How much does CPR certification cost?
What drives the price of a CPR class, which extras are and are not included, and how to avoid paying twice.
This guide has not yet been reviewed by a certified instructor. It is written from published course materials — confirm requirements with your employer or school.
Prices are set by each training provider, not by the certifying organization, so they vary by region, by provider and by course. Rather than quote figures that go stale, this guide explains what you are paying for — and the live class listings on this site show what providers near you are charging today.
What drives the price
The certification level. Layperson courses (Heartsaver CPR/AED) are the cheapest. Provider-level BLS costs more. Advanced courses — ACLS and PALS — cost substantially more than either, because they are longer and require more instructor time per student.
Initial versus renewal. Renewal courses are shorter and generally cheaper. You usually must hold a current card to qualify for one.
Delivery format. Blended courses sometimes cost less in class time but add the price of the online portion. A skills-session-only booking is cheaper, but only useful if you have already completed the coursework.
Group versus individual. Most providers offer group rates, typically from around five students. If your workplace needs several people certified, ask about on-site group training before booking individually.
Region. The same course can differ noticeably in price between metropolitan areas.
What is usually included
- Instruction and skills assessment.
- The certification card, usually issued as an eCard.
What is often not included, and worth asking about
- The online portion of a blended course, which is sometimes purchased separately from the issuing organization.
- A printed card, where you want one in addition to the eCard.
- Course materials or a manual, which some providers charge for.
- Rescheduling fees, if you cannot attend.
Ask what the advertised price covers before booking. On the class listings here, the price shown is what the training provider has published for that class.
How to avoid paying twice
The two expensive mistakes are both avoidable:
- Booking the wrong level. A layperson card where BLS was required means paying again. Read BLS vs CPR if you are unsure which you need.
- Buying a fully online card with no skills check where the employer requires hands-on assessment. See is online CPR certification accepted.
Is the cheapest class the right one?
Not necessarily, but price is a poor proxy for quality here — the course content is set by the issuing organization, not the provider. What varies is scheduling, location, class size and how quickly the card is issued. Compare on those, then on price.
Compare class prices near you — the city pages on this site show the current price range from local training providers.