Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Our course teaches the same science-based skills you’d learn in a classroom, following the current Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) and International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) guidelines and aligned with American Heart Association (AHA) standards and OSHA best practices. It was created and taught by a firefighter/EMT who has been an AHA instructor for over 30 years, so you’re getting field-tested training — not a shortcut.

Your instructor is Captain Wayne Bennett (Ret.), owner of Disaster Survival Skills. Wayne spent 33 years as a professional firefighter/EMT, has been an American Heart Association instructor for more than 30 years, and has personally trained hundreds of schools, colleges, and businesses — over 170,000 people — since 1991. He built this course and appears in every training video.

No. Only the American Heart Association can issue an AHA card — they’re a private training organization, just like we are (and like the Red Cross). What every reputable provider has in common is that we all teach to the same ECC/ILCOR guidelines. Because Wayne has been an AHA instructor for over 30 years, this course is designed to follow all of those guidelines, and you’ll receive our nationally recognized certificate upon passing.

Yes. Our certificate follows the national ECC/ILCOR and AHA guidelines and is aligned with OSHA best practices, so it meets the CPR, AED, and First Aid training requirements of most employers, schools, and organizations across the country. If your role has a specific requirement, see the question below on checking with your employer.

Your certificate is valid for 2 years from the date you pass — the standard renewal cycle. During those two years you can revisit the videos as many times as you like to stay sharp, at no extra cost.

Absolutely. Online renewal is fast, convenient, and keeps you current with the latest CPR and First Aid guidelines. When your 2 years are up, just retake the course and test to renew.

In most districts, yes. Our certificate is aligned with AHA guidelines and OSHA best practices, which is what the majority of schools ask for when they require staff to hold current CPR/First Aid training. Because requirements vary by district and state, we recommend confirming with your school or HR that they accept a certificate from an ECC/ILCOR-aligned online provider — most do. Need us to work directly with your district? See our group section below.

Yes. The full CPR, AED & First Aid course covers adult, child, and infant CPR — essential for anyone working around students, athletes, or young children. That makes it a strong fit for teachers, coaches, aides, before/after-school staff, and childcare workers.

Many schools, leagues, and athletic associations require coaches to hold current CPR, AED, and First Aid certification. Our full course covers all three — including how to use an AED and respond to choking and sports injuries — so it’s built for exactly this situation. Confirm any league-specific rule, then get certified in under an hour.

Yes. The training is self-paced and takes under an hour, so it’s easy to complete around a busy schedule — and it covers the adult, child, and infant skills these roles are most likely to need. Pay only if and when you need the certificate for your position.

OSHA doesn’t certify or endorse specific CPR programs; it requires that trained responders be available and that training follow nationally recognized guidelines. Our course is designed around OSHA best practices and current AHA/ECC/ILCOR guidelines, so it’s well suited to general workplace First Aid/CPR/AED needs. For industry-specific standards, we suggest confirming the exact requirement for your workplace before certifying your team.

Yes — we do this regularly for schools and businesses of any size. Send us a purchase order and we’ll issue a unique coupon code for your team. Each person takes the course, passes the test, and enters the code at checkout, so the certificate is free to them. We bill the employer once everyone has finished. Contact us to set up group training.

It’s simple and paperwork-light. You provide a purchase order, we provide a coupon code, your staff train and certify at their own pace, and we invoice you only for the certificates issued when everyone is done. No upfront cost, and no chasing individual payments.

Most employers accept CPR/First Aid certification that follows AHA and ECC/ILCOR guidelines and OSHA best practices — which ours does. If you’re certifying for a specific job, it’s always smart to confirm with your employer or HR that they accept an online, guideline-aligned certificate. Many are happy to sponsor it directly through our group program.

Three, so you can pick what your role requires: CPR, AED & First Aid (the complete course, about 45 minutes), CPR & AED (about 30 minutes), and First Aid (about 30 minutes). All three are free to take — you only pay if you want the certificate.

The full CPR, AED & First Aid course runs about 45–60 minutes of video, depending on your pace; the single-topic courses take roughly 30 minutes. Each video is short and to the point, and you can start now and finish later on any device.

You need at least 80% to pass the test. If you don’t hit it the first time, you can see which questions you missed and try again — see the next question.

Yes — as many times as you need, until you pass, at no extra charge. You’ll also be shown which questions you missed so you can review and come back confident. The goal is that you actually learn the right actions, not just pass a quiz.

No. You’ll need to complete the course before taking the test. Guidelines are updated over time, and even experienced responders pick up something new — a few minutes of review from a different instructor’s perspective is time well spent when a life is on the line.

No equipment is required to take the course and earn your certificate — just a phone, tablet, or computer. If your specific role requires a hands-on, in-person skills check (some clinical, EMS, or lifeguarding positions do), confirm that with your employer, since an online course can’t provide an in-person skills evaluation.

Taking any course is 100% free. You only pay if you want the official certificate: $19.95 for CPR & AED or First Aid on their own, or $29.95 for the complete CPR, AED & First Aid course. It’s a one-time fee — no subscriptions, no upfront costs, and no hidden charges.

Never. The training and the test are free, and you can watch the videos as many times as you like. Payment only comes up if you decide you want a printable certificate for your job, school, or records.

After you pass the test, you’ll get a link to pay for your certificate. It’s available instantly once your payment is complete — we also email you a downloadable link. You can print your CPR card right away and forward the certificate to your employer if needed.

Yes. We provide a comprehensive CPR and First Aid manual that follows along with the video training. You can download and print it to study before the test or keep as a reference afterward.

Yes — and we encourage it. About 4 out of 5 cardiac arrests happen at home, yet most people say they wouldn’t know what to do. You don’t need a certificate to be your family’s hero. Take the free training, learn the skills, and share them with the people you love.

Very. The full course covers infant and child CPR and choking response — the emergencies caregivers worry about most — in plain, easy-to-follow steps. It’s free to learn and takes under an hour, so there’s no reason to put it off.

Yes. All courses are available with Spanish text — the videos remain in English, but the site text converts to Spanish. Just click the Español flag at the top or bottom of the home page to switch languages.

Train on any device — phone, tablet, or computer. The course is self-paced, so you can start now and pick up where you left off whenever it’s convenient, and revisit it anytime during your 2-year certification.

We’re glad to help. Send us a message through our contact form or call 1-760-628-5987. We’re always adding new questions to this page, so if yours isn’t here, let us know.