Knowing CPR can mean the difference between life and death for someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or respiratory distress. By getting CPR certified, you gain the skills and confidence to provide potentially lifesaving care until professional help arrives. This complete guide covers everything you need to know about obtaining CPR certification.
What is CPR and Why Get Certified?
CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation It’s an emergency procedure performed when someone’s breathing or heartbeat suddenly stops CPR involves
- Chest compressions – Pushing hard and fast on the chest to pump blood when the heart stops beating.
- Rescue breaths – Providing breaths to oxygenate the blood when someone isn’t breathing normally.
- Defibrillation – Using an AED to shock the heart and restore a normal rhythm.
Taking a CPR certification course prepares you to recognize cardiac arrest, call 911, perform CPR, and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) Gaining these lifesaving skills can allow you to act quickly and confidently in an emergency at home, at work, or in public
Who Needs CPR/AED Certification?
Here are some key reasons to get certified in CPR and AED use:
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Jobs requiring certification – Occupations like doctors, nurses, teachers, childcare workers, electricians, and flight attendants often mandate certification.
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Regulatory requirements – Many workplaces, schools, and organizations require CPR/AED training to meet safety codes and regulations.
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Personal preparedness – Anyone can benefit from learning how to perform CPR and use an AED in order to be empowered to help save lives.
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Good Samaritan laws – Most states offer legal protection for using CPR/AEDs in emergencies. Training gives you confidence to respond.
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New parents – Parents and caregivers will gain critical skills to perform infant CPR if their baby needs help.
No matter your reason, getting certified in CPR and AED use is an invaluable skillset to have both on the job and in your everyday life.
Options for CPR Certification Training
You have choices when it comes to obtaining your CPR certificate. Consider your schedule, learning preferences, and specific needs to choose the best option:
In-Person Classroom Courses
- Pros: Hands-on practice, instructor feedback, class interaction
- Cons: Fixed location, date, time
Online-Only Courses
- Pros: Learn anytime, anywhere at your own pace
- Cons: No hands-on skills instruction or feedback
Blended/Hybrid Courses
- Pros: Flexible eLearning + hands-on skills session
- Cons: Coordinating schedules for skills practice
Whichever format you select, look for CPR classes taught by qualified instructors following American Heart Association or Red Cross guidelines.
Types of CPR/AED Certifications
Not all CPR certifications are created equal. The type of training you need depends on factors like your occupation, employer requirements, and personal goals. Here are the main options:
- BLS – Basic Life Support for healthcare providers
- Heartsaver CPR AED – For schools, workplaces, and personal training
- Friends and Family CPR – Basic awareness for untrained bystanders
- CPR for Professional Rescuers – Advanced for lifeguards, EMTs, etc.
Select the certification that aligns with your needs and responsibilities when responding to emergencies.
How Long Does CPR Certification Last?
CPR certification is only valid for a limited time. You must renew it periodically to stay current on any protocol changes. The expiration timeframe depends on the type of certification:
- American Heart Association CPR – 2 years
- American Red Cross CPR – 1-2 years
- BLS Certification – 2 years
- Heartsaver Certification – 2 years
Mark your calendar ahead of time so you don’t accidentally let your CPR certification lapse. Taking a renewal course helps reinforce critical skills.
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting CPR Certified
Follow this process to earn your official CPR/AED certification:
Step 1: Choose your desired CPR class type and learn the requirements.
Step 2: Register and pay for the course with your selected provider.
Step 3: Study the course materials and protocols ahead of time.
Step 4: Attend scheduled classroom sessions and demonstrate CPR/AED skills.
Step 5: Pass required written and practical skill evaluations.
Step 6: Receive your dated CPR certification documenting your training.
Step 7: Keep your certification current by renewing before it expires.
What Will I Learn in a CPR Class?
A complete CPR/AED certification course covers:
- Checking for responsiveness
- Calling 911
- Checking airway and breathing
- Performing chest compressions
- Giving rescue breaths
- Using bag-valve masks
- Operating automated external defibrillators (AED)
- Managing choking emergencies
- Taking proper safety precautions
Skills are practiced using CPR mannequins and AED trainers to prepare you for real-life emergencies. Courses also include an educational component on heart health, risk factors, and prevention.
Where Can I Take a CPR Class?
You’ll have many options for places offering certified CPR training, including:
- Red Cross or American Heart Association chapters
- Hospitals, community colleges, and vocational schools
- Fire departments and EMS providers
- Workplace and organizational training staff
- Health clubs and community centers
- Online providers of blended learning courses
Look for conveniently located providers certified to teach nationally recognized courses that meet your needs. Many workplaces also arrange regular CPR training for their employees and volunteers.
How Much Does CPR Training and Certification Cost?
The cost for CPR certification can range from $20 up to $150+ depending on factors like:
- Course type and length
- Online vs. classroom
- Provider and materials
- Additional certifications like first aid
- Whether it’s for an individual or group
Many employers cover the cost of CPR training for their staff. And taking an online course can sometimes be a more budget-friendly option.
Why Choose the Red Cross or American Heart Association?
The American Red Cross and American Heart Association are two leading providers that set the gold standards for CPR training and certification. Reasons to choose them include:
- Evidence-based – Courses reflect the latest scientific guidelines.
- Widely recognized – Certifications are universally accepted.
- Options – Choices of course types and lengths to fit your needs.
- Quality – Standardized training by qualified instructors.
- Digital access – Online course materials and digital certificates.
Investing in CPR certification from a trusted source gives you credibility and confidence when responding in actual emergencies.
