COVID-19 Update: First Aid and CPR/AED Certification Additional Flexibility for Coaches
December 10, 2020. All coaches of extracurricular sports must hold valid first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)/automatic external defibrillator (AED) certification by completing courses from a New York State Education Department (NYSED)-approved provider, or NYSED-approved courses offered by a national provider (e.g., American Red Cross). Currently, certification courses cannot be completed entirely online because coaching candidates must demonstrate particular skills for first aid and CPR/AED certification.
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, current and prospective coaches may not be able to maintain or gain first aid and CPR/AED certification, respectively, with certification courses not being held in-person. Given the lack of in-person certification courses, the Department is providing the following additional flexibility regarding the first aid and CPR/AED certification requirements for coaches.
- Extension. Current coaches who previously earned first aid and/or CPR/AED certification through a course from a NYSED-approved provider, and whose certification expires between March 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021, will have the certification expiration date extended to April 30, 2021. If opportunities for in-person certification courses are not available by April 30th, the Department will revisit the extension and provide a new expiration date. Coaches who earned first aid and/or CPR/AED certification through NYSED-approved courses offered by a national provider would not have the certification expiration date extended by NYSED, and must update their first aid and/or CPR/AED certification per certifying agency requirements. For coaches who earned first aid and/or CPR/AED certification through American Red Cross course(s), possible certificate extensions are described on the American Red Cross COVID-19 Guidance webpage.
- Online Content. For first aid and/or CPR/AED certification courses from a NYSED-approved provider, the content can continue to be taught either online and/or in-person. However, candidates must demonstrate their (psychomotor) skills in-person to earn first aid and/or CPR/AED certification. Candidates who complete NYSED-approved first aid and/or CPR/AED certification courses offered by a national provider must complete their first aid and/or CPR/AED certification per certifying agency requirements.
Information about coaching courses is available on the Athletics and Coaching webpage, Valid First Aid Course for Coaching License webpage, and Valid CPR Course for Coaching License webpage. For questions about coaching, including approved certification courses and course providers, please contact the Office of Curriculum and Instruction at emscurric@nysed.gov or (518) 474-5922.
The above information is also provided in a memo to the field.