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Types of CPR & Heartsaver Certification

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), giving immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can double, or even triple, a person's chance of surviving a cardiac event. Anyone can become certified to perform CPR or use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Certifications in more advanced heartsaver techniques are also available for health care professionals. In the United States, the AHA and the American Red Cross (ARC) provide most of the training in emergency cardiac care.

  1. Certifications by the American Heart Association

    • The American Heart Association has a large CPR and heartsaver curriculum. For health care professionals, the AHA awards advanced certifications in Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

      The AHA also has Heartsaver® and Family and Friends® classes designed to be taught in the workplace and community, respectively. The Heartsaver® and Family and Friends® courses cover adult and child CPR, Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use and infant CPR.

      The AHA gives a certification following the completion of each course. Courses can be taken separately or combined. Costs are determined by the instructors and training centers.

    Certifications by the American Red Cross

    • The American Red Cross (ARC) has similar course offerings in CPR and AED use. Instead of supplying a set curriculum, however, the ARC tailors their classes to fit a group’s age level and previous knowledge.

      Certifications range from basic CPR to professional life rescuer. Costs depend on the type of training provided.

    Online Certifications

    • Several companies offer online courses in CPR and AED use. Unless the course includes a practical component and follows AHA or ARC guidelines, however, the certificates they award are not nationally recognized. The AHA and the ARC both have online courses which include a required hands-on training session with an instructor.

      The Emergency Care & Safety Institute (ECSI) has comparable online classes in emergency care; they also require a mandatory practical session and exam. Since the recognized online courses must follow AHA or ARC guidelines, the certifications awarded are the same as those from AHA and ARC courses.

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