As a teacher, your job is to educate, mold, and inspire the next generation – and that’s no small feat! On top of that, you’re expected to watch over your students while they are at school, which involves being able to recognize when CPR is needed, and to perform CPR correctly. However, teacher CPR certification requirements vary from state to state.
Learn more about the requirements for First Aid, AED & CPR certification for teachers – then get started with your certification online!
Teachers are required to earn their CPR, First Aid, and AED certifications specific to the age groups they teach.
Teaching is an important profession that requires teachers to be trained to recognize and handle life-threatening situations. Pre-K, kindergarten, and primary school teachers must be vigilant of hazards such as children playing on playground equipment, while middle and high school teachers must be prepared to handle pre-pubescent and pubescent issues. To be a proficient rescuer, teachers must earn their CPR, First Aid, and AED certifications specific to the age groups they teach.
Being a teacher is one of the most impactful professions you can choose. Not only are you responsible for educating young people, but also you take on the role of an authority figure, guardian, and role model for many.
With so much responsibility, there may come a time when your students and colleagues look to you if something goes wrong, such as if a student is injured or has an unexpected, life-threatening event occur on campus. Because of this, teachers must go through specific training to be able to recognize and handle life-threatening situations, and to be able to respond in ways that are appropriate for children of all ages.
Teachers in pre-K, kindergarten, and primary school have a unique set of hazards to watch out for, including children roughhousing, playing on playground equipment, and learning about the world around them in ways that they don’t yet know are unsafe.
In middle school and high school, teachers are often responsible for supervising a larger number of students and have pre-pubescent and pubescent issues to cope with and attend to, as well. Older students participating in sports, extra-curricular activities, and even advanced classroom activities may be at risk of encountering new allergies or experiencing severe injuries.
With all of these hazards, teachers are expected to be vigilant observers and confident rescuers. To be a proficient rescuer in any situation – whether it be cases of choking, allergic reaction, head injury, or something else entirely – teachers are required to earn their CPR, First Aid, and AED certifications specific to the age groups they teach.
Because of this, you are often required to complete First Aid, AED, and CPR training for teachers. This is your course content requirement. Be sure to select a CPR certification for teachers that specifically includes CPR, AED, and First Aid skills training.
Most likely, your requirements for learning and performing CPR in schools will state that you need to complete a CPR certification program that involves a hands-on training program. This is your course delivery modality requirement. Look for a program listed as a “blended” course, which means there is a hands-on training portion, manikin, and live video skills assessment with an instructor in order to meet CPR requirements for teachers.
If you do not need to complete a hands-on portion, you can complete a fully online CPR program.
Finally, your state may have specific course brand requirements. Some states require that your CPR training for teachers come from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross; others don’t have such requirements and allow you to complete your training with flexible online providers like ProTrainings.
There may be specific CPR certification requirements and special considerations for Teachers performing CPR according to your state. To learn more about which requirements impact you, select your state on the map below.