The latest Heart and Stroke Statistics by the American Heart Association show that cardiac arrest is still one of the major health issues many Americans face even today. The number has now increased to reach 356,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, compared to 350,000 in 2021.
As one of the most popular Californian destinations, San Diego is a city with a dense population. This only serves to show that knowing CPR can be of great help, especially in places where there is a higher chance of coming face-to-face with such a situation.
According to recent research, providing CPR or first aid within the first few minutes after a person undergoes a cardiac arrest raises the survival chances by 80%. Moreover, there are many CPR providers in San Diego that offer various courses for budget-friendly prices.
In the content below, we elaborate on what are the factors that create the final price for a good CPR certificate, as well as give out some tips to find the best courses in San Diego. Additionally, you will see a comparison table of the average CPR certificate cost in San Diego.
What Determines the Price of CPR Certificates in San Diego?
The price for a CPR certification varies from provider to provider, making it difficult for candidates to pick the right one. Many opt for the most trusted provider or take the most expensive course thinking it is the best certificate.
However, that is not always the case, as the most expensive certificate doesn’t necessarily mean that it offers the best conditions and services for candidates. Other crucial factors can also influence and determine the total price.
Below we discuss the main components that influence the cost of a CPR training certificate.
Type of Class
One of the obvious factors affecting the price is the type of class that a candidate chooses. There are three options that any health organization or training center will offer:
- Adult-Only Classes: The course of these classes follows a program focused on providing first aid to persons over 12 years. These classes take the shortest as they cover only the basics.
- Children and Infant CPR Classes: The children and infant CPR training lessons are independent and separate classes from the adult ones. However, most CPR providers consider these courses as an advancement to the adult-only classes and might require candidates to take the adult-only first in order to proceed to the children and infant CPR.
- All-Inclusive Classes: The all-inclusive classes, as their name implies, are a combination of both adult and children and infant CPR classes. Despite learning about providing first aid to three different age groups, over this course, the candidates can learn the best way to react in specific situations. This combination is especially recommended for candidates working in the medical industry.
OSHA Compliance or AHA Verification
Most states in the US, California included, follow the OSHA regulations. These regulations ensure workers have safe working conditions and they are not exposed to any health or life-threatening situations by establishing OSHA plans. Part of these plans includes all workers having valid CPR certificates.
Checking whether a health organization is OSHA- or AHA-verified is the first thing you need to do. However, this can be the reason why a course is more expensive.
Multiple online courses offer budget-friendly lessons for all class types. But if you read their terms and conditions closely, you will notice that the certificate they issue is not OSHA-compliant or AHA-verified. This means that your certificate does not confirm that you know how to execute a correct CPR procedure on adults, children, and infants.
Class Format
Nowadays, there are many options for conducting a class. All candidates who cannot participate in their groups with a physical presence can follow the course online. There is also the option for hybrid lessons. However, each class format comes with unique advantages and disadvantages you should keep in mind.
For example, online lessons are more comfortable as you can follow them from your home, but these classes cover only the theoretical part, which is why they cost less. In-person classes, on the hand, cover both the theoretical and practical parts taught by a certified instructor. However, since these classes take place in a classroom, the course capacity is always limited to a particular number of people, and they cost more.
The hybrid or blended classes come as the best option. Candidates can follow the course online or in person, but they are only obliged to appear in person when they have the practical part.
Average Cost of CPR Certificates in San Diego
The number of CPR certificate providers in San Diego is high, as many training centers offer a long list of CPR classes. To give you the bigger picture and present the average price of a CPR certificate in San Diego, setting aside the additional fees for materials and other costs, we have comprised the following table.
| Online | In-Person | Hybrid | |
| Adult Classes Only | American Red Cross Organization: $37 | American Red Cross Organization: $77 | American Red Cross Organization: $97 |
| Red Line CPR 911: quote based | |||
| Child and Infant Classes Only | American Red Cross Organization: $37 | Red Line CPR 911: quote based | American Red Cross Organization: $67 |
| CPR Chicks:$65 per candidate for 3+ candidates or $150 minimum charge for class of 2 | |||
| All-Inclusive | American Red Cross Organization: $37 | American Red Cross Organization: $117 | American Red Cross Organization: $67 |
| eCPRCertification:$22.79 | Red Line CPR 911: quote based |
Additional Fees
Despite the regular course costs, you should know that every certificate can have some additional costs. One such example is the materials needed for the lessons. Some providers give the price of the learning materials into the cost, while others may ask you to pay for them in addition.
Another thing you need to remember is that all CPR certificates have an expiration date. Usually, most providers issue certificates valid for 2 years. Once these certificates are outdated, the candidate is obliged to retake the course to renew the certificate. In most cases, the renewal costs are the same as the course, but that mainly depends on the provider.
Tips for Finding the Best CPR Certificate Provider
As important as the price is, there are some other things you can also check to make sure that the CPR certificate training center is good for you. This includes:
- Reading reviews: Before enrolling in a course, make sure you read real user testimonials. Usually, all sites use only positive reviews, which appear idealistic, but online forums make a realistic picture of a CPR certificate provider and whether it’s good for the price.
- Checking for certificate verification: Even if you need the certificate for yourself, there is no point in having a CPR certificate without it being verified by AHA or OSHA. This goes especially for the ones who need the certificate for work.
- Making sure that the health organization offers certification: Double check that a training center really does offer CPR certificates or certification cards. In some cases, a certification card won’t be accepted as a valid certificate.
Average Price of CPR Certificates in San Diego: Key Takeaway
The CPR technique is highly important, especially considering that the chances of coming across a cardiac arrest case are more and more common. CPR certificate providers give out courses that can teach you this method but finding the right one can be tiring.
For everyone, the most important thing when choosing a CPR training class is the price. Plenty of health organizations consider several factors when determining the total value of the course, such as the validity of the certificate or the certification card, OSHA or AHA compliance, additional costs, etc.
San Diego has plenty of options. You only need to research well, study the provider, and then enroll in a class.