The Illinois State Board of Education requires CPR and First Aid for athletic coaches, bus drivers, and designated emergency staff. Train your team before the school year starts — we come to your school.
By Joyce Lewis-Van Hook, RN — AHA-Certified Instructor, 40+ years clinical experience
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joyce.vitalcare@gmail.comIllinois school safety regulations require specific staff to maintain CPR and First Aid certification. Here's what applies to your school or district.
All head and assistant coaches must maintain current CPR and First Aid certification. This applies to all sports, all levels — varsity through freshman.
School bus drivers are required to hold current CPR and First Aid certification. Commercial driver requirements add this on top of CDL training.
Schools must designate emergency response staff with current CPR/First Aid. Many districts certify all teachers and administrators for coverage across buildings.
Illinois requires CPR instruction as a graduation requirement for high school students. Schools need access to qualified instructors and equipment — we can support this need.
Most schools schedule training during pre-service days before the school year, professional development days, or summer break. We work around your academic calendar.
Every 2 years. Stagger certifications so they don't all expire in the same month — especially important for coaches before fall sports season.
| Feature | Community Class | Online Only | The Pulse Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accepted by ISBE | ✓ | ✗ No hands-on | ✓ |
| On-site at your school | ✗ | N/A | ✓ |
| Schedule on PD days | ✗ Their schedule | ✓ | ✓ |
| Train 20+ staff at once | ✗ Limited seats | ✗ Individual | ✓ Multiple sessions |
| Cost for 9 staff | $450–$630 | $180–$360 | $360 flat |
Joyce has 40+ years of nursing experience and 20+ years training staff in controlled settings. She has worked with school nurses, athletic coaches, bus drivers, and school office staff across the south suburbs of Chicago — she tailors instruction to the specific scenarios school staff actually face.
AHA Heartsaver CPR AED — the credential accepted by Illinois school districts and the ISBE-aligned training standard for non-clinical staff.
Illinois requires CPR instruction as part of the high school graduation requirement (105 ILCS 5/27-22.05). But beyond the graduation mandate, school districts face real liability exposure when staff — particularly athletic coaches, school nurses, and office personnel who are the first to respond to a cardiac event — are not certified.
Athletic coaches: IHSA bylaws and most district risk management policies require current CPR/AED certification for all coaches who supervise student athletes. An uncertified coach on the sideline during a sudden cardiac arrest creates direct liability for the district.
School nurses: While Illinois school nurses hold clinical licenses that may include CPR, many nurse-to-student ratios mean that other staff — including PE teachers, front office staff, and paraprofessionals — will be first on scene. Everyone who could respond should be trained.
AED access: Illinois law (410 ILCS 4/35) requires AEDs in schools and that trained staff are present when the AED is available. AHA Heartsaver CPR AED training covers both — satisfying the statute and reducing response time in the critical minutes before EMS arrives.
Tell us your team size, preferred date, and location.
On-site at your facility, scheduled around your operations.
Hands-on certification with all equipment provided.
Cards issued immediately. Documentation ready for compliance files.
Heartsaver CPR/AED + First Aid · Schedule on PD or pre-service days
District-wide training? Ask about multi-school packages and annual contracts. Call (708) 581-9121 for a custom quote.
Schedule on-site training for coaches, drivers, and staff. We work around your academic calendar.
Get a Quote Today →The Pulse Place provides on-site training within a 20-mile radius of South Holland, IL. We regularly serve businesses in:
Illinois: South Holland · Dolton · Harvey · Calumet City · Lansing · Thornton · Homewood · Flossmoor · Olympia Fields · Park Forest · Chicago Heights · Matteson · Richton Park · Tinley Park · Orland Park · Oak Forest · Midlothian · Blue Island · Country Club Hills · Hazel Crest · Markham · Crestwood · Oak Lawn · Evergreen Park · Glenwood · Lynwood
Indiana: Hammond · Munster · Dyer · Schererville · Highland · Griffith
Don't see your city? Call (708) 581-9121 — we may still be able to come to you.