CPR Certification Trust Center

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CPR Certification Requirements


Before starting a CPR training program, be sure to check the requirements for your job, employer, and licensing board – then choose from one of dozens of ProTrainings CPR programs that meet your requirements. 

Read on to learn what you should look for to better understand your unique CPR certification requirements. 

Find State Certification Requirements by Profession:

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Dentists

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EMTs

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Nurses

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Teachers

 Teacher Requirements By State

Where Do CPR Requirements Come From?


There are three specific sources of CPR requirements – and you may be impacted by just one or all three:

Licensing Boards


The first source of CPR requirements is your state or licensing board. If your job requires you to be licensed, you may need to fulfill certain CPR certification requirements in order to meet the standards of your license. Your licensing board may have specific criteria your CPR certification program must meet in order for your chosen program to satisfy those requirements. State or licensing board requirements are most common for healthcare workers and people in the helping professions, such as counselors, physical therapists, and the like.

Employer Requirements


In addition to state or licensing boards, you may also need to meet employer requirements. Employers typically require their staff members to be CPR certified in order to reduce liability and risk in the workplace. Oftentimes these requirements are imposed on your employer by insurance companies or state regulations. Employer-specific CPR certification requirements are most common for people who work in high-risk or labor-intensive professions, such as in factories, warehouses, or construction sites. 

National Bodies


The third source of CPR requirement guidelines is national bodies that monitor safety within certain industries, such as OSHA, CARF, or the Joint Commission. These national bodies provide oversight and standards that are specific to the types of work performed in specific industries in order to reduce the risk of problems, hazards, and injuries that workers are more prone to because of their involvement in the industry. You can find out from your employer if you are required to abide by any of these national bodies’ CPR requirements. 

The 3 Criteria of CPR Requirements

Once you know which sources to check for your CPR requirements – your licensing board, employer, and national bodies that affect your industry – you’ll need to know how to verify that a course meets those requirements.
There are three criteria you’ll need to verify to ensure that the course you choose meets all of your CPR certification requirements:

Course Content

Some CPR courses teach the basics of CPR, while others include additional information on first aid, AED use, and more. Make sure that the course you select covers ALL the topics that are required for your job.

Course Delivery Method


Some employers accept fully online CPR certification programs while others require you to have a hands-on training component. If your employer requires a hands-on portion, look for CPR certification programs that are labeled as “blended” as these come with a manikin and a live video assessment with an instructor.

Course Brand


There are many ways to get CPR certified, including through the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, and independent training companies like ProTrainings. Check with your employer and other requirements to find out if they require that you complete your training through a particular brand.

Example:
Most CPR requirements – including licensing boards, employers, and national bodies that affect your industry – often use similar language.
 
For example, here is an excerpt from a dental education compliance requirement for dental professionals in Arizona:

Before receiving a renewal license or certificate, each licensee or certificate holder shall possess a current form of one of the following: A current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
healthcare provider certificate
from the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, or another certifying agency;
[…]

At least three credit hours in CPR healthcare provider, ACLS and PALS.
Coursework may be completed online if the course requires a physical demonstration of skills;


The portion
highlighted in green
is an example of the course content requirement.

The portion
highlighted in yellow
is an example of the course brand requirement.

And finally, the portion
highlighted in blue
is an example of the course delivery modality requirement.

Still got questions? We’ve got an entire team of compliance experts here to help you figure out the needs for your specific situation. Get in touch with us!

Ask our compliance team

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the CPR certification age requirements?

When it comes to learning CPR, there are two ages you need to consider – that of the person learning or performing CPR and that of the victim in need of CPR. 

There are no set CPR certification age requirements on who can learn CPR or get CPR certified. Rather, this is determined based on one’s mental ability to learn CPR concepts and one’s physical skills and strength to perform the necessary steps. 

The other person involved in the equation is the victim who is in need of CPR. There are three categories of CPR victims: infants, children, and adults. Infants are considered age 2 and under. Children are typically considered to fall between 1 year old and puberty age (which varies from person to person). Someone is considered an adult once he or she reaches puberty. 

The process of performing CPR and other life-saving skills differs based on the age of the victim. When completing a CPR certification program, be sure to select a course that properly trains you on the age ranges you’ll need to perform CPR for. 

What are the requirements for CPR certification?

CPR certification requirements vary greatly. Because there is no one national or global entity responsible for determining CPR requirements, you will need to check with the organizations that directly impact you. 

For most individuals, these organizations include: 
  • A state or licensing board, such as for nurses, dental professionals, personal trainers, teachers, and more. 
  • Your employer, which will determine your CPR requirements based on liability and risk reduction. 
  • National entities that oversee safety standards for specific industries, such as OSHA, CARF, or the Joint Commission. 
In order to select the best CPR certification program for you, check the requirements that affect you, your professional role, and your industry. 

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