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FCCS Instructor Module

Course Information

Fundamental Critical Care Support (FCCS)

INSTRUCTOR COURSE

100% Virtual (Zoom)

Updated to the 7th Edition (2021)

IMPORTANT: This is the INSTRUCTOR Course. If you are looking for the Provider Course, click here.

Proceed below if you are interested in teaching FCCS (you must already have FCCS provider status before you can take this Instructor Course).

About

Completing this instructor module allows you to teach the FCCS program. Before signing up for this course, you must have attended the FCCS Provider course and completed it with a score of 80% or greater on the written exam.

It is possible to take the instructor course simultaneously with the provider course. However, be aware that if you do not pass the provider course, you will not gain provider status or instructor status — in that situation, you must retake both the provider and instructor course if you wish to continue toward becoming an FCCS instructor. If you want to do both simultaneously, you must register for the provider course BEFORE registering for the instructor course. After registering for the provider course, return to this page and complete the instructor course registration. Taking just the instructor course does not give you access to the provider course.

Upon completing the instructor course, you will have the following instructor responsibilities:

Give presentations or guide skill stations/scenarios as assigned by the director.
Review assigned materials before a course and come to the FCCS prepared.
Encourage audience participation.
Adjust teaching style to learners as needed.
Follow material without inserting personal bias.

Topics

As part of the instructor process, you must apply to become an instructor and receive approval BEFORE continuing in the instructor module. See below for who can become an FCCS instructor. Click this link to access the application via SCCM's website. (Note: you may need to log in/create an SCCM account to access this link.)

Audience

Who is eligible to take the FCCS Instructor Module?

Critical care physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, respiratory therapists, and pharmacists

Note: Once an individual is an SCCM-approved instructor for one Fundamentals course, they can become an instructor for another Fundamentals course by completing that course and submitting an instructor application for it.

In addition, applicants are required to:

Submit the instructor application
Teach at least two components of an FCCS course (didactic presentation and/or skill station) within two years of the instructor candidate's application approval
Fulfill one of the criteria in the table below

Physicians

Proof of critical care certification or activity, or board eligibility for certification
Proof of a minimum 50% critical care practice* ratio from the ICU director

Nurses

Baccalaureate degree with critical care certification
Graduate or higher degree with proof of a minimum 50% critical care practice* ratio from the ICU director

Advanced Practice Providers

Baccalaureate or higher degree with critical care certification
Proof of a minimum 50% critical care practice* ratio from the ICU director

Respiratory Therapists

Baccalaureate or higher degree with proof of a minimum 50% critical care practice* ratio from the ICU director

Pharmacists

Baccalaureate or specialty in critical care
Proof of a minimum 50% critical care practice* ratio from the ICU director

*Critical care practice is considered a didactic or education-based role focused on critically ill or injured patients. This practice requirement helps ensure that the instructor will be comfortable with most lecture components and skill stations and can answer questions with credibility. The practice ratio letter template can be found here.

Critical care-certified practitioners will be accredited as instructors after completing all the criteria listed above. Instructor applicants with less than a 50% critical care practice ratio may require additional review before instructor status is granted.

Completion

Instructor Pathway

Meet eligibility requirements
Complete hosted provider training with a post-test score ≥ 80%
Complete instructor curriculum or train-the-trainer session (this course)
Submit application and supporting documents
Teach at least two hosted training components within two years of instructor application approval (monitoring)

Faculty

FCCS Course Directors are assigned as faculty for the instructor module.

Tuition

Tuition for this instructor program is $195 (this does not include the provider program).

Please note, before registering for this instructor module:

You must either have passed the FCCS provider course with a score of 80% or greater, or be enrolled to take a provider course on or before your instructor course date.
If you are enrolling without yet having a passing score of 80%, those who do not pass the provider course will not be granted FCCS instructor/provider status, and re-registration will be required to continue on the instructor path.
Please consider this carefully when registering for both courses on the same date.

There is no required textbook for this course.

However, instructors and instructor candidates should have the latest version of the course manual.

The manual is available as part of your provider course.

Prerequisites

You should have the latest textbook for this course. You can obtain a textbook from your provider course (eBook).

