Training Bulletin: American Heart Association American Red Cross Course
Reciprocity Agreement TO: American Heart Association Training Centers and Instructors
DATE: December 1, 2006 Purpose This Training Bulletin issues the Program Administration Subcommittee changes
determined on October 3, 2006. These changes will take effect December 1, 2006.

This Bulletin provides the rationale for the suspension of the instructor reciprocity
agreement between the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross and
to provide guidance to the American Heart Association Training Network.
Background Prior to the launch of the 2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for
CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care, the American Heart Association
and the American Red Cross granted reciprocity for each others instructors.
The reciprocity agreement, signed in 2003, permitted American Red Cross
providers and instructors to enter American Heart Association Basic Life
Support and Heartsaver Instructor courses, and providers who had the
American Red Cross Professional Rescuer Credential to enter an American
Heart Associations Healthcare Provider renewal course.

This reciprocity was based on the American Heart Association and American
Red Crosss use of common guidelines and instructional methods, which
guide how CPR and other skills are performed and taught. Suspension of
Reciprocity
Agreement There are now differences between the American Heart Association 2005
Guidelines for CPR and ECC and the American Red Cross publication of
their interpretation of the 2005 Consensus on Science and Treatment
Recommendations. The American Heart Association believes there are
substantial scientific differences between American Red Cross courses based
on the American Red Cross CPR Guidelines and American Heart Association
courses based on the 2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR
and ECC. Continued on next page National Center 7272 Greenville Avenue Dallas, Texas 75231-4596 Tel 888-CPR-LINE americanheart.org/ecc Training Bulletin: American Heart Association American Red
Cross Course Reciprocity Agreement, Continued Suspension of
Reciprocity
Agreement
(continued) Due to these differences, the reciprocity agreement has been suspended. An ARC
provider card may not be accepted for entrance to an AHA provider renewal course or
an AHA Instructor course.

American Heart Association ECC volunteer leaders made this decision only after
careful review and consideration. American Heart Association and American Red
Cross volunteer and staff leaders are discussing ways to resolve the science and
training differences and remain committed to training more people to respond to
cardiovascular emergencies and to save more lives. Program
Administration
Manual change The Program Administration Manual, 3 rd Edition Effective date July 1, 2004, page 85, section entitled, American Red Cross Reciprocity is deleted. December 1, 2006 Training Bulletin: ACLS and PALS Physician Instructor requirements; and
Lead Instructor TO: American Heart Association Training Centers and Instructors
DATE: December 1, 2006 Purpose This Training Bulletin issues the Program Administration Subcommittee changes
determined on October 3, 2006. These changes will take effect December 1, 2006. ACLS and
PALS
Physician
Instructor
requirements For ACLS and PALS provider and instructor courses, the requirement to have
a physician-instructor available during courses has been eliminated.

ACLS for Experienced Providers courses and ACLS EP Instructor courses
must have a Course Director who is appointed by the ACLS Training Center.
If the ACLS EP Course Director is not a physician, a physician who is also an
ACLS EP Instructor must be available for consultation, but is not required to
be physically present for the course. Lead Instructor
Designation The designation of Lead Instructor has been eliminated.

ACLS and PALS Course Directors retain all responsibility and oversight of
their courses.

BLS Instructors and Heartsaver Instructors do not have to designate a Lead
Instructor. If two or more instructors co-teach, only one instructor submits a
roster to a TC for the issuance of course cards. The other instructors only
submit a notification of having taught in the course and may include a copy of
the roster, but their TC has no responsibility to the issuance of course cards. December 1, 2006 National Center 7272 Greenville Avenue Dallas, Texas 75231-4596 Tel 888-CPR-LINE americanheart.org/ecc