When a student has a seizure, chokes or collapses on a bus, the driver and aide are the first people there, often miles from help. That's why more states and districts now ask for school bus drivers and aides to hold CPR and first aid cards, and why contracts ask contractors to prove it. The training is the easy part. Keeping track of 40 cards that each run out on a different day is where it slips.
Here's who usually needs CPR, how long a card lasts, and a simple routine for school bus driver CPR certification tracking.
Who needs it
- Some states require it for every driver and aide. Florida, for example, now requires CPR and first aid certification for all school bus drivers and aides as part of their training.
- Many states require it for aides on special needs routes, or for drivers on those routes, even if not for everyone.
- Districts and contracts often ask for it even where the state doesn't, especially for special needs transportation.
- Many companies require it anyway, because it's the right thing for a driver alone with children.
How long a card lasts
Most CPR and first aid cards from the national providers last two years from the class date. Some employers and states ask for a yearly refresher. The date on the card is what counts, not the date it was entered in your files.
Tip: Book renewal classes as a group, two or three times a year, for everyone whose card runs out in the next few months. It's cheaper, it's easier to schedule around routes, and nobody slips through.
A tracking routine
- Decide who must hold it: drivers, aides, or both, and any office staff who ride along.
- Record each card with the class date, the date it runs out, the provider and a copy of the card.
- Look ahead every month at the cards running out in the next 60 to 90 days, and book them into a class.
- Chase the missing ones: new hires with no card yet, and people whose card has run out.
- Keep the old cards when a new one comes in, as proof for audits.
Good to know: CPR and first aid requirements differ by state, district and contract, and some say which courses count (for example, hands-on, not online only). Check yours.
Doing it in FleetCommander
What you track. Under HR, Certification types starts with CPR / First aid, along with background checks, drug tests and others, each with how long it lasts and Who must hold it (Drivers, Aides, Office & other staff). Click it to set Renew every (months) to match your state.
Each person's card. On a person's page, Add certification, choose CPR / First aid, and enter Issued on. Runs out on is worked out from the type, or enter the date on the card, and attach the Certificate. When they take the class again, Renew keeps the old one under earlier records. An aide's CPR / First aid date entered on their aide page counts already, so you don't type it twice.
Catching renewals. The Certifications list puts Expired, Missing (their job needs it and none is recorded) and Expiring soon first, and can be filtered by certification. People with HR access get a reminder before one runs out (Certification expiring under Settings › Notification rules), and they show on Compliance and the Dashboard. Reports has Certifications due too. See the HR guide.
Ava (Beta), the assistant in the app, answers Any certifications expiring soon? or Aides with CPR expiring in the next 60 days. More on her page.
Related reading
Questions people ask
- Do school bus drivers need CPR certification?
- It depends on the state, district and contract. Some states, such as Florida, require it for every driver and aide; others require it for special needs routes; many companies require it anyway.
- How long does a CPR card last?
- Most CPR and first aid cards last two years from the class date. Some employers and states ask for a yearly refresher.
- How do you keep track of CPR expiration dates?
- Record each card with its class and expiry dates, look ahead every month at the ones running out in the next 60 to 90 days, and book renewals as a group.
- Does online CPR training count?
- Often not on its own. Many states and districts ask for a course with hands-on practice. Check your requirements.