Eligibility

The criteria for FCCS Instructor status require that the applicant:

Successfully complete an FCCS provider course with a post-test score ≥ 80%, including core skill stations, and complete the instructor curriculum.
The instructor curriculum can be completed during a hosted training course.

CNE

Nursing CNE is offered for this course.

What to have with you at the course

The instructor module will take approximately 3–4 hours to complete.

Additionally, you will need to undergo monitoring at an FCCS course — your course director will define the monitoring duration and the stations you will participate in at the provider course.

FAQs

Is this an accredited course? Yes, this course is accredited by the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM). This is an international course.

Is there an exam for this course? You must pass the FCCS provider course with an 80% or greater before taking the instructor course. The provider exam questions are multiple-choice, with approximately 50 questions.

How long do I have to complete the instructor course? You have 1 year to complete the course.

Are there any refunds for this course? If you need to cancel your registration, you can, but no refunds are available. Your registration cannot be transferred to another person or another course. Due to the significant outlay of expenses to prepare for our courses, our non-profit status does not support any refunds.

What if I fail to pass the written exam (or complete the course)? You must re-register to access the course and retake the exam. SCCM only permits retakes of the exam after repeating the course.

Where can I find the Zoom link to attend the course? Zoom links are available in your account via our website. From HealthCareTrainingAcademy.org, click "My Account." Once logged in, the Zoom link will be under "Active Resources." (Zoom links are not emailed and are added to your account approximately 2–3 days before the course date.) If your course date is close and the Zoom link is not in your account, email support@HCTAUSA.org.

Do my camera and microphone have to be turned on during the Zoom session? Only those with a working camera and microphone are given credit for attending the Zoom session of the course. You should use a working camera and microphone to earn credit for this course.

Can I use my phone to connect to the Zoom session? Although it is possible to use a phone or small device, feedback indicates it creates more of a challenge in reading shared files and images on a small screen. For the best experience with this course, it is HIGHLY recommended that you use a computer, laptop, or large tablet.

How long is the Zoom session? The Zoom session is approximately 3–4 hours. The duration depends on various factors (e.g., the size of the group, the experience of the attendees, and completion of the online modules before the Zoom session).

What is the format of the Zoom Skills Session? The online skills session is similar to attending an in-person course, but conducted via Zoom.

I do not have any critical care experience. Can I take this course? No, not yet. See the eligibility/practice requirements above.

How do I receive my contact hours? Contact hours are issued directly from our office upon course completion.

What happens if I fail both attempts of the exam? SCCM does not permit another attempt without re-enrolling in another course.

Disclaimers

Accreditation and Approvals

Health Care Training Academy Inc. is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the New Jersey State Nurses Association, an accredited approver through the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. Provider ID: P295-8/2025-90.
Approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #CEP17561.
Approved via CE Broker for FL, GA, SC, NC, and AK (Provider ID: 50-24286).

Nursing Contact Hours

Nursing continuing education is accepted in all 50 states.

Program Information

Conflicts of interest: The planning committee, presenters, faculty, authors, and content reviewers have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Presentation standards: All speakers are expected to give balanced, unbiased presentations. All content is reviewed, and any identified bias is addressed.
Program support: This program has no commercial support, joint providership, or sponsorship.

Important Information

Endorsement: Accreditation does not imply endorsement by The Health Care Training Academy (D/B/A CardiacEd), NJSNA, or ANCC of any commercial products shown during this program, if any.
ANCC policy: ANCC does not permit contact hours for BLS provider courses, except BLS Instructor courses.
College credit: This activity does not offer college credit unless explicitly stated.

Non-nursing professionals: Please check with your licensing board to confirm that nursing contact hours will satisfy your credential renewal. Refunds are not issued if your board does not accept nursing credits.

Refund policy: All registrations are final. Refunds, credits, extensions, and transfers are not available. Before registering, please confirm that you are available and able to complete the program.

Criteria to Earn Contact Hours

You must attend the entire session to receive nursing continuing education credit.
Partial contact hours are not awarded. You must complete all program requirements to earn credit.

All registrations for this course are final.
There are no refunds available.
Please ensure that you meet the criteria BEFORE submitting payment/registration for this course (see above).

Click this link for the Course Schedule

Click the link above to navigate this program's calendar of available course dates.

Once on the course calendar, click the date you would like to register, then follow the prompts to complete your registration for this program.