How to Plan CPR Training Around New Hires, Small Teams and Renewals
A new employee starts next week. Two team members need to renew their certifications in November. The rest of your staff is scheduled for group training later in the year.
You don’t have to solve every training need with the same class.
Combining onsite CPR training with local, open-enrollment classes gives employers a practical way to manage different start dates, team sizes and renewal deadlines. Here’s how to build a plan that works throughout the year.
Start With Who Needs Training and When
Before choosing a class date, create a simple training roster. For each employee, record:
- Required certification and training provider.
- Current certification expiration date, if applicable.
- Deadline for completing initial training or renewal.
- Work location and shift.
- Scheduled class date and completion status.
Confirm the specific course your organization requires before registering. CPR/AED, CPR/AED/First Aid and Basic Life Support (BLS) are different course options, and employees may have different requirements based on their roles.
Review the roster regularly so new hires and approaching expirations become part of your planning routine.
Use Onsite Training for Larger Groups
When several employees need the same certification around the same time, an onsite event can simplify coordination. Your team trains at your workplace, and you can plan staffing around a shared training date.
Lifework Education offers onsite group training with an eight-student minimum. Instructors bring the training equipment to your location, and classroom and blended learning options are available.
Onsite training can be a good fit for:
- Multiple employees with upcoming renewals.
- A group of new hires joining together.
- A department preparing for a coordinated training event.
Before scheduling, confirm the expected headcount, course needs and shift coverage. If your team needs multiple sessions, discuss those needs when requesting a quote.
Give New Hires a Path to Training
Hiring rarely follows your group training calendar. A new employee may need certification months before the next onsite event.
Make training part of your onboarding checklist. Review the employee’s existing credentials, confirm what their role requires and identify the date by which they need to complete training.
If the next group event falls after that deadline, a local, open-enrollment class can help them complete training sooner. This keeps onboarding moving without requiring you to organize a separate onsite event for every new employee.
Use Local Classes for Small Teams and Individual Renewals
A small office or department may not have eight people who need training at once. Even larger employers may have just one or two employees approaching expiration.
Open-enrollment classes let employees register individually for an available course at a nearby training location. They can also provide another option for someone who misses a group event.
For example, an employer might schedule onsite training for 12 employees with similar renewal dates, then use local classes for two new hires who join later. Both options support the same training plan.
Choose each class based on the employee’s required certification, deadline and available local schedule.
Build Renewal Planning Into Your Routine
Set internal reminders ahead of expiration dates—for example, at 90, 60 and 30 days—to allow time for scheduling and follow-up. These are planning checkpoints, so adjust them to your organization’s needs.
At each review, ask:
- Who has an upcoming expiration?
- Can employees train together before their individual deadlines?
- Who needs a local class sooner?
- Have new hires been added to the roster?
- Has completed training been documented?
Avoid delaying an employee’s renewal simply to align it with a larger group. The training plan should accommodate individual deadlines.
Put November Training on the Calendar
As October ends, review November and December expirations alongside expected hiring needs. Identify employees who can train together and those who need an individual class.
You don’t need to schedule an entire year at once. Start with the next 60 to 90 days, assign someone to maintain the roster and revisit the plan as staffing changes.
Build a Training Plan With Lifework
Lifework Education offers American Heart Association™ and American Red Cross™ training options for groups and individuals. Whether you’re coordinating an onsite event, training a small team or helping a new hire find a local class, we can help you explore your options.