If you’re considering getting CPR-certified, you’ve probably figured out that there are plenty of options available to you. You can sign up for in-person classes or choose from a wide array of online or hybrid courses.
The question is: does Online CPR certification make sense for you?
A Brief History of Online CPR Certification
To understand how CPR certification could be done online, we must go back to the beginning. It was the early 2000s, and the prevailing sentiment was that teaching CPR online was about as effective as snowboarding lessons in Miami.
There was no YouTube, and people rarely went online for video content. However, the market was there, and soon enough, a host of online CPR Kitchener courses blossomed. These took advantage of a rapidly improving internet, explosive growth in technology, and a better understanding of e-learning.
Today, online CPR training is a tried-and-true practice that’s turning hundreds of thousands of people into life-saving resuscitation experts.
A true signal of online CPR certification credentials can be found in the fact that almost all major CPR course providers now offer certification online.
And so, with the trend moving steadily toward online coursework, it’s important to understand how online CPR certification works and whether it’s right for you.
How Online CPR Certification Works
According to Online CPR certification, courses to look out for having the following criteria:
- Engaging lessons taught by talented, trusted instructors
- Practice questions and tests to hone your knowledge
- Downloadable resources
- A final certification test
- A digital certificate of completion once you finish the course
Most students find that 100-percent of online instruction works well for them. If you aim to get a particular job or work for a specific employer, start by checking whether that institution accepts online CPR certification or requires in-person training.
Online CPR Training Versus Other Methods
It’s time to get your CPR certification. It may be that you’ve found your dream job, are looking to further your education, or meet school requirements or a new business. Here are the pros and cons of the three CPR certification methods available to you.
Online CPR Certification
There are several reasons why you might opt for online CPR certification:
1. Move at your own pace
Not everyone can drop everything and dive headfirst into an intensive training course. While you can move through an online course as quickly as you’d like, you can also take your time and work through the lessons as time (and your learning style) allow.
If you need to see a lesson again, online courses make it easy: simply watch it again. If you want to stop the instructor for a moment so you can take more notes, the pause button makes it easy. You can also break learning up into bite-sized chunks or do it all in one sitting. It’s up to you.
2. Accredited and recognized certificates
The American Academy of CPR and First Aid offers online courses recognized by government agencies, associations, and employers across the country. The coursework is written by healthcare professionals and board-certified doctors and is designed to be as efficient and effective as possible. If you want to get certified, check this for more information.
3. It’s convenient
It doesn’t matter whether you’re an early bird or a night owl. Online CPR certification lets you pick up where you left off, 24 hours a day, wherever you happen to be.
4. You won’t lose your certificate
A digital certificate is always available — you don’t have to worry about losing it.
5. You can always revisit lectures
If you need to brush up on concepts, you’ve got all the lessons on hand.
6. It’s affordable
Online CPR certification allows you to bolster your resume without breaking the bank.
Classroom CPR Certification
Choosing classroom CPR certification provides a different experience in several ways:
1. Rigid structure
If you choose classroom training, you have little choice but to attend classes and move at the instructor’s chosen pace. If you struggle with self-discipline, this can be a positive, though you forfeit a bit of freedom in your scheduling.
2. Immediate questions and answers
If you ask a question in your in-person class, you’ll get an answer immediately. Online certification courses also have methods in place for answering questions, and others’ questions will not interrupt the flow of the lesson.
3. Stage fright
You may be asked to display your learning in an in-person course by administering CPR to a mannequin. This is usually done in front of the rest of the class.
Hybrid CPR Certification
Finally, hybrid courses offer a mix of online and in-person training. Here are reasons why you may or may not want to choose a hybrid course:
1. Limited freedom of schedule
While a hybrid course allows more freedom of schedule than a classroom training course, you’re still required to be in-person for certain lessons and skill evaluations. This makes it less convenient than an online course.
2. More expensive
Hybrid courses require in-person training and tend to be significantly more expensive than fully online courses.
Is Online CPR Certification the Right Choice for You?
To decide if online training will work for you, make sure it fits your job requirements, learning style, and schedule.
Next, be sure that whatever course you choose is accredited, or it will hold little value in the professional world. It should also follow OSHA guidelines and follow the latest guidelines for CPR techniques. Note that the American Academy of CPR and First Aid’s courses are 100-percent accredited.
CPR training is moving toward being entirely done online. Join the trend by signing up for an online course today.
Choose from multiple online CPR course options, including:
- Healthcare Provider CPR
- BLS CPR
- First Aid
- Adult CPR
Can’t decide? You can always take advantage of a combined courses discount and become certified in more than one area!
We’re here to answer your questions and make sure our online CPR certification is the right fit for you.
