Fraud Alert - Beware of Fraudulent CPR Courses

How Do I Know If A Class Is Fraudulent?

Fraudulent American Heart Association (AHA) training courses have become increasingly common across California and throughout the United States in recent years. This guide can help you identify and handle them responsibly.

If you’ve taken a fraudulent course, or suspect the course you’re about to take isn’t legitimate, it’s important to act. Reporting such instances to the American Heart Association is not only the right thing to do but also helps protect others from falling victim to these scams.

Summation of CPR Scams

Here are some clear signs that you might be dealing with a fraudulent CPR training provider:

They conduct classes with misleading or unauthorized methods.
Either they lack a website entirely, or their website appears unprofessional or suspicious.
They don’t provide a physical address or a reliable phone number for inquiries.
If their site doesn’t display the American Heart Association (AHA) logo, they’re likely not affiliated with this trusted organization.
Certification cards are handed out without requiring hands-on practice with manikins.
They don’t mandate the use of a training manual or book during instructor-led courses.

Stacking - Teaching Classes Same Time

It’s not possible to teach multiple classes like BLS, ACLS, and PALS at the exact same time. Each course requires different videos, making it impractical to conduct them simultaneously, even if they are listed to start at the same time.

What to do:
If you notice companies attempting this, email the American Heart Association at [email protected] for clarification or to report the issue.

Online Only CPR Companies

The American Heart Association (AHA) does not endorse or certify training courses offered by other organizations. Any claims suggesting that a training product or material is “AHA Certified,” “AHA Approved,” “AHA Compliant,” or “created by AHA certified instructors” are false. These are typically misleading websites promoting fake certifications. Only cards issued by an authorized AHA training center are valid.

To meet AHA requirements, all online CPR courses must be taken directly through the American Heart Association. Additionally, skills testing must be conducted in person by a certified instructor or with a Voice-Assisted Manikin (VAM).

Cash or Venmo Accepted Only

Be cautious of CPR training companies that only accept payments via Venmo, cash, or PayPal. These businesses often use such methods to avoid paying taxes and may shut down their operations without notice, leaving you without recourse.

Paying for your CPR certification in cash puts you at risk of losing your money if the company turns out to be a scam. To protect yourself, always use a credit card for payment. This way, you have the option to dispute the transaction and recover your funds if you don’t receive your certification card.

Zoom Courses

Acceptable Courses Over Zoom
You can take the official BLS Online Heartcode or Heartsaver Online CPR and First-Aid course. After completing the online portion, schedule a skills test with an American Heart Association (AHA) Instructor via Zoom. The test must be conducted in an office with CPR manikins.

Not Acceptable Courses Over Zoom
Courses where an instructor holds a Zoom meeting but you don’t have access to proper CPR manikins and an AED are not allowed.

ACLS or PALS skills testing over Zoom is strictly prohibited.

What to do:
For clarification or further questions, email the American Heart Association at [email protected].

Written Test Only

Many CPR companies send students an online test via eLearning.heart.org. If you take the test and then receive an American Heart Association certification card through email from one of these companies, you’ve likely been scammed. This is not a legitimate American Heart Association course. A valid course requires hands-on practice using CPR manikins.

What to do:
Report the incident by emailing the American Heart Association at [email protected].

Book Policy

If you’re taking an instructor-led course, the American Heart Association requires you to have the book or eBook available “before, during, and after the class.”

If an instructor lends, rents, or doesn’t require you to purchase the book, the course is not compliant with American Heart Association standards.

What to do:
Report this by emailing the American Heart Association at [email protected].

Instructor To Student Ratio

The instructor-to-student ratio is crucial to ensure every student receives proper attention and guidance during training. If your class exceeds the recommended ratio, it’s important to inform the American Heart Association.

Here are the recommended ratios:

BLS: 1 instructor for every 9 students
ACLS: 1 instructor for every 6 students
PALS: 1 instructor for every 6 students

What to do:
If you notice a course with more students than allowed, email the American Heart Association at [email protected] to report it.

Classes Inside A Person's Home

Taking a class inside someone’s home or apartment? Proceed with caution. Here are some important concerns to keep in mind:

Course Length For Instructor Led Training

Many CPR companies in California shorten their courses to cut costs. This applies whether it’s a small group class or a one-on-one session. Often, these companies only list the start time of the course, leaving out the end time. If your course duration doesn’t align with official guidelines, it may not be legitimate.

Required Course Lengths:

BLS (Basic Life Support): 3-4 hours
ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support): 4-6 hours
PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support): 4-6 hours

What to do: Email the American Heart Association at [email protected] to report fraud or verify course details.

Nurses And Professional Conduct

Nurses, dentists, and other medical professionals in California must adhere to a strict code of ethics. Taking a CPR course that doesn’t meet proper guidelines could lead to consequences like retaking the course or facing disciplinary actions. Additionally, many schools and medical facilities may reject certification cards issued by untrustworthy CPR training providers.

If you’re an administrator, ensure your staff attends a reputable American Heart Association Training Center. Protect your organization from potential issues and make sure it never becomes the subject of an unfortunate news story (see below).

Fraudulent CPR Training In The News

Here are some notable examples of CPR scams and fake courses making headlines.

Resuscitation Quality Improvement by the American Heart Association

To ensure you’re enrolling in a valid American Heart Association (AHA) course, we recommend attending an official AHA HeartCode class for BLS CPR, ACLS, or PALS. This process includes completing the AHA HeartCode online course, followed by hands-on skills testing using a Voice-Assisted Manikin (VAM) or a virtual instructor. Once you’ve successfully completed the training, you’ll receive an official AHA certification card, valid for two years.

Safety Training Seminars offers these courses across more than 65 locations in Northern California. Our American Heart Association license number is 20784. Operating since 1989, we are trusted by the region’s leading medical and healthcare organizations. Each year, over 60,000 students choose Safety Training Seminars and return annually for their continued education.