Red Cross CPR Requirements

The American Red Cross frequently holds cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification training classes all over the United States for anyone who needs or wants to be prepared for an emergency. You must complete successfully several requirements to receive your certification.

Scenarios

• To complete the training class, you must participate in practice scenarios. These will include working with classmates to go through a potential emergency situation step by step. Other scenarios will require you to perform CPR and use an automated external defibrillator on a dummy. Participation is the best way to learn, and you will be evaluated in a scenario before leaving the class with a certification.

Written Exam

• You are given study materials to help you through the class and understand the process of CPR, first aid and AED training. It is a requirement that you read through these materials and learn the information well enough to pass a written test with a grade of 80 percent or better. This test will cover all of the information taught during the class, which includes CPR, bloodborne pathogens, AED training, basic first aid, and child or infant CPR if you sign up for this class.

Stay Current

• It is required that you keep your certification current to practice the skills learned in the class. If your job requires you to have a current certification, you must retake the class before the certification expires. CPR certifications with the American Red Cross stay current for one year past the date you pass the certification. The first aid portion of the class will stay current for three years before expiration. CPR information occasionally changes, and retaking the class every year is the best way to stay updated with the latest information and know how to use it.