Aug 26, 2022 
Looking to learn CPR in a convenient place near where you live? There are a variety of ways to find American Heart Association and Red Cross certification courses near you, as well as online CPR training.
Perhaps your job requires CPR certification, or a family member has a health condition and you want to be prepared for anything. Or perhaps you just want to be certified in case your skills are ever needed. These are all great reasons to get certified, and it doesn’t have to be hard or inconvenient to do so.
Where to Get CPR Certified Near Me?
Many of our customers ask us, “Where can I take a CPR class near me?” The answer varies depending on your location–and no matter where you live, you can always take classes online as long as you have an Internet connection.
If you’re looking into how to get CPR First Aid certified, you generally have two options: in-person and online training and certification.
Most in-person courses are run according to either AHA or Red Cross curriculums. The AHA and Red Cross do not run classes or certify students directly, but they do develop training curricula and certify trainers to lead classes.
The classes take place at local schools, community centers, fire departments, or other locations. These are all great options when seeking out CPR training near you. Once you get certified, your certification lasts for two years.
Time commitments and intensity of training can vary considerably depending on the type of class and who it’s for. An advanced life support course for paramedics, for example, will be much more of a time commitment than a CPR certification class for the general public.
Different organizations call their classes different things. But most have an entry-level CPR training course that will generally be called something like “Adult CPR and First Aid.” (Here’s ours).
This training may last from approximately four to eight hours, but this varies depending on the training program. Other CPR and advanced life support courses for professionals may last significantly longer.
There’s also the option of getting your CPR certification online. Like in-person courses, an online course should be compliant with AHA or Red Cross standards, and the best have AHA or Red Cross-certified instructors. Time requirements for entry-level CPR certification programs for the lay public tend to fall between one to two hours.
Where Can I Get CPR Training Near Me?
If you’re interested in getting your CPR certification near you, here’s a look at your options.
Courses Based on AHA Curriculum
The American Heart Association has a Course Locator tool that’s easy to use. Just type in your zip code or city and state, and it’ll show you what courses are near you—as well as class times, schedules, and email addresses and phone numbers for the school.
Courses Based on Red Cross Curriculum
The Red Cross also has a search tool that lets you search for CPR AED certification classes near you. The results show you the cost of classes, customer reviews, dates and times, and a summary of the type of class and the certification you’ll receive.
Just enter your location in the search box on the top right, and get your results.
Your local school.
Middle and high schools often provide CPR training in the classroom to kids of all ages. Sometimes, they also run courses for the lay public.
If you want to find a local class and you have a kid in school, ask the physical education teacher or a sports coach. It’s likely they’re CPR certified themselves, and know where you can pick up CPR training classes in your area.
Your local fire department.
Many fire departments run CPR certification courses for lay people. If you’re looking for cheap CPR courses near you, this is a great place to start. The classes are likely to be very affordable, as the mission for programs like these is usually to get more people CPR certified rather than make a profit. And the instructors are often trained firefighters with a lot of experience.
Online CPR certification courses.
If you’re looking for convenient CPR, First Aid, and AED courses that are as convenient as possible, you can’t go wrong with online CPR certification.
Look for a CPR certification provider that’s AHA- or Red Cross-compliant, with experienced instructors and in-depth video content that allows you plenty of time to practice before you take the test. In addition, look for a program with great reviews and a history of at least several years in business.
You may or may not need your CPR certification for work. Even if you don’t, however, look for a program that’s accepted by a wide range of employers throughout the country. That’s a good indicator of quality.
Sure, it’s easy to type “Where can I get my CPR certification near me” into a search engine and find a local CPR certification course that way. But there are more precise ways to find a CPR training course near you.
Try the course locators on the AHA and Red Cross websites. If you don’t find anything convenient, ask at your local fire department or schools in your area—these are usually in the know, and may offer classes themselves.
And remember that online CPR certification is an excellent option—and the most convenient of all.