CE and CME Credits

Vive CPR is not an accrediting agency. The American Heart Association is also not an accrediting agency, but is authorized to offer continuing medical education (CME) or continuing education (CE) credits for some classes.

For professions and classes not listed below, please contact your accrediting agency to see if they will award CE credits for the class. The amount of CE credits available varies based on the accrediting agency, course completed, course length and format, and the student’s profession.

For more information, please see AHA’s CE FAQ.

CE / CME Credits for AHA Online Courses

If you completed an AHA course online, you can claim CE/CME credits from AHA. CE credits can only be claimed once all components of the online course are complete.

American Heart Association is accredited to provide CE/CME credits for the following Blended Learning online courses:

HeartCode BLS (up to 1.0 CE / 0.1 CEU)
HeartCode ACLS (up to 3.0 CE / 0.3 CEU)
HeartCode PALS (up to 5.25 CE / 0.525 CEU)
Heartsaver CPR AED Online (up to 1.0 CE / 0.1 CEU)
Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED Online (up to 1.0 CE / 0.1 CEU)
Heartsaver First Aid Online (up to 2.0 CE / 0.2 CEU)
Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online (up to 2.0 CE / 0.2 CEU)

To claim your AHA online course CE/CME credits:

Login to https://elearning.heart.org
Select the “My Courses” option from your profile name dropdown menu on the upper right of your screen
Select the “Completed Courses” tab, and look under the “CME/CE Credits” column. Note: To claim CME/CE, you must have fully completed the online portion of the course, including the evaluation. Only then will the course appear in “Completed Courses.”
Follow the steps to claim your CME/CE credits

CE / CME Credits for EMS Professionals

If you are an EMS professional (such as an EMT or Paramedic) needing CE or CME credits for an instructor-led course, please let us know upon enrollment or during class, but no later than 60 days after course completion. Upon processing your AHA certification, we will ensure that AHA sends a record of your course completion to the Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education (“CAPCE”), who will issue your CMEs. CAPCE continuing education credits must be claimed within 6 months of class attendance.

American Heart Association CE/CME credits are available for the following instructor-led courses:

Basic Life Support (BLS)
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

CE / CME Credits for Dental Professionals and Dental Hygienists

For dental professionals (such as Dentists, RDAs, OAs, and DSAs), continuing education guidance is available from the Dental Board of California. Dental professionals are required by law to complete continuing education units, including a mandatory course in Basic Life Support (BLS). Courses must be taken through the American Heart Association (AHA), the American Red Cross (ARC), the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI), or a provider approved by the American Dental Association’s Continuing Education Recognition Program (CERP) or the Academy of General Dentistry’s Program Approval for Continuing Education (PACE).

For Registered Dental Hygienists, continuing education guidance is available from the Dental Hygiene Board of California. Registered Dental Hygienists (RDHs) are required by law to complete continuing education units, including a mandatory course in Basic Life Support (BLS). Courses must be taken through a continuing education provider recognized by the Dental Board of California, the American Dental Association’s Continuing Education Recognition Program (CERP), or the Academy of General Dentistry’s Program Approval for Continuing Education (PACE).

Per the guidance, licensees are eligible to receive CEs for completing either our instructor-led American Heart Association BLS class (3.0 live CEs) or our Blended Learning American Heart Association BLS class (1.0 live CE and 1.0 non-live CE). Both classes include a live, in-person skills practice session, a skills test, and a written examination. Licensees should list the class details on their license renewal application and can include the American Heart Association’s PACE Provider Number if needed (AGD Provider ID# 217044).

Please note that online only courses (completed 100% online), and Voice Assisted Manikin (VAM) Blended Learning Skills Sessions offered by other CPR training companies do not meet the Boards’ requirements.

CE / CME Credits for Respiratory Care Practitioners

The Respiratory Care Board of California (RCB) requires Respiratory Care Practitioners (RCPs) to complete 30 hours of CE with two-thirds (20 hours) directly related to the clinical practice of respiratory care every renewal cycle.

A minimum of 10 hours must be directly related to RCP leadership. A minimum of 15 hours must be directly related to the clinical practice of respiratory care, and the remaining five CE hours must meet the criteria above or courses that are indirectly related to the clinical practice of respiratory care. A minimum of 15 of the 30 required CE hours must be earned from live courses or meetings provided by or approved by RCB approved course providers, which includes the American Heart Association.

The RCB will approve 15 hours of CE for each initial certification and five hours of CE for each recertification (toward respiratory care clinical practice CE) for a licensee’s successful completion of certain certification examinations including: