Schools are where children spend the majority of their waking hours, and medical emergencies do not wait for the school nurse to be available. A student could go into cardiac arrest on the basketball court, choke during lunch, have a severe allergic reaction in the classroom, or suffer a head injury at recess. When these emergencies happen, the closest adult -- usually a teacher, coach, or staff member -- is the first responder. Their training, or lack of it, determines what happens in those critical minutes before paramedics arrive.
According to research published by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association, an estimated 7,000 to 23,000 children experience cardiac arrest each year in the United States, and a significant number of these events occur on school grounds or during school-sponsored activities. The AHA has consistently advocated for CPR training in schools, calling it one of the most impactful public health interventions available.
This guide covers CPR and first aid training requirements for school employees in Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia, and explains how to organize effective training for your school or district.
State-by-State Requirements for School Staff
Maryland
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) addresses staff health and safety training through a combination of state regulations and local school board policies. While Maryland does not have a single blanket mandate requiring every teacher to hold CPR certification, the requirements are more extensive than many educators realize.
What Maryland requires or strongly recommends:
- School nurses must maintain current BLS for Healthcare Providers certification as a condition of their nursing license, per the Maryland Board of Nursing.
- Athletic coaches (both head coaches and assistants) in Maryland public schools are required to hold current CPR/AED certification. The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) mandates this for all coaching staff as a condition of eligibility.
- School health room staff (health room technicians, health room aides) must hold current CPR and first aid certification per COMAR regulations and local school board policy.
- Before- and after-school program staff at school-based programs that hold a child care license must meet MSDE childcare licensing requirements, which include CPR and first aid certification.
- Teachers and general staff: While not universally mandated by state law, many Maryland school districts -- including Montgomery County Public Schools and Prince George's County Public Schools -- strongly recommend or incentivize CPR training for all instructional staff.
Maryland also passed legislation encouraging CPR instruction as part of the high school health education curriculum, which means more schools are seeking instructors and trained staff to support student CPR education programs.
For school staff across Maryland, we offer CPR & AED courses and First Aid classes in Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Rockville, Germantown, Bethesda, Columbia, Frederick, Bowie, Laurel, and throughout the state.
Washington DC
DC Public Schools (DCPS) and DC's public charter schools operate under policies set by the DC government and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). The District has been progressive in its approach to school safety training.
What DC requires or strongly recommends:
- School nurses must hold current BLS certification as part of their professional licensure, overseen by the DC Board of Nursing.
- Athletic coaches and trainers at DCPS schools must hold current CPR/AED certification. The DC State Athletic Association (DCSAA) requires this for all coaches.
- School security and safety officers are required to hold current CPR and first aid certifications.
- Before- and after-school program staff operating under OSSE child development facility licenses must hold CPR and first aid certification per OSSE licensing standards.
- All DCPS staff: DCPS has expanded its recommendations for health and safety training, encouraging all school-based employees to obtain CPR certification. Some charter school networks in DC mandate CPR training for all instructional staff as part of their charter agreements.
The DC Council has also passed legislation requiring CPR training to be offered to high school students before graduation, creating additional demand for trained personnel within schools.
We provide CPR & AED training, First Aid courses, and BLS certification for schools and school systems throughout Washington DC.
Virginia
Virginia has some of the most specific school staff CPR requirements in the DMV region. The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and the Virginia General Assembly have enacted several mandates related to CPR and AED training in schools.
What Virginia requires:
- All licensed school personnel in Virginia are strongly encouraged to complete CPR and AED training, and many school divisions have adopted this as a local requirement.
- Athletic coaches: The Virginia High School League (VHSL) requires all coaches to maintain current CPR/AED certification. This applies to head coaches, assistant coaches, and volunteer coaches at the middle and high school levels.
- School nurses must hold current BLS certification through the Virginia Board of Nursing.
- School bus drivers in Virginia must complete first aid training as part of their CDL endorsement and school division requirements.
- Virginia Code Section 22.1-274.01:1 mandates that each school board develop and implement a plan for AED placement and use in schools, and that designated staff receive training in CPR and AED operation.
- Virginia's Cardiac Arrest Survival Act provides Good Samaritan protections for school employees who administer CPR or use an AED in good faith during an emergency.
Virginia has also been a leader in student CPR education. Since 2016, Virginia law requires that all students receive CPR instruction as a graduation requirement, which means schools need trained staff to deliver or support this curriculum.
Our CPR & AED courses and First Aid training serve school staff across Virginia, including Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, McLean, Reston, Herndon, Springfield, Annandale, and Manassas.
Which Certifications Do School Staff Need?
