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CPR Certification Classes
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Why should I get CPR certification?
Ever wondered what it takes to save a life in an emergency? CPR, or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, is a vital skill that empowers you to act confidently when someone’s heart stops or they stop breathing. Getting certified is more than a resume booster, it’s a responsibility.
What is CPR and Why Is It Important?
CPR is a lifesaving technique used in emergencies such as cardiac arrest or near-drowning, where someone’s heartbeat or breathing has stopped. By manually pumping the heart and providing breaths, you help maintain blood flow until professional help arrives.
Who Needs CPR Certification?
CPR certification isn’t just for healthcare workers or lifeguards. Teachers, fitness trainers, childcare workers, coaches, and even parents benefit greatly from it. In fact, many employers now require it for safety compliance.
Overview of American Aquatics and Safety Training (AAST)
Mission as a Nonprofit Organization
American Aquatics and Safety Training (AAST) is a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to creating safer communities through high-quality, accessible training programs in aquatic safety, emergency response, and CPR.
Types of Courses Offered
AAST provides an extensive list of courses, including:
Lifeguarding
Junior Lifeguarding
CPR/AED and First Aid
Emergency Oxygen Use
Swimming Lessons
Their CPR Certification Classes are among their most in-demand offerings.
Types of CPR Certification Classes
CPR for the General Public
Designed for everyday people who want to be prepared, this course teaches you how to identify emergencies, perform compressions, and use a defibrillator safely.
CPR for Lifeguards
This course includes additional modules specific to aquatic emergencies, drowning responses, and rescue breathing techniques tailored for lifeguards.
CPR/AED Certification
An enhanced class that includes Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training, which is essential in increasing survival rates in cardiac arrest cases.
What is AED?
An AED is a portable device that checks heart rhythm and can send an electric shock to restore a normal heartbeat. Proper AED use can significantly increase a victim’s survival chances.
Who Can Take CPR Classes?
Age Requirements and Eligibility
Most CPR certification classes are open to individuals aged 12 and above. However, some advanced courses (like those for professional rescuers) may require a minimum age of 15 or prior certification.
Group vs Individual Training
AAST offers flexible training models:
Group classes for schools, gyms, companies, or community centers
Individual sessions for one-on-one learning
Key Components of CPR Certification Training
Hands-on Skills Practice
Practice makes perfect. You’ll get time with mannequins and AED trainers to simulate real-life emergencies.
Theoretical Knowledge and Assessments
Learn about the circulatory system, signs of cardiac arrest, and step-by-step CPR techniques. A final assessment ensures you’re ready for the real thing.
Duration and Structure of the CPR Courses
CPR classes usually last between 2 to 6 hours, depending on the level of certification and whether it includes AED or First Aid. Courses are structured with a mix of lectures, video tutorials, demonstrations, and practical exams.
CPR Certification for Workplace and Compliance
OSHA and Industry Requirements
Many industries require CPR certification to meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. This includes:
Construction
Childcare
Education
Fitness & wellness sectors
AAST ensures all courses meet or exceed these regulatory guidelines.
CPR Certification Cost and Packages
CPR courses at AAST are budget-friendly, especially for a nonprofit. Average pricing includes:
Basic CPR: $50–$75
CPR/AED: $70–$95
CPR/First Aid/AED Combo: $90–$125
Group discounts, student rates, and custom packages are available.
Benefits of Getting Certified Through AAST
State Approval and CMAHC
AAST certifications are accepted nationwide, making them ideal for job seekers and volunteers across the U.S.
Skilled Trainers
All instructors are certified and experienced, with real-world knowledge that goes beyond textbooks.
Flexible Scheduling
Courses are available in-person, online, and hybrid, making it easier for busy individuals to get certified.
CPR Recertification and Renewal
How Often Should You Renew?
Most CPR certifications are valid for 2 years. Staying up to date ensures you’re ready when seconds count.
Refresher Course Options
AAST offers shorter refresher modules for certified individuals who want to update their skills before expiration.
CPR Certification for Schools and Youth
AAST runs youth outreach programs that teach middle and high school students essential CPR skills. These classes are fun, interactive, and empowering for young minds.
Online CPR Certification Options
If getting to a class isn’t possible, don’t worry! AAST’s hybrid option lets you do the theory online and attend a short in-person session for hands-on practice and testing.
How to Register for a CPR Class with AAST
Just head to their official website, pick your preferred course, date, and location, and book your seat. It’s that simple.
FAQs
Most certifications from AAST are valid for 2 years before renewal is required.
Yes, AAST offers hybrid options with online theory and in-person skills assessments.
Chest compressions, rescue breathing, AED use, scene assessment, and emergency response steps.
Typically 12+, with some advanced courses requiring age 15 and above.
Absolutely! They provide on-site group training with special discounts.
Conclusion
Getting CPR certified is one of the most valuable skills you can acquire, it empowers you to take action in life-threatening emergencies and potentially save lives. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, coach, lifeguard, or simply a responsible citizen, knowing how to perform CPR and use an AED is essential in today’s world. Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere, and having the confidence to respond makes all the difference.
American Aquatics and Safety Training (AAST) provides high-quality, affordable, and CPR certification classes approved in almost every state in the US and CMAHC approved for individuals and groups alike. As a nonprofit, their mission is centered around community safety and accessibility. Their courses are designed to be hands-on, practical, and easy to understand, making them ideal for both beginners and experienced rescuers.
Choosing the right level of CPR certification
CPR certification comes at several levels and they are not interchangeable. Lay-responder CPR covers adult, child and infant compressions and rescue breaths for anyone who might witness an emergency. Professional-rescuer CPR, which is what lifeguards need, adds two-rescuer technique, bag-mask ventilation and pulse checks. Healthcare provider courses go further again. Booking the wrong level is the most common and most expensive mistake.
The way to get it right is to work backwards from who will check the certificate. A lifeguard employer will expect CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer; an office will usually accept lay-responder level; a clinical role will specify a provider-level course by name. Asking that question first costs one email and prevents paying for a course that does not satisfy the requirement.
Whichever level you take, confirm it includes a hands-on skills assessment. This is the element that distinguishes a certificate an employer accepts from one recording that you completed some reading, and it is also the only part that establishes whether your compressions are actually deep and fast enough to circulate blood.
Updated for 2026. This article was reviewed in 2026 and the guidance below reflects how the course is run now.
Where a state or its Department of Health requires additional wording, it is added on a separate line beneath the course title. The course title itself is the same in every state.
A candidate renewing sits the same instruction, passes the same written examination at 80 percent, and completes the same skills evaluation as someone certifying for the first time. There is no shortened refresher.
Reviewed by Jackie Stern, Lifeguard Instructor, Firefighter and EMT. Jackie Stern has taught lifeguarding for more than 20 years and works as a firefighter, EMT and swim instructor. She reviews course content, prerequisites and rescue standards against current certification requirements.
About Us
We are a nonprofit that trains and certifies in Lifeguarding, Waterfront Lifeguarding, Junior Lifeguarding, Shallow Pool Lifeguarding, Sexual Harassment Training, CPR/AED, CPR for Lifeguards, First Aid Emergency Oxygen, and swimming lessons.
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