You must be certified by Mental Health First Aid USA to teach either the Adult or Youth Mental Health First Aid course. Certification is achieved through a 3-day or 5-day interactive training. Only individuals – not organizations – can receive Instructor certification.
The training teaches you how to:
Dual Certification in the Adult and Youth Curriculum
If you want to teach both Youth and Adult courses, you must first be a certified Instructor for either Youth or Adult training and teach at least one course in your core curriculum. You can then apply to become certified in the second curriculum. Once accepted, you can attend the first 2.5 days of the in-person 5-day or 3-day training or participate in a virtual Instructor training.
Please review this table for Instructor training course pricing.
Is your organization a member of the National Council? As part of your membership we offer discounted pricing. Interested in becoming a member? Learn more.
| Course | Programs | Delivery Option | Member or Non Member | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Instructor | 3 day Adult/ Youth 5day Adult/Youth 5day Adult + Module | In-Person or virtual In-person In-person | Member | $2,000 |
| New Instructor | 3 day Adult/ Youth 5day Adult/Youth 5day Adult + Module | In-person or Virtual In-person In-person | Non Member | $2,200 |
| 4 Day Course with Module | 4day Adult + Module | In-person | Member | $2,750 |
| 4 Day Course with Module | 4day Adult + Module | In-person | Non Member | $3,000 |
| Existing Instructor* Tuition | 3 day Adult/ Youth 5day Adult/Youth 5day Adult + Module | In-person or Virtual In-person In-person | Member | $1,800 |
| Existing Instructor* Tuition | 3 day Adult/ Youth 5day Adult/Youth 5day Adult + Module | In-person or Virtual In-person In-person | Non Member | $2,000 |
*Existing Instructor course attendees must be certified in one MHFA curriculum type and seeking dual certification in the other (Adult/Youth).
Tuition includes:
Payment guidelines are provided when your application is accepted for a particular program (Youth or Adult). Payment is not required at the time of application, but is required to reserve your spot in a training session once your application has been accepted.
Virtual Training IT Requirements
*The course will be hosted through Zoom. We will provide a how-to guide for those unfamiliar with the platform.
Certification is not guaranteed for all participants. To become certified, participants must be present for the entire training, satisfactorily deliver the presentation and pass a written exam.
No specific academic or professional credentials are required for Instructor applicants. However, candidates should have knowledge of or experience with mental health problems (either personally, professionally or both), prior experience in training adult learners and a commitment and strategic plan to roll out Mental Health First Aid in the community.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and we recommend applying 6 to 8 weeks prior to your preferred course training date.
Individuals planning to conduct the course independently of an established organization must also submit one letter of reference. Please see our letter guidelines.
Questions about the certification process? Email MHFAinfo@TheNationalCouncil.org.