CPR certification expiration guide
How long does CPR certification last? AHA CPR card expiration and reminder guide.
American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR/AED course completion cards are valid for two years. Check the issuer and employer rule for your specific credential before relying on a general renewal schedule.
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Answer first
What to know now.
For American Heart Association course completion cards, the AHA states that cards are valid for two years through the end of the month in which the card was issued. Its Heartsaver CPR AED materials likewise describe a two-year course completion card. That does not make every CPR credential in every workplace universally identical: employers, regulators, and other training organizations can impose different requirements. Use the expiration information on the actual card or issuer record as the source date, then build reminders around that date.
Obligation
- CPR course completion card renewal
- American Heart Association course cards / United States
Verified facts
Use the official source for the final check.
- AHA course-card period: American Heart Association course completion cards are valid for two years through the end of the month in which the card was issued.
- Heartsaver CPR AED: AHA says successful completion earns a Heartsaver CPR AED Course Completion Card valid for two years.
- Renewal source: AHA directs cardholders approaching expiration to contact an AHA Training Center about renewal options.
- Employer check: AHA course materials tell learners to confirm with their employer that they are selecting the correct course for the job requirement.
- Tracking rule: For reminder software, store the expiration date shown by the issuer rather than assuming every CPR credential follows the same cycle.
Renewal workflow
Turn the requirement into a repeatable checklist.
- Step 1
Identify the credential issuer and read the expiration information on the actual card or eCard.
- Step 2
Confirm any employer, licensing, or regulatory requirement that may require a different course or earlier renewal.
- Step 3
If it is an AHA card, contact the issuing or another appropriate AHA Training Center to confirm renewal options and availability.
- Step 4
Create advance reminders with enough runway to find a class and complete any required hands-on portion before expiration.
- Step 5
After renewal, record the new card's actual expiration date and preserve the old renewal cycle in history.
From one credential to a tracking system
One renewal question can reveal a much larger roster problem.
If you are responsible for several employees, contractors, or credentials, the hard part is often no longer finding one renewal rule. It is keeping every holder, authoritative date, reminder, completion, and renewed date visible without repeatedly scanning a spreadsheet.
Sources
Authoritative references used for this guide.
- American Heart Association — Course Card Information — official source
- American Heart Association — Heartsaver CPR AED Training — official source
Stay ahead
Do not rely on memory for the next one.
Use Deadline Hawk to create an independent reminder sequence while the official authority remains the source of truth for the requirement itself.