American Red Cross review
Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026
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Our verdict
The American Red Cross suits learners in the US who want a CPR certificate with a practical component and a choice of formats, and the certificate runs 2 years before recertification. The trade-off is entry cost, with the online course listed at $37 against cheaper listings elsewhere.
Key facts
- Best for
- A CPR certificate that includes assessed practical work and in-person or hybrid options.
- Certification type
- Cpr (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Price from
- $37 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Teaching practicum
- Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Recertification period
- 2 years (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Money-back period
- 2 days (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Legal entity
- The American National Red Cross (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Founded
- 1881 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Chat, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Delivery
- Online, In person, Hybrid
- Official website
- redcross.org
Pros and cons
Pros
- The certificate includes a practicum, the assessed skills work that purely online listings often leave out.
- Recertification falls every 2 years, so skills and paperwork stay current on a short cycle.
- Support runs on email, chat and phone, so email, chat, phone and the help centre all lead to an answer.
- Formats cover online, in person and hybrid, so a course can sit in a classroom as well as a browser.
Cons
- The online CPR course is listed at $37, well above the National CPR Foundation course at $12.95 and the American BLS course at $14.95.
- A return window of 2 days is shorter than the 14-day median window across listings here.
- Recertification comes due after 2 years, so the online CPR course price of $37 repeats rather than covering a long stretch.
Who it suits
- People who want the practical part of CPR assessed by an instructor rather than a written test alone.
- Learners in the US who want in-person, online or hybrid options from one provider.
- Employers and individuals who plan ahead, since the 2 years recertification cycle keeps renewal dates predictable.
Who should look elsewhere
- National CPR Foundation, where the course starts at $12.95, for buyers who put entry price first.
- ACLS Now at $14.95 and American BLS at $14.95, for anyone who treats a CPR card as a formality and wants the lowest outlay.
Core features
The certificate is built around practical assessment, because the practicum is part of the course itself. Skills get checked with an instructor rather than left to a written test alone, which separates this kind of course from the many listings that are online only. The certificate lasts 2 years, and recertification is booked as a new course, so the refresh stays short for anyone whose employer or governing body requires current training. Plan for that repeat purchase instead of treating the initial pass as permanent. The cancellation policy is the tightest corner of the offer, with a return window of 2 days, among the shortest in this category. Schedules matter more here than elsewhere, so a clash with work discovered after booking leaves little room to change your mind.
The company behind it
The card is issued by The American National Red Cross, headquartered in the United States and working since 1881. That length of operation is the part employers tend to recognise, since a card from a long-established national body carries different weight from a completion sheet off an online course marketplace. The legal name is also the one to quote when a registration, compliance or insurance check asks who issued the training, so keep the card to hand. Help runs on email, chat and phone, which covers email, chat, phone and a help centre. Several routes mean a booking question does not have to sit in a single inbox, and the phone line is the quickest path for changes close to a course date.
How American Red Cross compares
Frequently asked questions
How much does the American Red Cross CPR course cost?+
The online CPR course is listed at $37. That sits above the National CPR Foundation course at $12.95 and the American BLS course at $14.95. Formats covered are online, in person and hybrid, and the figure quoted here is the starting price for the online course.
Do I have to pay again to keep the certificate valid?+
Yes, in the sense that recertification is a new course rather than an extension of the old one. The certificate stays valid for 2 years, and a refresh course is then booked at the price in force at that point. Build that repeat cost into a training budget, especially where an employer sets the renewal date.
Is there practical skills practice in the course?+
The practicum is part of the certification, so candidates are assessed on skills and not only on written material. In a category where most listings are delivered online only, that is the main reason to pick this provider. The rest of the offer is the range of formats listed under online, in person and hybrid.
What is the cancellation policy?+
The course cancellation policy sets a return window of 2 days. That is shorter than the 14-day median window across listings here, so any clash with work or family is worth checking before you book. Pick a date you can commit to rather than holding a provisional slot.
How do I reach support?+
Support runs on email, chat and phone, covering email, chat, phone and a help centre. A question before booking and a change close to a course date can go through different routes, so nothing depends on one inbox. The phone channel is the quickest option when time is short and a course date is at stake.
Can I take the course online or do I need to attend in person?+
Both are on offer, since online, in person and hybrid covers online, in-person and hybrid. A fully online route suits someone far from a training centre, while the in-person and hybrid options suit people who want more instructor time on the skills. The card itself is issued by The American National Red Cross, headquartered in the United States.
Who is behind the certificate?+
The issuing body is The American National Red Cross, headquartered in the United States and working since 1881. That operating history is the part employers recognise, since a card from a long-established national body travels further than a course completion sheet. Keep the legal name to hand for training records.
Sources
- redcross.org checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Legal entity
“2026 The American National Red Cross”
- redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/history.html checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Founded, Headquarters
“founding by Clara Barton on May 21, 1881”
- redcross.org/take-a-class/classes/adult-cpr%2Faed-online/... checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Price from
“Adult CPR/AED Online $37.00”
- redcross.org/take-a-class/course-cancellation-policy checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Money-back period
“within 48 hours of purchase and receive a full refund”
- redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Teaching practicum
“then demonstrate competencies with a certified instructor”
- redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/cpr-training/cpr-certification checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Certification type, Delivery, Recertification period
“Get CPR certified and be prepared”
- redcross.org/take-a-class/frequently-asked-questions checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“call the Training Support Center at 1-800-RED-CROSS”
Compiled from 7 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Course hours, Exam fee included, Tutor support.
Related by the facts
American Red Cross
A CPR certificate that includes assessed practical work and in-person or hybrid options.