CPR and First Aid training is one part of becoming and remaining a licensed foster parent in Arizona. The most important step before registering is to confirm the exact course and documentation your licensing agency wants.
Arizona’s foster-home licensing rule requires CPR training that includes a demonstration of CPR skills. The instructor must be certified by a nationally recognized association, such as the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross or the National Safety Council. The rule also specifies who may provide the required First Aid training.
After initial licensing, foster parents must continue to present evidence of current CPR certification and current First Aid training. A licensing agency or the Arizona Department of Child Safety may require additional training based on a family’s situation or a child’s needs.
Start with your licensing agency
Arizona DCS works with licensing agencies throughout the state. Your licensing specialist is the best source for the exact course name, deadline and proof each applicant must submit.
Before paying for a class, ask:
- Does the course need to include adult, child and infant CPR?
- Must First Aid appear on the same course completion card?
- Does each applicant need a separate card?
- When must the training be completed?
- How current must the card remain during the licensing period?
If you are married, Arizona DCS states that both spouses must complete the licensing requirements. Confirm with your agency which CPR and First Aid records it needs from each person.
The class must include hands-on CPR skills
Arizona’s rule does not describe a video-only course. It specifically requires CPR training with a demonstration of skills. That is why applicants should be cautious about purchasing a course that never includes an instructor-observed skills component.
An online module may be part of a blended course, but the required hands-on portion still matters. Send the exact course title to your licensing specialist before registering if there is any uncertainty.
Which LP Health Directions class is the usual fit?
For many foster-parent applicants, the relevant LP Health Directions option is the instructor-led American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR, AED and First Aid class. It includes adult, child and infant CPR skills, AED use and First Aid.
The scheduled class is four hours, costs $60 and provides a two-year AHA course completion eCard after successful completion. The American Heart Association is one of the nationally recognized associations identified in Arizona’s foster-home licensing rule.
That does not mean one course automatically satisfies every agency instruction or specialized placement requirement. Show your licensing specialist the exact course name before you book.
Do foster parents need BLS?
BLS is designed for healthcare professionals and many clinical students. Foster-parent licensing language generally focuses on CPR skill demonstration and First Aid rather than provider-level BLS.
Do not choose BLS simply because it sounds more advanced. Take BLS only if your licensing agency, employer or another requirement specifically asks for it. If your paperwork says only CPR and First Aid, confirm whether the AHA Heartsaver class is the expected option.
Keep the card and plan for renewal
Use the same legal name and email address throughout registration so your course record is easy to match. After successful completion, save the AHA eCard email and a digital copy of the card. Provide it to your licensing agency in the format it requests.
Do not wait until the final licensing or renewal deadline to register. Class dates can fill, and any correction to a name or email takes time. Because foster parents must maintain current training, add the expiration date to your calendar once the card is issued.
Ready to choose a class?
LP Health Directions offers scheduled AHA Heartsaver CPR, AED and First Aid classes in Phoenix and Tucson. If your licensing specialist has confirmed that this is the class you need, review the available dates and choose the location that works for you.
View Phoenix and Tucson Heartsaver class dates or contact LP Health Directions if you want help comparing the exact wording on your requirement.
Sources
- Arizona Secretary of State, Arizona Administrative Code, Title 21, Chapter 6, R21-6-303 Training Requirements
- Arizona Department of Child Safety, Caregiver Training
- Arizona Department of Child Safety, Foster Orientation: Step 3
- American Heart Association, Heartsaver Courses
- American Heart Association, First Aid CPR AED Course Details
Reviewed September 13, 2026. Licensing agencies may issue additional or updated instructions. Confirm your exact course requirement with your licensing specialist before registering.