Fraud Alert - Beware of Fraudulent CPR Courses in Sacramento
How Do I Know If A Class Is Fraudulent?
Fraudulent American Heart Association (AHA) training courses have become increasingly common across California and the U.S. Here’s how to identify them and protect yourself.
If you suspect a course you’ve taken—or are planning to take—is fraudulent, it’s important to report it. Contact the American Heart Association immediately to ensure proper action is taken.
Summation of CPR Scams
- They conduct classes using unauthorized methods, often not meeting proper standards.
- Either they don’t have a website, or their site seems untrustworthy.
- There’s no physical address or phone number provided to reach them.
- A legitimate CPR company should display the AHA logo on their website. If it’s missing, they’re likely not affiliated.
- They issue certification cards without requiring hands-on practice with manikins.
- They don’t ask for the use of required books during instructor-led courses.
Stacking - Teaching Classes Same Time
It’s not possible to teach multiple classes like BLS, ACLS, and PALS at the exact same time. These courses have different video requirements and content, making simultaneous instruction impossible. However, some companies may still list them as starting at identical times.
What to do:
If you encounter this issue, reach out to the American Heart Association for clarification or to report it via email at [email protected].
Online Only CPR Companies
The American Heart Association (AHA) does not certify training courses from external organizations. If you see claims like “AHA Certified,” “AHA Approved,” or “Created by AHA Certified Professionals,” these are false and often come from fake websites with fraudulent certifications. Official AHA course completion cards are only issued by authorized American Heart Association training centers.
To ensure accurate certification, all online courses must be taken directly through the American Heart Association. Additionally, skills testing must be conducted with a certified instructor or via a VAM (voice-assisted manikin). Always verify your sources to ensure legitimate training and certification.
Cash or Venmo Accepted Only
Be cautious of CPR training companies that only accept Venmo, cash, or PayPal. Why? Many of these businesses may be cutting corners to avoid taxes, and they often shut down just as quickly as they open.
When you pay in cash, you’re taking a bigger risk. If something goes wrong—like not receiving your certification—you’ll have no way to dispute the payment or get your money back.
Instead, choose to pay with a credit card. This way, if you’re scammed or your certification card never arrives, you can dispute the charges and protect yourself.
Zoom Courses
Acceptable Courses Over Zoom
- Enroll in the official BLS Online HeartCode or Heartsaver Online CPR and First-Aid course.
- Complete your required skills test with an American Heart Association-certified instructor via Zoom in an office equipped with CPR manikins.
Unacceptable Courses Over Zoom
- Joining a Zoom meeting with an instructor without having the necessary CPR manikins and AED available.
- Conducting ACLS or PALS skills testing over Zoom is strictly prohibited.
What to do:
If you have questions or need more information, email the American Heart Association at [email protected].
Written Test Only
If you’ve completed a written test through eLearning.heart.org and received an American Heart Association (AHA) certification card via email from a company, you may have been scammed. A valid AHA course always includes hands-on practice with CPR manikins—it’s a requirement to ensure proper training.
What to do:
Report the issue directly to the American Heart Association at [email protected].
Book Policy
If you’re taking an instructor-led course, the American Heart Association requires that you have the book or ebook “before, during, and after the class.”
If an instructor lends, rents, or doesn’t require you to purchase the book, the course may be fraudulent.
What to do:
Email the American Heart Association at [email protected].
Instructor To Student Ratio
The instructor-to-student ratio is critical to ensure that instructors can effectively monitor and support students during training. If you’re attending a course and notice the ratios below aren’t met, it’s important to inform the American Heart Association.
BLS: 1 instructor for every 9 students
ACLS: 1 instructor for every 6 students
PALS: 1 instructor for every 6 students
What to do:
Email the American Heart Association at: [email protected]
Classes Inside A Person's Home
- Fire and Safety Hazards
- Insurance Issues
- Unprofessional Atmosphere
- Personal Safety Concerns
Course Length For Instructor Led Training
Some CPR companies in California cut corners by shortening courses to save money. This practice is concerning as it compromises the quality of training. Whether it’s a group class or one-on-one instruction, the duration of the course is critical.
Often, these companies only list the start time for their courses, leaving out the end time. If the course you’re considering doesn’t adhere to the proper length guidelines, it may not be legitimate.
BLS (Basic Life Support): 3-4 hours
ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support): 4-6 hours
PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support): 4-6 hours
What to do:
If you suspect a course is fraudulent or doesn’t meet these standards, report it to the American Heart Association at [email protected].
Revoking Your Certification Card
If you take a non-compliant course, your certification card can be revoked. Because the card is an eCard, your employer or school could be notified of the issue. This would harm your reputation, as it shows you completed a course that failed to meet compliance standards.
For those offering publicly held courses at a facility or school, the consequences could be even more severe. If a non-compliant course is identified, certifications from the past three months issued by the instructor could be revoked. Imagine the refunds you’d have to process and the impact on your reputation.
If continuing education (CE) credits were awarded—such as those from a dental board—it would introduce further compliance challenges, compounding the problem.
Nurses And Professional Conduct
Nurses, dentists, and other medical professionals in California must adhere to a strict code of ethics. For example, taking a CPR course that doesn’t follow proper guidelines could lead to disciplinary action or require you to retake the course. Additionally, some schools and medical facilities reject certification cards issued by unverified CPR training centers.
If you’re an administrator, it’s your responsibility to ensure your staff is trained at a credible American Heart Association Training Center. Sending employees to unreliable training programs isn’t just a risk to compliance—it could also put your organization in the spotlight for the wrong reasons (see example below).
Fraudulent CPR Training In The News
Resuscitation Quality Improvement by the American Heart Association
To ensure you’re taking an official American Heart Association (AHA) course, we recommend enrolling in the AHA Heartcode BLS CPR, ACLS, or PALS course. This includes completing the official Heartcode online training followed by practical skills testing using a Voice-Assisted Manikin (VAM) or a virtual instructor. Upon successful completion, students receive the official AHA certification card, valid for two years.
Safety Training Seminars proudly offers these courses in over 65 locations across Northern California. Our AHA license number is 20784, and we bring over three decades of expertise—established in 1989. Trusted by California’s top medical organizations, we train more than 60,000 students annually, with many returning year after year.