2025 Instructor Essentials: Updates and Reminders-April 17, 2026

Since the release of 2025 Instructor Essentials, we have received valuable feedback from the Training Network. In response, we are providing the following updates and reminders to support you during the 2025 Guidelines transition.

Update: 2025 Instructor eCard Naming in the eCards System

To improve clarity and consistency, effective April 16, 2026, the eCard course names displayed in eCards inventory for the Instructor cards listed below have been reverted to the original eCard display names.

Instructor Essentials Course Selection Guidance in Atlas

As Training Centers begin creating 2025 Instructor Essentials classes, it is important to understand the distinction between available course formats in Atlas:

• Blended Learning: Used when the Training Center assigns the online portion and conducts the hands-on skills session
• Skills Session Only: Used when the Instructor Candidate has completed the online portion independently and is only attending a hands-on skills session

Training Center Coordinators should ensure this guidance is clearly communicated to Training Faculty to support appropriate course selection.

2020 to 2025 Instructor Essentials Transition

The table below outlines the transition from 2020 Instructor courses to 2025 Instructor Essentials (IE) courses in Atlas:

Additional Information

• The ACLS Instructor option that displays in the course dropdown list is a 2020 course and remains available for international use only.
• When creating an Instructor Essentials Blended Learning class you will see the option for “Online” under the “Exam” drop down options, however only offline exams are available for Instructor Essentials Blended Learning classes. Given the above, please select “Offline” in the “Exam” drop down options when creating an Instructor Essentials Blended Learning class.
• Please note, when creating Instructor Essentials Hands-On Skills Session classes, there is no available drop-down menu for “Exam.” Therefore, as you are finalizing your Instructor Essentials Hands-On Skills Session classes, exam scores cannot be entered into Atlas for this class format. Training Center Coordinators should follow their established internal processes to maintain these records.
• Instructor Renewals: The class format options available to select during the Instructor renewal process reflect the course format options available, Blended Learning and Skills-Session Only. You may select any available format to successfully complete your Instructor renewal.