Physicians Are Not Required to Be CPR Certified, Although Misleading Solicitations Imply Otherwise
[Posted 04/06/06]

CMA has learned that a number of physicians have received a misleading “memo” from the “CPR Update Unit” soliciting business with misleading information. The memo implies that physicians are required by law to be CPR certified and that physicians who already are certified need to take extra courses to maintain their CPR certification to comply with guidelines recently issued by the American Heart Association (AHA). While it is true that AHA did issue new CPR guidelines, which took effect April 1, the law does not require physicians in California to be CPR certified. These memos are nothing more than solicitations from a company that sells CPR renewal certificates online.

Physicians who choose to be CPR certified do not need to do anything extra to maintain their CPR certification. According to AHA, when it comes time for an individual to renew CPR certification, the required and AHA-approved renewal courses will be taught according to the new guidelines.

Click here for a summary of AHA's new CPR guidelines.

Contact: American Heart Association, 800/242-8721.