The guidelines for CPR as a life-saving technique are developed through a process of looking at scientific studies that evaluate the likelihood of survival depending on which CPR methods are used. These studies are shared and deliberated at an international conference called International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), which meets every 5 years.

The United States' liaison of ILCOR is the American Heart Association (AHA). After ILCOR meetings, the AHA publishes updated guidelines on how to best perform CPR, based on what ILCOR decides.

For example in 2010, the American Heart published the findings from ILCOR that state CPR should be performed in the order of Compressions, Airway, Breathing, instead of the long-standing order of Airway, Breathing, Compressions (invalidating hundreds of company names, posters, and other resources that emphasized the “ABC's of CPR”).

Using ILCOR guidelines, communicated by the AHA, training companies are able to form their own systems and curricula for teaching. Among these training companies are the two largest – The American Heart Association and the American Red Cross – as well as several private companies including ProTrainings.

All these organizations develop their programs using the same ILCOR CPR guidelines as the framework of their own training process; however, they may teach them in different ways, at different price points, and using different modalities that students can choose from to find the best match that suits their schedules and needs.

CPR training companies create curriculum based on the recommendations published by the AHA per ILCOR’s deliberations on CPR research. The AHA is not involved in the curriculum-building process outside of their organization and therefore cannot approve other CPR training companies’ programs.

Choosing ProTrainings CPR courses means that you have a training program that follows the guidelines that ILCOR creates and AHA publishes. Through student feedback and professional experience, ProTrainings has also exceeded the AHA’s recommendations when building our curriculum by offering additional videos, like our most loved “When CPR Doesn’t Work” lesson.

Students are provided with a student manual and support materials. If students have questions, they are able to re-watch videos, use our chat or phone support to get answers from our highly educated staff and instructors. 

Students are also engaged throughout the training with shorter video segments and section pre-test questions that ensures comprehension of the material.

Upon completion of the training, students take the multiple choice test, which they must pass with an 80% or better.

The test is remedial, meaning that students are given a helpful explanation when they answer a question incorrectly. In addition, the questions on the final test are randomly chosen from a group of relevant questions developed by our education team, so no test is completely the same. They are also adaptive to each student and identify the areas where a student struggled the most. 

At the end of the test – regardless of pass or fail – students are able to re-watch the videos related to the questions they answered incorrectly. When the student passes the written test, they are able to print out verification.

If the student has elected to do a blended program with a hands-on evaluation, they also get access to a study guide for the hands-on test. Next, they meet with a certified skill-evaluator or instructor to perform the hands-on practice and test. Upon successful completion, the student is awarded a certification card and able to apply for CE credits.