Finding high-quality CPR and BLS training providers for your organization is paramount if you care about health and safety and compliance. You need to understand your legal duties in depth and then find outside support that can deliver the type of training you and your staff require.
In this post, we take a look at the best CPR and BLS training providers currently available on the market. Here are the organizations you should prioritize in the U.S.
Best for budget pricing – Safety Training Seminars
If you’re looking for a CPR or BLS trainer that is affordable, you might want to take a look at Safety Training Seminars located in San Jose, California. This outfit provides American Heart Association Basic Life Support and CPR certification. It’s currently used by nurses, physicians, paramedics, dentists, EMTs, dental assistants, nursing students, and more. It believes that professional certification shouldn’t be expensive and doesn’t need to be. All that’s required is the right learning for safety and value.
Safety Training Seminars are more than a simple training provider offering affordable courses. They also prioritize convenience, scheduling programs for weekends and evening classes. This is ideal for healthcare professionals who work long shifts or students who want to balance their training with their school schedules.
Best for clinical staff – The American Heart Association (AHA)
For clinical staff, the usual gold standard is the American Heart Association (AHA). This training provider offers clinical resuscitation training and focuses heavily on high-performance team dynamics and how they should operate in emergency situations. It has particular expertise in dealing with challenging medical emergencies in medical environments like hospitals and clinics. It provides clear direction on the priorities that practitioners should follow depending on the circumstances.
Furthermore, they are a strictly evidence-based organization. They keep up to date with the latest science trends and leverage this to adjust their advice over time. If the research changes, so too does the training, so clients always know that they are right up to date.
Best for Blended Learning – The American Red Cross
For organizations looking for blended learning opportunities, the American Red Cross is probably the winner here. It’s perfect if you want to get self-paced instruction online while also receiving in-person training on a convenient schedule.
The American Red Cross offers brief in-person skills assessments to test that learners and employees have internalized the instructions they follow online. The physicality of CPR and basic safety training also means that this element of the services is highly welcome. It adds a level of robustness and practicality so that students can apply what they have learned in real life confidently should an emergency arise. It is currently trusted by teachers, coaches, and even lay responders who just have a passing interest in learning CPR techniques.
Best for corporate workplace training – Health and Safety Institute
Compliance standards now mean that corporations need to take CPR training seriously. Many now have a duty of care to look after the people who work on their premises and ensure that they receive assistance quickly if they experience a severe health issue.
Of course, not all training organizations are equipped to manage the unique needs of large-scale businesses and enterprises, but the Health and Safety Institute (HSI) is. This organization now encompasses American Safety and Health Institutes and is heavily tailored toward organizational compliance. It provides instructions that members of your organization can use to respond to a health emergency and ensure that everyone follows the rules while the person needing help gets the medical assistance they require.
As such, it is a favourite among businesses that need to train large teams. It is able to batch-train in a highly effective manner.
Of course, this can mean that some of the training sessions feel a bit generic, but that’s one of the only real downsides of using the service.
Best for 100% online certification – ProTrainings
Let’s say your organization doesn’t want to arrange in-person classes and can’t afford for people to take time off for in-person testing. In that case, you might want to look at ProTrainings’ 100% online certification and continuing education options.
The platform offers a 100% online curriculum and hybrid options if you are a clinical establishment that absolutely needs in-person skills checks for regulatory compliance. The courses are 100% video-based, and they’re great for fitness instructors, educators, and independent professionals who need AHA compliance certifications.
Best for OSHA compliance – National Safety Council
As you might expect, the National Safety Council is probably the best option for OSHA compliance. The NSC focuses on things like injury prevention and occupational health, which are challenges in industries like construction and manufacturing. The National Safety Council is able to assist businesses in all sectors with CPR training and first aid courses that integrate with OSHA guidelines.
If you hire a large number of labourers or workers who are at risk of slips, trips, and falls, then this particular service provider might be a good option. It can combine standard CPR training with health and safety instruction seamlessly to reduce administration costs.
Best for online recertification – NHCPS
The NHCPS offers its “Save a Life” program, which provides a 100% online course based on AHA guidelines. This option is a great tool for companies who require industry-standard recertifications for staff members. It ensures that their skills remain up to date and that they can continue to provide value where necessary. The service is cost-effective, and many of the proceeds from the commercial wing of the NHCPS go to its charity mission to provide free CPR training to underserved communities worldwide.
Final verdict
Who do we think offers the best CPR and BLS training right now in the U.S.? Our pick has to go to Safety Training Seminars because of its applicability to industry professionals, particularly those in the healthcare sector. Not only does it provide affordable services, but it also schedules courses around hectic organizational timetables for maximum efficiency. For this reason, it gets our five out of five-star rating.