How Many Hours Is CPR Training?

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, commonly known as CPR, is a lifesaving technique that’s crucial in emergencies such as cardiac arrest. While it is an essential skill for all healthcare professionals, those pressed for time often wonder, “How many hours is CPR training? How long is a CPR certificate good for?” 

What seems like a simple question opens the door to a range of answers. The duration of CPR training varies based on several factors. As a healthcare professional or the person responsible for training at a healthcare organization, understanding the CPR learning time required is key. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the nuances of CPR training durations, so you know just what to expect.

How Long Does a CPR Class Take?

Most standard CPR classes last between three and four hours. However, CPR training class length varies based on the desired certification, the course’s content, and the instructor’s teaching pace. 

Generally speaking, the time comparisons for how long CPR training classes take for the public and professionals are:

• Basic CPR: For the general public, these courses are shorter, usually around three hours.
• Professional CPR: For healthcare professionals, these may last four to five hours due to added complexities.

Of course, answering “how long is a CPR training certification class” isn’t quite that simple. Advanced courses, such as Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), include more content and can last up to 16 hours and be split across multiple days. Refreshers on any of these CPR certifications, however, are significantly shorter in duration, usually lasting no more than four hours. The platform where you take the CPR training also affects the time length. When healthcare organizations use one of the best healthcare training platforms available, CPR training hours can be significantly reduced.

What Does CPR Training Cover in Those Hours?

There’s a lot of vital information packed into one CPR training course. A typical class covers:

• Theory of CPR: Understanding when and why CPR is necessary.
• Techniques: Proper hand placement and compression depth.
• Breathing: How to give rescue breaths.
• Practice Sessions: Hands-on sessions with manikins.
• Evaluation: A test to gauge your understanding and skills.

Do Online CPR Training Courses Take as Long as In-Person Classes?

If you’re wondering how long CPR training classes last, online CPR courses tend to be the most time-efficient, particularly when considering the commute for face-to-face sessions. Typically, such a course ranges between four and six hours, with many wrapping up around the four-hour mark.

A hybrid CPR course, integrating both online and face-to-face components, usually spans about six hours. In contrast, an entirely in-person course often lasts longer. The duration depends on the instructor’s pace, class participants, the number of questions, and other factors. Some CPR training sessions can extend up to eight hours, excluding travel time.

Training for more intricate life support skills, like Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), can be even more time-consuming, occasionally requiring up to two days.

What is the Difference in CPR Training Hours Based on Certification?

Adult vs. Pediatric CPR

While the foundational principles remain consistent, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, or PALS, addresses the unique needs of infants and children. Pediatric courses might be slightly longer, often by an additional hour, due to these specific nuances.

BLS vs. CPR

BLS is more comprehensive than basic CPR. It encompasses CPR skills, use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and other life-saving techniques. When determining how long for training hours, BLS courses can range from four to six hours, depending on the depth of the curriculum.

How Long Is a CPR Certification Good For?

Most CPR certifications are valid for two years. After this, you need to renew your certification. Recertification courses are often shorter, focusing on updates and reinforcing skills. In addition to recertification every two years, it’s best practice, as recommended by the Red Cross, to refresh healthcare staff on CPR skills every 6 to 12 months. That’s a short answer to how long CPR certification lasts.

How Can a Streamlined Healthcare LMS Help Complete CPR Training Faster?

Offering CPR training for healthcare employees is important for an organization’s compliance and a great benefit for employees, as CPR courses can be expensive. MedTrainer is known for delivering the best approach to digital training and compliance in healthcare and offers various options for organizations to provide CPR training to employees, with benefits such as flexible scheduling, online options, and refresher training.

Remember, the time you invest in CPR training today could make a world of difference tomorrow. Explore the options.