CPR Training a High School Graduation Requirement in Georgia

Requirement Breakdown

• Requirement goes into effect as of the 2013-2014 school year
• School districts must provide one time cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automatic external defibrillator (AED) instruction to high school students as part of the Health or Physical Education curriculum.
• CPR education does not need to cover all victim sizes (adult/child/infant) but does require a hands-on component to training.
• Certification is not a requirement, but if a certification course is used, such courses shall be taught by instructors of CPR and AED.
• Schools may use an instructional program which is nationally recognized and is based on the most current national evidence based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines for CPR and the use of an AED.

Excerpts from Bill

“Beginning in the 2013-2014 school year, each local board of education which operates a school with grades nine through 12 shall provide instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator to its students as a requirement within existing health or physical education courses. Such training shall include either of the following and shall incorporate into the instruction the psychomotor skills necessary to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use an automated external defibrillator.” (Download PDF) 

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Excerpts from State Board of Education

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Student CPR Programs that Meet This Requirement

These courses will qualify for Georgia's CPR Graduation requirement:

Supplies Needed	Adult Manikin, AED Trainer	Adult & Infant Manikin, AED Trainer
Initial Evaluator Training Time	20-30 minutes	4-5 hours
Online Course Time	1 hour training, 20 minute test	1 hour training, 20 minute test
Hands-On Time (per group)	10-15 minutes	20-25 minutes
Certification Level	No certification	2-year Community CPR Certification
Cost for Students & Evaluators	FREE	FREE