CardioPulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification is offered by many different types of organizations. The most common certification involves attending a course, often an advanced First Aid program, and then taking a written exam.

A more convenient and accessible approach would be to complete the whole certification process in the comfort of your own home by registering for an Online CPR Certification program. This approach does require more self discipline as it entails self-study. Examinations are taken online, via the organizations website. Provided you meet the evaluation criteria, you will be issued with a CPR Certificate, which you can print from your own computer!

There are many such programs available. Although they all have different features and might focus on different aspects and present the information in different ways, they all cover the identical CPR techniques and first aid procedures. It is best therefore to choose a program based on criteria which is important to you – such as pricing structure. You will find that there are programs which have a small fee which covers tuition, examinations, and certification. Other programs offer free tuition, but charge the fee for the actual certificate. If you suspect that you will take the course many times before qualifying, then consider the latter.

Some other criteria you may wish to consider in selecting a program, is whether or not the qualifications are recognized by organizations such as Red Cross or The American Heart Association. There are free online resources, such as www.online-cpr-certification.org, which can help you determine if the program is accredited with these organizations.

Finally, whilst online CPR certification does involve self-study, it is by no means boring or tedious. The simple, jargon-free text, and detailed diagrams is often supplemented with audio instructions, which brings the whole topic of CPR to life!