Can You Learn CPR Online?
Yes, you can learn CPR skills and protocols through online courses. This offers flexibility to obtain certification on your own time. However, online-only courses have limitations:
- No hands-on practice – You won’t get supervised instruction and feedback.
- Skills video only – Watching a video isn’t the same as physical practice.
- No verified competency – There may be no skills evaluation.
- Limited course types – Often just basic awareness level.
For well-rounded certification, look for blended courses offering online learning combined with in-person skills sessions.
Why Keep Your CPR Skills Updated?
Given the limited certification validity periods, it’s imperative to stay up-to-date on your CPR skills. Besides avoiding expiration, renewing your training is critical because:
- Protocols evolve – Guidelines change based on new clinical research.
- Skills get rusty – Refresher training helps reinforce proper techniques.
- New devices – You’ll learn how to use the latest AEDs.
- New types of emergencies – Courses cover trends like opioid overdoses.
- Peace of mind – Knowing you have current knowledge inspires confidence.
Recertification may only require a shorter refresher course. But it provides valuable practice and retraining.
Act Quickly and Confidently to Save Lives
CPR certification empowers people to act quickly when seconds count in a cardiac or breathing emergency. And prompt action can dramatically improve someone’s chances of survival and recovery. So take the initiative to get trained and certified. Keep your skills up-to-date. And help save lives when the time comes. The more people ready to respond, the safer we all are.
Free CPR certification class and training
The CPR/AED course offered through National CPR Foundation details all of the necessary information needed to feel fully equipped in the face of an emergency. Covering all of the steps to keep adults, children, and infants safe, it is a truly comprehensive resource. Get a brief overview of the CPR/AED modules below.
- Good Samaritan – The foundation of our CPR/AED certification course is an understanding of the legal precedents that allow first-responders to do their work. Pay close attention, since knowing your rights will make you a more effective resource in an emergency and let you deliver the appropriate care with confidence.
- Adult – Most often, CPR is administered to adults who have suffered cardiac arrest, a heart attack, or stroke. In this important module, you will have access to photos and video that will walk you through all necessary steps. Through a combination of chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth ventilation, blood circulation and consciousness can be restored.
- Child – Children come with their own needs as far as CPR is concerned, and knowing the right way to respond is more important than ever. Delivering improper care can easily hurt a small child which is what makes this particular module indispensable. Learn how to treat a variety of age groups in any number of common situations.
- Infant – As the most vulnerable among us, infants must be treated with special care to ensure that no harm is caused to their fragile bodies during the CPR process. In this module, you will learn how to restore breath and circulation to infants during a witnessed collapse and with one rescuer or two.
- Automated External Defibrillator (AED) – The goal of AED administration is to restore a heartbeat to a patient after CPR has failed. This module will explain how this technology can be put to use in an emergency situation and will walk you through all the steps of operating the device. Once this final lesson has been completed, the final step is to take your CPR test and claim your certification.
The CPR Training Test is the final step in your certification journey. Designed to review everything learned through the course modules, the final exam is thorough as well as focused. Consisting of ten multiple choice questions that cover all of the important aspects of CPR and AED, it can be completed in a few minutes and may be taken as many times as necessary before you pass. After the CPR test has been completed, you will have the option of purchasing your certification.
All forms of certification available on National CPR Foundation expire after two years. The reason for this is to keep practitioners’ skill sets up to par and to ensure the health of patients. Refresher courses should ideally be completed much more quickly than the first test, but still serve as a way to improve the knowledge of first-response caregivers.
At National CPR Foundation, those seeking CPR recertification have the option of skipping the course modules and heading straight to the final test. Of course, those who would still like access to a suite of informative CPR and AED resources are welcome to review any of the available modules at their discretion. However, if you are confident in your existing CPR/AED knowledge, then the full recertification process can be completed in less than 15 minutes.
It should come as no surprise that the internet is full of discreditable offers that do not offer the same level of CPR validity that you are hoping for. With National CPR Foundation’s online offerings, those who pass the course will enjoy all of the same benefits, outside of specific component benefits, as those receiving in-person instruction straight from the American Heart Association®; such benefits shared by both component types include life-saving skills, increased confidence, immediate response, empowerment, community safety, workplace safety, personal development, professional development, encouraged responsibility, reduced recovery time, increased public awareness, mental preparedness, and improved patient outcomes, not including specific hands-on training. In fact, our certifications are endorsed by AHA® trained professionals.
When it comes to first-response health, investing in a provider who makes you feel confident is important. With all the right resources to keep you informed, clear and quality instruction, and a backing by the biggest names in emergency care, National CPR Foundation is one of the few that can deliver quality with convenience.
Are Online CPR Certifications Valid
Where can I get CPR training?
Official Red Cross website. Get the CPR training you need from the American Red Cross. Find out how to get certified.
What is a CPR training course?
This course is video-led and includes skills practice throughout the course. Skills are taught by using the AHA’s research-proven practice-while-watching technique, which allows participants to practice on a CPR training manikin while skills are demonstrated in the course video.
How do I get a CPR certification?
At the end of your class, take the test that grants you your CPR certification with a passing score. The test often requires students to perform a demonstration in person. Some tests may even include a written component for students to show their knowledge of specific principles, like the ideal depth and number of chest compressions.
What can I do with a CPR certification?
You can use CPR in public to help someone who’s experiencing cardiac distress. You can also use the knowledge you gain to help a family member or friend in an emergency situation. Young adults can also earn a CPR certification to enhance babysitting credentials or add skills to a volunteer resume.
