Fraud Alert - Beware of Fraudulent CPR Courses in Daly City
How Do I Know If A Class Is Fraudulent?
Over the years, cases of fraudulent American Heart Association (AHA) training courses have unfortunately been on the rise across California and the rest of the United States. But how can you tell if a class is legitimate or a scam?
Here’s a quick guide to help you identify and avoid fraudulent courses.
If you’ve already taken a course that seems suspicious—or if you’re unsure about the validity of an upcoming class—it’s your responsibility to report it to the American Heart Association.
Summation of CPR Scams
Some clues that you may be dealing with a fraudulent CPR company:
- They conduct classes dishonestly using unapproved or questionable methods.
- Either they don’t have a website, or their website has a suspicious look or feel.
- Legitimate companies provide a physical address and phone number. Scammers often don’t.
- If their website doesn’t feature the American Heart Association (AHA) logo, they’re likely not affiliated with this trusted organization.
- Certification cards are issued without requiring students to practice on manikins—a major red flag.
- During instructor-led courses, legitimate programs require students to use a book. Scammers often skip this step.
Stacking - Teaching Classes Same Time
It’s not possible to teach multiple classes like BLS, ACLS, and PALS simultaneously. These courses involve different instructional videos and materials, making it unrealistic to conduct them at the same time despite what some providers might claim.
What to do:
If you encounter this issue, reach out to the American Heart Association directly for clarification by emailing [email protected].
Online Only CPR Companies
The American Heart Association (AHA) does not certify training courses created by other organizations. Any claims stating that training products or materials are “AHA Certified,” “AHA Approved,” “AHA Compliant,” or “created by AHA certified” individuals are false. Often, these come from fake websites with fraudulent certifications. Remember, all valid CPR cards must be issued by an authorized training center of the American Heart Association.
To ensure proper certification, all online courses must be taken directly through the AHA. Additionally, hands-on skills testing must be completed with either a certified instructor or a VAM (voice-assisted manikin). Stay informed and verify your training source to protect your certification’s authenticity.
Cash or Venmo Accepted Only
Avoid CPR training companies that only accept payment through cash, Venmo, or PayPal. These businesses may be operating under the radar to dodge taxes and could disappear just as quickly as they pop up.
If you opt to pay in cash, you risk more than your money. If the training is a scam, you have no way to recover your payment or dispute the charges. Paying with a credit card offers a layer of protection—if you’re scammed and don’t receive your certification, you can easily dispute the transaction.
Zoom Courses
Acceptable Courses Over Zoom
- Complete an official BLS Online Heartcode or Heartsaver Online CPR and First Aid course.
- Conduct your skills test with an American Heart Association Instructor via Zoom in a professional setting equipped with CPR manikins.
Unacceptable Courses Over Zoom
- Taking a Zoom session with an instructor but without proper CPR manikins and AED in front of you is not permitted.
- Skills testing for ACLS or PALS over Zoom is strictly prohibited.
What to do:
If you have any questions, you can reach out to the American Heart Association for clarity at [email protected].
Written Test Only
Online tests from eLearning.heart.org are not enough to qualify as valid CPR certification. If you only take a written test and then receive an “American Heart Association” certification card via email, you’ve likely been scammed. Authentic American Heart Association (AHA) courses require hands-on practice with CPR manikins.
What to do:
If you suspect fraud, report it to the American Heart Association at [email protected].
Book Policy
To comply with the American Heart Association’s guidelines, you must have a book or eBook for any instructor-led course. This includes access to the material before, during, and after class.
If the course provides a loaned book, rented book, or does not require you to buy one, it is considered a fraudulent course.
What to do:
Report it by emailing the American Heart Association at [email protected].
Instructor To Student Ratio
The instructor-to-student ratio is critical to ensure students receive proper guidance and monitoring during training sessions. If you’re attending a course and notice the ratio exceeds the recommended limit, it’s important to report it to the American Heart Association.
BLS: 1 instructor per 9 students
ACLS: 1 instructor per 6 students
PALS: 1 instructor per 6 students
What to do:
Contact the American Heart Association via email at [email protected] to report the issue and help maintain training quality.
Classes Inside A Person's Home
Taking a class inside someone’s home or apartment can raise several serious concerns. Here’s what you need to consider before signing up:
- Fire risk, safety hazards
- Insurance
- Unprofessional conduct
- Personal safety risks
Course Length For Instructor Led Training
Many CPR companies in California offer shortened courses to cut costs. This practice applies regardless of class size, whether it’s a small group or one-on-one training. Often, these companies list only the course start time and omit the end time, leading to confusion. If the length of your CPR course doesn’t meet the official guidelines below, the course 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 invalid, email the American Heart Association at [email protected] for verification.
Revoking Your Certification Card
It is possible, if you take a non-compliant course, your card could be revoked. Since it is an eCard, your employer or school could be notified that you attended a non compliant course. At this point, you reputation would be harmed since they would know you took a non-compliant course.
If you offer publicly held courses at your facility or school, it is possible that the previous three months of cards issued by that instructor would be revoked. Can you imagine all of the refunds you would have to issue and the damage to your reputation? If CE Credits were issued, for example from a dental board, it would add another layer of compliance problems.
Nurses And Professional Conduct
Medical professionals like nurses and dentists in California must adhere to a strict code of ethics. Completing a CPR course that doesn’t meet proper guidelines could result in disciplinary action or needing to retake the course. Additionally, many schools and medical facilities reject certification cards from unverified CPR training providers.
If you’re an administrator, it’s essential to ensure your staff receives training from a reputable American Heart Association (AHA) Training Center. Choosing the wrong provider could lead to serious consequences for your organization—don’t risk ending up in a negative news story (see below).
Fraudulent CPR Training In The News
Scams and fraudulent CPR courses are making headlines. Here’s a look at a few recent stories exposing these deceptive practices.
Resuscitation Quality Improvement by the American Heart Association
If you’re planning to complete an American Heart Association (AHA) course, here’s how to ensure it’s valid. Enroll in an official AHA HeartCode course—whether it’s BLS CPR, ACLS, or PALS. Start with the HeartCode online module, then complete the skills testing using a Voice-Assisted Manikin (VAM) or work with a virtual instructor. Once finished, you’ll receive an official AHA certification card that’s valid for two years.
Safety Training Seminars offers these trusted courses in over 65 cities across Northern California. Operating since 1989 under AHA license number 20784, we’re the go-to provider for medical and healthcare professionals throughout the state. Each year, over 60,000 students rely on us for their training needs—and they keep coming back for more.