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We regularly meet students in Reno who bought a CPR card online, turned it in to an employer or school, and learned it didn't count. Some had to retake a class on short notice. Fake and online-only CPR cards are easy to buy and can look official, but they're simple to spot once you know what to look for.
Why fake CPR cards are a real problem
A CPR card is supposed to prove you can actually do CPR, not that you watched a video. Employers, schools, and licensing boards rely on it, and many verify cards online before your first shift or clinical day. TMCC's EMS program, for example, accepts only AHA BLS and verifies each card before students can register.
When a card fails that check, you're the one who pays for it: a delayed start, a lost job offer, or a second class on short notice. If you hold a professional license, presenting a card for training you didn't complete can become a licensing problem too.
Red flags of a fake or online-only CPR card
- "AHA compliant," "AHA approved," or "follows AHA guidelines." The AHA doesn't approve courses created by other organizations, and it says there are no AHA-compliant courses. A real AHA course is simply an AHA course.
- No hands-on skills test. If you never performed compressions on a manikin in front of an instructor, it isn't an AHA card.
- An instant card at checkout. Real AHA eCards come from eCards@heart.org after your instructor completes your course.
- A fillable PDF or print-at-home card. The AHA specifically warns that authorized Training Centers never send cards you fill in yourself.
- No Training Center or instructor listed. Every AHA eCard traces back to a specific instructor and Training Center.
- A QR code that doesn't go to heart.org. The QR code on a real eCard opens the AHA's own verification page.
- Guarantees and refund promises like "nationally accepted" or "money back if your employer says no."
How to verify an AHA eCard in 30 seconds
Whether you're a student double-checking your own card or a manager checking a new hire's, it takes less than a minute:
- Find the eCard code on the card, or scan its QR code with your phone.
- Go to ecards.heart.org. The Employer section verifies up to 20 codes at once.
- Confirm the name, course, issue date, and Training Center match the card you were given.
Codes that contain letters come from the AHA's RQI program and are verified at heart.org/RQIverify.
Hiring in Reno? Make eCard verification part of onboarding. It's free, it takes seconds, and it protects your patients, your students, and your business.
eCards vs. printed cards
The eCard is the official AHA credential. Some Training Centers, including ours, may also hand you a printed card for convenience, but a printed card is a copy. If there's no eCard behind it that you can find and verify on heart.org, it isn't a real AHA card.
Online CPR that is legitimate: HeartCode
Online learning isn't the problem. Skipping the hands-on test is. The AHA's own blended courses, HeartCode BLS, ACLS, and PALS, let you complete the learning portion online, then finish with an in-person skills session with an AHA instructor. You get the same eCard as the classroom course. In Reno, the HeartCode BLS skills session at Hinson CPR is $47.
What to do if you bought a fake CPR card
- Don't turn it in. If you already did, let your employer or school know and book a legitimate class right away.
- Report the seller to the AHA at reportfraud@heart.org or 1-800-242-8721, and to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- Take an authorized AHA course and get an eCard anyone can verify.
The AHA keeps a running list of scams on its fraud warning page.
Get a real AHA card in Reno
Hinson CPR, formerly Sierra BLS, is an authorized American Heart Association Training Site in Reno. Every AHA course we teach includes hands-on practice and testing with an AHA instructor, and you leave with an official AHA eCard the same day you pass.
We teach BLS, Heartsaver CPR and First Aid, ACLS, PALS, and PEARS for students from Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and the rest of northern Nevada. Outside our area? Find an authorized AHA class near you with the AHA's class finder, AHA Atlas.
Frequently asked questions
Are online CPR certifications legit?
Online-only certificates aren't AHA cards, and many employers won't accept them. The AHA's HeartCode courses are legitimate because they pair online learning with an in-person skills test.
How can an employer verify a CPR card?
Enter the eCard code at ecards.heart.org, or scan the QR code on the eCard. The Employer section checks up to 20 codes at once.
Is a Red Cross CPR card legitimate?
Yes. Red Cross certificates are legitimate and can be verified at redcross.org. Some employers and schools require AHA specifically, so check before you book.
Does the AHA certify CPR websites or courses from other companies?
No. The AHA authorizes Training Centers and their instructors to teach AHA courses. It doesn't certify, approve, or endorse courses created by other organizations.
I lost my card. What do I send my employer?
Your eCard is the official record. Download a fresh copy anytime at ecards.heart.org and send that.
This article is general information for students and healthcare providers. It is not medical advice and does not replace the AHA's current guidelines and course materials or your local protocols.
The American Heart Association strongly promotes knowledge and proficiency in all AHA courses and has developed instructional materials for this purpose. Use of these materials in an educational course does not represent course sponsorship by the AHA. Any fees charged for such a course, except for a portion of fees needed for AHA course materials, do not represent income to the AHA.