Frequently Asked Questions:
What classes do you offer?
We offer Babysitting Preparedness, Pet First Aid CPR & Disaster Preparedness, Wilderness First Aid, Sports First Aid & Injury Prevention for NYS Coaches and a variety of American Heart Association CPR AED, First and Professional Level Certifications like BLS, ACLS & PALS.
Where do you hold your classes?
At our various business locations, hospital locations and on site for local businesses in the NY and CT area primarily in Putnam, Dutchess, Ulster, Orange, Litchfield and Fairfield Counties.
Are you following COVID19 precautions?
We have resumed training in June following all required COVID19 procedures. Students attending class will need to wear a mask and ensure they do not arrive to class ill. Students will also be subject to any required screening procedures at class sites. Should you refuse to follow these mandated requirements you will not be permitted to sit for class. Further requirements are outlined in the terms and conditions page at check out. Social distancing is required whenever possible, decontamination procedures have been enhanced and any team skills adjusted to follow proper precautions.
When will I get my e-card?
E-cards are issued for AHA and ECSI certification classes. Paper cards are no longer available from the distributors. You will get an email form AHA with a link to click and must follow the prompts to claim, view, save or print your AHA e-card. You must claim your e-card to have access to it. ECSI will send your certification as an attachment. E-cards are typically processed within 1-5 business days so check your email (inbox, junk, spam and trash folders). The Babysitting course is currently a paper card that will be mailed to the address used after class and typically arrive within 2 weeks.
Where can I find my ecard?
If you need to find your AHA certification e-card please visit this site where you can find a previously issued ecard or a new one if you did not get the email to claim your ecard from the American Heart Association
https://ecards.heart.org/student/myecards
Can I take a renewal or update class if I am expired?
AHA only allows a 45-day grace period to take a renewal (update) class if you have expired but your certification is still expired. AHA does not extend your certification date. In addition, if they have made significant recent updates they may eliminate the renewal and update classes as an option during that time.
How big are your classes?
Class sizes are restricted meaning that prior registration and payment is required. We will NOT accommodate any walk-in students. Class sizes are kept small at this time between 6-8 students maximum as the space we are using allows.
Do you do private group training or come on site to businesses?
Yes! If you are interested in a group training we can conduct onsite classes for groups of 6 or more based on current state, CDC and DOH restrictions. Group size class restrictions may temporarily only allow us to conduct a class size of up to 8 people. Please email us at:
Wendy.Hennessy@NuvanceHealth.org
or call us at 845-475-9742 for more information.
Does the department offer any complimentary services?
We offer complimentary child safety seat checks and bike helmet fittings by appointment if you need assistance email Peter.Dandreano@NuvanceHealth.org
We also offer our AHA Friends & Family CPR AED classes held at the hospital locations free of charge year-round.
How long is my certification valid?
All certification courses are valid for a period of 2-years and will expire at the end of the month the class was taken in. For example, if your class was March 5, 2020 you will expire March 31, 2022. Non-certification courses they recommend an update every year and Bloodborne Pathogens is also required each year.
How do I keep my skills up to date during the 2-year time frame?
Refer to your book to keep the information fresh. You can also visit the AHA's website for the most up-to-date information at www.heart.org or follow their science news you tube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/AHAScienceNews
Who can register for a class?
Anyone is welcome to register for our classes. Please see the class descriptions and ensure it is the best fit for what you are looking for. If you are unsure email us and we can help!
Do you offer online classes?
None of the nationally accepted and reputable certification providers (AHA, Red Cross, ECSI, ASHI) offer a fully online course. We are required to follow their requirements and curriculum to certify you so in-person instruction is required. Never practicing skills with a certified instructor with equipment may increase your liability risk so all our CPR and advanced certifications require in-person instruction as required by AHA. We may at times offer some fully online training for other course types as available and directed by the AHA.
Did AHA Offer any accommodations because of COVID19?
AHA allowed some course modifications because of COVID19 to increase safety. AHA did offer a very rare accommodation of a certification extension of 120-days only for those who expired at the peak of COVID19 who may have been unable to find a class. For those who expired March 2020 to June 2020 the 120-day extension was available but currently all extensions have expired. Cards themselves were not extended a memo from the AHA is provided to those who may need to provide proof of the extension to an employer. Extension Example: those who Expire in June 2020 were extended through October 2020. No further extensions have been announced at this time.
Why do I not see Babysitting Preparedness, Pet First Aid CPR AED & Disaster Preparedness or some of your other courses?
Some of our courses are offered seasonally Spring, Summer & Fall and may not be held in the winter as we have a low demand. Please check back in January for our updated yearly schedule of course offerings.
Why are classes so long?
We are an official AHA Training Site, all our class time frames are aligned with the AHA curriculum, lesson maps, educational requirements and agendas. Some smaller classes may finish a bit more quickly but not by much. Classes are the designated length meeting the AHA requirement for certification.
Do you accept donations?
We are a not-for-profit agency. If you wish to donate to help keep some of our services free of charge, please contact us!
How can I get more involved with the American Heart Association?
Want to help the AHA make a difference world-wide? Join the You’re the Cure Network to see current campaigns available that you can help with here https://www.yourethecure.org/join
Do you rent or sell equipment?
We do not currently rent or sell equipment. Please see a distributor for your equipment needs.
What is the cancellation policy?
Should we need to cancel a class, change the location, delay or reschedule because of weather, a COVID19 precaution or other reason we will email you and (if you opt in) text your cell. Please register with an email you check often. We will make every attempt to do this as soon as possible but please check your email in the days leading up to class as well as the morning of for any changes. We will provide options available for rescheduling if needed. Most of our courses do run as scheduled.
What is the refund policy?
If you are unable to make it to class we can process a refund (less the cost of books shipped) for fully in-person classes if we have 1 (one) full business day of notice. For example, if class is on Saturday morning you need to notify us by Friday morning. You can notify us via email or phone. We also have the option to change your class date should you have a last-minute emergency just let us know. Books mailed are not returnable and are non-refundable. Online or hybrid courses are also non-refundable. You may contact us at 845-475-9742 or Wendy.Hennessy@NuvanceHealth.org
Do you hold instructor classes?
We do hold AHA instructor certification classes for BLS, ACLS & PALS. You must be certified as an AHA provider first. We offer these classes 1-4 times per year based on demand. We typically offer them in Spring & Fall so check back on the site for offerings then. Taking this course will not make you an employee. Anyone taking the class is considered an independent instructor and must purchase their own supplies and equipment as well as will set their own prices. This can be a significant investment as the AHA can make unannounced price changes at any time and update the materials and curriculum at a minimum of every 5 years. We can also hold instructor classes on site for groups of 4 or more. AHA will require you to be monitored regularly for compliance by your AHA Training Center (Nuvance). AHA requires you teach a specified minimum number of classes each year and be evaluated by your AHA training center prior to expiring to renew. If you do not meet both requirements you will not be permitted to renew and will need to take the entire class over.
Are you an authorized training center?
Yes. We are an authorized training center for the American Heart Association, Emergency Care & Safety Institute and the American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI)