includes a written exam and evaluates each candidate’s ability to present the 12-hour Mental Health First Aid program to a variety of audiences.

To speed program implementation and support long-term sustainability, we recommend that you certify at least two instructors from your organization. In reviewing applications for instructor training, the national authorities will focus on candidates’ knowledge of or experience with mental health issues, prior experience in training adult learners, and commitment and capability to roll out Mental Health First Aid in the community if certified.

To date, Mental Health First Aid USA has trained and certified instructors from community mental health and addictions treatment organizations, state departments of health, hospitals, federally qualified health centers, faith-based organizations, state police, the National Guard, developmental disability centers, mental health authorities, and other mental health advocacy organizations including MHA and NAMI affiliates. See our interactive map  for a list of organizations in your state that already have certified Mental Health First Aid instructors.

Upcoming Instructor Training Programs
Instructor Training Programs are available for a fee at various locations across the country. We invite you to apply for an upcoming Instructor Training Program:

• Blue Bell, PA (outside of Philadelphia)  — May 3-7
• Washington, DC — June 28-July 2
• Houston, TX — July 12-16
• Chicago, IL - August 2-6
• San Francisco, CA — September 13-17
• Atlanta, GA - September 27 - October 1

Apply now for an Instructor Training Program. Don’t see a location/date that works for you? Complete our Mental Health First Aid Interest Form to help us bring Instructor Training to a location near you.

If you have a large group (15–30 individuals) interested in instructor training, we can customize a program for you at a discounted fee — contact us to discuss how.

Mental Health First Aid Roll Out by Certified Instructors
Certified instructors may teach the 12-hour Mental Health First Aid to any interested audiences in their communities. Instructors undergo tight credentialing by the national authorities to guarantee strict fidelity to the core Mental Health First Aid USA program model, while also maintaining the flexibility necessary to reach their unique audience needs and direct them to local resources for help.

Instructors must teach the 12-hour course in its entirety, and maintain fidelity to the core program. Course schedule and fees may be determined by the instructors and course materials must be ordered from the national authorities. Instructors are required to provide course evaluations to the national authorities to maintain certification. The national authorities will provide ongoing technical assistance and marketing ideas/support to certified instructors to help them disseminate the 12-hour course in their communities.

Access our webinar recording and presentation on Mental Health First Aid USA Roll Out Strategies, for ideas on how you can use Mental Health First Aid in your community.

Audiences for 12-hour Mental Health First Aid Courses
To date, Mental Health First Aid instructors have marketed and taught the 12-hour course to various groups in their communities, including:

• Educators/School Administrators
• Human Resources Professionals
• Members of Faith Communities
• Homeless Shelters Workers
• Nurses/Physician Assistants/Primary Care Workers
• Police/First Responders/Security Personnel
• Mental Health Authorities
• Policymakers
• Substance Abuse Professionals
• Social Workers
• Consumers and Family Members
• Caring Citizens

Questions about instructor certification and upcoming training programs? Contact Susan Partain at the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare at SusanP@thenationalcouncil.org or 202.684.3732.