CPR training is something almost anyone can benefit from. There will always be a need for instruction in basic life support so that people (both professional and non-professional) are responding correctly and in the most efficient manner. As we advance into the information age, this instruction can be provided in a variety of platforms and presentation. If you are considering starting a CPR business you will want to take that into perspective. The business of education is always a good one. However a CPR training center may or may not be good for you depending on a variety of things. At the top of the list of considerations is the type of certification you are able to provide and the market demand for that certification.

It would be nice to simply teach basic life support for the sake of teaching valuable information. Unfortunately this is not realistic. Certification is what drives the market for this service, and not all certifications are the same. Not having this knowledge can make for a long difficult road, one that can lack the desired success. The American Heart Association provides a widely and almost universally accepted certification for basic life support. To be able to provide AHA certification you will need to either become an AHA training center or become affiliated with one. In either case you will need to meet all the necessary requirements to offer this certification. It is not enough to be an AHA instructor. Being an instructor and starting a business are two entirely different things, so be mindful of that.

The American Red Cross also provides an almost universally accepted certification for CPR. In addition to becoming and instructor you will need to become and authorized provider with the ARC chapter in your area. Although this is somewhat easier then becoming and AHA training center, you are bound by the terms of the AP agreement, part of which may preclude you from directly competing with the chapter itself. In addition to the “no competition” standing that you agree to, to be compliant with the AP agreement you must purchase all course materials directly from the ARC. Training materials from (in addition to the certification) American Red Cross classes will eat up most of the money that you make from teaching courses and make it impossible for you to run a successful CPR training business.

It is obvious to anyone with business sense (even common sense) that the ARC program is designed that way. This is the reason you don’t really see very many successful CPR businesses that offer American Red Cross certification. The program is designed to be “in house” with most of the revenue in house as well. It actually makes perfectly good business sense for the Red Cross, and I would do the same thing. Not a bad way to keep the coins coming in.