Different roles within a school require different levels of certification. Here is a breakdown:
Teachers and Instructional Staff
- Recommended: CPR & AED certification covering adult, child, and infant techniques
- Recommended: First Aid certification
- Best option: Combined CPR/AED and First Aid course (covers both in a single session)
School Nurses and Health Aides
- Required: BLS for Healthcare Providers -- this is the healthcare-level course that satisfies nursing licensure requirements
- Required: Current first aid certification
- Recommended: Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) for nurses in schools with high-needs populations
Coaches and Athletic Staff
- Required: CPR & AED certification -- this is mandatory in Maryland, DC, and Virginia for all coaching personnel
- Recommended: First Aid certification for managing sports injuries, concussions, heat illness, and other common athletic emergencies
Administrators and Front Office Staff
- Recommended: CPR & AED certification -- administrators are often among the first to respond during school-wide emergencies
- Recommended: First Aid certification
Custodial and Maintenance Staff
- Recommended: CPR & AED certification -- these staff members are present throughout the building and may be the closest adult during an emergency
- Recommended: Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) training -- custodial staff routinely handle cleanup of blood and bodily fluids
Cardiac Arrest in Schools: Why Every Second Matters
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in students is rare but devastating when it occurs. The AHA reports that survival rates for cardiac arrest drop by approximately 7 to 10 percent for every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation. In a school setting, the nearest AED may be in the main office or gymnasium, and emergency medical services may take 5 to 10 minutes to arrive.
This gap creates a window where trained school staff are the only people who can intervene. A teacher who recognizes cardiac arrest, begins CPR immediately, and directs a colleague to retrieve the AED can sustain blood flow to the brain until paramedics take over. Without that intervention, survival rates plummet with each passing minute.
Schools with AED programs and staff trained in CPR have demonstrated significantly better outcomes during cardiac emergencies. A landmark study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that AED use by bystanders before EMS arrival was associated with survival rates nearly double those achieved when defibrillation was delayed until paramedic arrival.
How to Organize School-Wide CPR Training
Getting your entire school staff trained does not have to be complicated or expensive. On-site group training is the most efficient approach for schools, and it can often be incorporated into existing professional development days.
Step 1: Assess Your Needs
Start by identifying which staff members need certification and which course level they require. Create a roster that includes:
- Name and role of each staff member
- Current certification status and expiration date
- Required certification type (CPR/AED, First Aid, BLS, or BBP)
Step 2: Choose a Training Date
The most popular options for schools are:
- Professional development days (staff are already on campus with no students present)
- Pre-service week before the school year begins
- Summer break for staff who are available
- After school hours for smaller groups
Step 3: Book On-Site Group Training
Request a quote with your group size, course type, and preferred dates. We bring all equipment -- manikins, AED trainers, barrier devices, bandaging supplies -- to your school. You just need a gym, cafeteria, library, or large classroom with enough floor space for hands-on practice.
For schools needing to train 20, 40, or more staff, we bring additional instructors so that everyone can complete the course in a single session. Back-to-back sessions are also available if you want to split your staff into morning and afternoon groups.
Step 4: Distribute Certifications and Track Compliance
Everyone who passes the course receives a same-day certification card. We provide your school administration with a complete roster of certified staff, including certification numbers and expiration dates. This documentation satisfies school board audit requirements and state compliance inspections.
Step 5: Schedule Renewal Training
CPR certifications are valid for two years. We recommend booking your renewal session 2 to 3 months before the earliest expiration date on your roster. Many schools build renewal training into their annual professional development calendar.
Funding CPR Training for Your School
Many schools and districts leverage the following funding sources for staff CPR training:
- Title II professional development funds under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- School safety grants from state departments of education
- PTA and parent organization fundraising (a popular funding source for school health initiatives)
- Local school board professional development budgets
- Health and safety line items in annual school operating budgets
Group training rates make school-wide certification surprisingly affordable. When you divide the cost across an entire staff, the per-person investment is a fraction of what individual enrollment would cost.
Get Your School Staff Trained
Whether you are a principal organizing training for 30 teachers, an athletic director certifying your coaching staff, or a school nurse ensuring your health room team is current, CPR Metro can help. We work with schools across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC, offering flexible scheduling and group rates designed for education budgets.
Our courses meet the requirements of MSDE, VDOE, DCPS, OSSE, and all major school athletic associations in the region. Every participant receives same-day certification, and our instructors bring all equipment to your school.
Request your school training quote today and give your staff the skills they need to protect your students.
Sources
- AHA Pediatric Basic Life Support Guidelines - Pediatric cardiac arrest prevalence and school-based CPR advocacy
- AHA - About Cardiac Arrest - Cardiac arrest survival statistics and the importance of early CPR/AED intervention
- OSSE - Child Development Facilities Licensing - DC regulations for school-based before/after-school programs
- Virginia Department of Education - Virginia school safety standards and CPR graduation requirements
- Maryland COMAR - MSDE Regulations - Maryland regulations relevant to school-based childcare programs and staff training
- OSHA Workplace Safety Training - Federal guidelines on workplace first aid and safety training applicable to school employees