They’re everywhere on the Internet: seemingly legitimate organizations offering “instant” CPR or first aid certification for busy people who are required to hold current certification. And it often says right on those websites that online-only CPR or first aid certification is “nationally accepted“. It is not. No major nationally recognized training program in the United States endorses certification without practice and evaluation of hands-on skills. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) online training alone does not meet OSHA first aid and CPR training requirements
Too Good to be True should be Avoided; When Shopping Online for Training
Lack of hands-on skills: CPR skills, such as chest compressions and rescue breaths, require physical practice to be learned correctly. Online-only courses do not provide this, making the certification not a true reflection of your ability to perform in a real emergency.
Employer and OSHA requirements: OSHA does not accept online-only training, and very few employers do either. Don’t waste your time (or money).
OSHA states, “Online training alone would not meet the requirements of [OSHA] training standards. These standards require training in physical skills, such as bandaging and CPR. The only way these physical skills can be learned is by actually practicing them.”
Employers also want to know that your abilities were verified by a professional. In other words, a certification card without third-party verification from an instructor isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.
Blended learning is a training delivery model that combines online course content with in-person, hands-on skills evaluation. Online-only training features no hands-on component.
Not-Instant
Digital Certification Cards Are Not the Same as Instant Cards
A digital certification card is a PDF or other electronic version of the card you earned in your training class. In a legitimate training course (whether classroom or blended), you will be issued your certification card (whether print or digital) only after demonstrating your understanding of course content and successful, hands-on performance of the techniques covered in the course.
Blended learning: Look for “blended” or “hybrid” courses that combine an online learning component with a required in-person session for hands-on skills practice and a skills check.
Hands-on practice: Any valid certification will require you to practice on a mannequin under the supervision of a certified instructor.
Professional certification providers: Use websites of well-known organizations like the American Heart Association or Heaklth Safty Institute to find reputable classes.
Verified skills: A legitimate card often has a method to verify its authenticity.
Professional venue: Look for courses held in a proper training facility, not a home, garage, or coffee shop