CPR Certification Requirements for Foster Parents in California

CPR and First Aid certification is a required component of becoming an approved resource family in California. But the timing of when you need it, and what specific certification is accepted, causes confusion — especially because requirements have shifted between versions of the RFA Written Directives. Here's the current picture.

Is CPR Required Before or After Approval?

This is the question that generates the most confusion, and the answer varies by county.

Under the RFA Written Directives Version 8.0, CPR and First Aid certification is required as part of the overall RFA training requirements. However, updated language allows this certification to be completed within 90 days post-approval in some counties rather than requiring it before initial approval is granted.

What this means in practice:

• Some counties and FFAs still require CPR/First Aid completion before they will schedule your final home assessment or issue approval
• Others accept a post-approval completion commitment, particularly if you've completed all other required training
• Your specific county or FFA will tell you their local policy

The safest approach: complete your CPR and First Aid certification early in your application process. It's a one-day commitment, it removes a variable from your timeline, and it reduces the risk that one missing item delays your final approval by weeks.

Who Needs to Be Certified

At minimum, all primary caregivers — the adults applying to be resource parents — must hold current CPR and First Aid certification.

Some counties and FFAs require all adults living in the household who may be present with a child to also be certified. Check with your county or FFA at orientation to get a clear answer for your household.

What Level of CPR Is Required

California foster care CPR requirements specify pediatric CPR, which covers infants and children. A basic Adult CPR course alone is not sufficient.

Accepted courses typically include:

• American Red Cross — Pediatric First Aid, CPR and AED (covers infants, children, adults)
• American Heart Association — Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED or Basic Life Support (BLS) with pediatric components
• National Safety Council — Adult, Infant and Child CPR/AED

Online-only CPR certifications are generally not accepted. The skills component — where you practice on a mannequin — must be completed in-person. Hybrid courses (online theory plus in-person skills session) are accepted by most counties.

What First Aid Certification Covers

First Aid certification is required alongside CPR. The Red Cross and AHA courses mentioned above typically combine both. Standalone CPR certification without First Aid is insufficient.

First Aid training for foster families typically covers:

• Bleeding control and wound care
• Burn treatment
• Choking response (including infant choking)
• Allergic reaction response
• Recognizing signs of serious illness

How Long Certification Is Valid

CPR and First Aid certifications are typically valid for 2 years. California's annual RFA renewal (Form RFA-06) requires verification that certifications remain current. If your certification expires, you must recertify before your annual update is complete.

Build recertification into your calendar. A lapsed CPR card doesn't mean you'll lose your RFA approval overnight, but an annual update submitted with an expired certification will trigger a requirement to recertify before the renewal is processed.

Cost and Availability

CPR and First Aid courses through the Red Cross or American Heart Association typically run $50 to $85 per person. Group rates are sometimes available for households where multiple members are certifying.

Courses are widely available — community centers, fire stations, hospitals, and many community colleges offer them on weekends. Some FFAs hold group CPR sessions for their applicants, occasionally at reduced cost. Ask your FFA or county whether any subsidized sessions are available.

How CPR Fits Into the Broader Training Requirement

California requires a minimum of 12 hours of pre-approval training for all RFA applicants. CPR and First Aid certification counts toward this training requirement in some county implementations, but it's treated separately in others.

The 12-hour core training covers trauma-informed care, the California child welfare system, reunification, ICWA, and the Reasonable and Prudent Parent standard. This training is typically conducted by your county or FFA over multiple sessions.

After approval, you must complete 8 hours of annual training to maintain your RFA status. CPR recertification can count toward the annual training hours in many county implementations — confirm this with your county or FFA when you recertify.

Mandated Reporter Training

Closely related to CPR in timing: California also requires Mandated Reporter training under Penal Code §11165.7. Mandated reporters are legally required to report known or suspected child abuse to authorities. As a resource family, you are a mandated reporter.

The training is available free online through the CDSS (the California Child Welfare Digital Library and Caseload Management System offers the course). It takes approximately 2 hours and can be completed before your application is processed. Like CPR, completing it early removes a variable from your timeline.

The Practical Timeline

If you're starting your RFA application, here's a sensible sequence:

1. Register for and complete a CPR and First Aid course in the first 2 to 3 weeks of your application
2. Complete the free Mandated Reporter training online
3. Begin attending pre-service training sessions as scheduled by your county or FFA
4. Submit your documentation packet with certifications included

Completing CPR early signals to your county or FFA that you're organized and serious. In counties with long backlogs, a clean, complete application packet moves faster than one that requires repeated follow-up to collect missing items.

For a complete guide to all RFA training requirements — including what the 12-hour pre-service curriculum covers, which courses are accepted by major counties, and how to track your training hours — the California Foster Care Licensing Guide covers the training stage alongside every other step in the approval process.

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