The American Heart Association runs the most widely recognized CPR certification program in the United States

The American Heart Association (AHA) is a nonprofit organization that sets the standards for CPR training and certification across the country. When you take a CPR class, the instructor's materials, the skills you learn, and the card you receive at the end often come directly from AHA guidelines — even if the class is taught by the Red Cross, your local hospital, or a private training company. The AHA does not run every CPR class, but it writes the science behind what gets taught in most of them.

The organization publishes updated CPR guidelines every five years based on the latest research about what actually saves lives. These guidelines tell instructors what chest compression depth should be, how fast to push, when to use a defibrillator, and how to handle choking or a person who is not breathing. Because CPR science changes — sometimes in small ways, sometimes in large ones — the AHA's updates mean that a CPR card from 2019 may reflect different techniques than one from 2024.

If you are looking for a CPR class, you will often see "AHA-certified" or "AHA-approved" listed in the course description. This tells you the class follows AHA standards, though it does not mean the AHA itself is teaching it. Your employer, your local Red Cross chapter, a hospital, or a private training company may all offer AHA-aligned courses.

Key Takeaways

  • The American Heart Association writes the scientific standards that most CPR instructors follow, updating them every five years as research changes.
  • An AHA-certified CPR course means the class follows AHA guidelines, but the AHA does not necessarily teach it — your employer, Red Cross, hospital, or a private trainer may deliver it.
  • The AHA publishes specific instructions for chest compression depth, rate, hand placement, and when to use a defibrillator that instructors must teach.
  • CPR techniques can change between guideline updates, so a certification from several years ago may reflect outdated methods.

How AHA certification differs from other CPR training

Not all CPR training comes from the American Heart Association. The Red Cross also certifies CPR instructors and publishes its own guidelines, though the Red Cross and AHA guidelines are usually very similar because they both track the same medical research. Some hospitals and workplaces teach CPR using their own materials or a mix of sources. The difference matters mainly if you are comparing what you learned in one class to what you learned in another, or if an employer specifically requires "AHA certification" rather than just "CPR certification."

If a course is labeled "AHA-certified" or "AHA-aligned," the instructor has completed AHA training and the course content matches AHA standards. The instructor may work for the Red Cross, a hospital, a private company, or be self-employed — the AHA label describes the standard being used, not who is teaching it. When you finish, you receive a card that says which organization certified you (Red Cross, AHA, your hospital) and which standard it meets.

Some employers and professions require specifically AHA certification rather than Red Cross or other sources. Healthcare settings, for example, often prefer AHA because hospitals typically use AHA guidelines in their own emergency protocols. If you are taking CPR for a job requirement, check whether the employer wants AHA specifically or whether any recognized CPR certification will work.

What AHA CPR courses cover

An AHA CPR course teaches you to recognize when someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally, how to position your hands on the chest, how hard and how fast to push, when to use an automated external defibrillator (AED), and how to help someone who is choking. The course also covers recovery position — how to place someone on their side if they are breathing but unresponsive — and the difference between CPR for adults, children, and infants, since the techniques change based on body size.

Most AHA courses are either Heartsaver (for the general public and workplace settings) or BLS for Healthcare Providers (for medical professionals). Heartsaver is shorter, usually three to four hours, and focuses on adult CPR, child CPR, infant CPR, and choking. BLS for Healthcare Providers is longer and goes deeper into rhythm recognition, medication, and team dynamics during a cardiac emergency. Both teach the same core chest compression and rescue breathing techniques, but BLS adds skills specific to hospital or clinical settings.

The course includes both classroom instruction and hands-on practice with a mannequin. You will practice chest compressions until you can do them at the right depth and rate, practice rescue breathing if the course includes it, and practice using an AED. At the end, you take a skills test — usually a scenario where you respond to an unconscious person — and a written test. If you pass both, you receive a card valid for two years.

How to find an AHA-certified CPR course near you

The American Heart Association maintains a course locator on its website where you can search by zip code to find classes in your area. You can also search for "CPR class near me" and filter results for AHA-certified courses, or contact your local Red Cross chapter, hospital, or employer — many offer AHA-aligned training. Community colleges and fire departments sometimes offer AHA courses as well.

When you find a course, check the listing for what it covers (adult CPR only, or adult plus child and infant), how long it lasts, whether it includes hands-on practice, and what the cost is. Some employers cover the cost for employees. If you are taking CPR for a job requirement, confirm with your employer that the specific course meets their needs — some want adult CPR only, while others want adult, child, and infant.

Online AHA courses exist, but they usually cover only the knowledge portion (the written test). The hands-on skills practice and test must happen in person with an instructor and a mannequin. Some providers offer a blended model where you watch videos online and then attend a shorter in-person session for skills practice.

When your AHA CPR certification expires and what to do

An AHA CPR certification card is valid for two years from the date you pass the course. After two years, you need to renew it by taking a renewal course, which is usually shorter than the initial course — often one to two hours instead of three to four — because you already know the basics and only need to review updates and practice skills again.

Some people let their certification lapse and then take a full course again instead of a renewal. Both paths are fine; a renewal course is cheaper and faster if you have taken CPR before, but a full course works if you have not trained in several years or want a refresher from the beginning.

If your certification has already expired, you can still take a renewal course — you do not have to wait or do anything special. The new card will be valid for two years from the date you complete the renewal course.

AHA guidelines and what changes between updates

The American Heart Association publishes new CPR guidelines every five years. These updates sometimes change what instructors teach, though the core technique — fast, hard chest compressions — has stayed the same for decades. Recent changes have included emphasis on pushing harder and faster, reducing the pause for rescue breathing, and using an AED as soon as one is available rather than waiting.

If you took CPR several years ago, your certification may reflect older guidance. For example, older courses taught a specific ratio of chest compressions to rescue breaths; newer courses emphasize continuous chest compressions with minimal interruption. If you are renewing your certification, the renewal course will teach you the current standard. If your card has expired and you are taking a new course, you will learn the latest version automatically.

You do not need to memorize every detail of the guidelines. The point of taking a course is to practice the skills so that if you ever need to use CPR, your muscle memory takes over. The instructor will teach you what matters for the version of CPR you are learning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AHA CPR certification better than Red Cross CPR certification?

Both follow similar medical guidelines and are widely recognized. The main difference is which organization certified the course and instructor. Some employers prefer AHA specifically, while others accept either. Check your employer's requirement before choosing a course.

Can I take an online AHA CPR course and get certified?

Online courses can cover the knowledge portion, but you must complete hands-on skills practice and testing in person with an instructor and mannequin to receive a full certification card. Some providers offer blended courses with online learning plus a shorter in-person session.

What happens if my AHA CPR card expires?

You can take a renewal course to get a new card. Renewal courses are usually shorter than initial courses and cost less. If you prefer, you can also take a full CPR course again instead of a renewal.

Do I need AHA certification specifically, or will any CPR certification work?

It depends on your employer or the organization requiring CPR. Some specifically ask for AHA, while others accept any recognized CPR certification from the Red Cross, a hospital, or another provider. Always check the requirement before signing up for a course.

How often do AHA CPR guidelines change?

The American Heart Association updates its guidelines every five years based on new research. When you renew your certification, you will learn the current guidelines. If your card has expired, a new course will teach you the latest version.