Training Center versus Training Site

The American Heart Association (AHA) Training Network is a complex system with many divisions. These may include:

• Training Centers (TC)
• Training Sites (TS)
• Instructors
• Training Center Coordinators (TCC)

The differences between a Training Center (TC) and a Training Site (TS) can be a bit difficult to understand. Let’s see if we can break it down.

The AHA has established a fleet of Training Centers (TCs) who help to deliver the Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) educational courses. This fleet helps strengthen the Chain of Survival by monitoring proper administration and quality of the ECC courses they’re aligned under.

Training Centers are responsible for managing many moving pieces. Some of these include:

• Providing aligned TSs and instructors with timely communication of any new or updated information about the TC
• Regional or National procedures
• Course content
• Policies
• Course administration that could affect an instructor while carrying out his or her responsibilities

The TC also serves as the primary resource for:

• Support
• Quality control
• Information for all AHA ECC Instructors aligned with the TC.

It is at the sole discretion of the AHA for establishment and renewal of TC contracts. The AHA reserves the right to accept or reject any TC applicant. To become a TC, you first must be an established Training Site. At the time of publication (April 2021), the AHA is not currently accepting new Training Centers.

Training Sites are typically training locations that operate under a TC. These sites are in a separate location and oftentimes throughout the country. TSs conduct AHA courses following the guidelines outlined in the Instructor Manual. This is done for each discipline the TS is approved to teach.

The TSs also have the option to be approved in higher disciplines while not carrying lower level disciplines (i.e. Approved for ACLS but not BLS). They are also accountable for maintaining instructor and course records that meet the standards of the TC. The TS must also meet course completion card management equipment and instructor to the same standard and submit reports as requested to the TC.

Training Centers are responsible for ensuring that its Training Sites comply with policies and procedures for the TC as well as the procedures and policies outlined in the PAM.

For information on the requirements to affiliate with Code One Training Solutions as a training center please visit www.code1web.com/tsapp