Online first aid courses

Tennessee's state plan (TOSHA) adopts the federal OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.151(b) identically: there is no numeric first-aider-to-employee ratio, but where no infirmary or hospital is in near proximity, employers must ensure adequately trained persons and first-aid supplies are readily available. A trained responder or EMS is expected to reach a victim within 3-4 minutes for high-hazard work and about 15 minutes elsewhere.

Tennessee licenses child care agencies through the Department of Human Services under Chapter 1240-04-01, requiring all staff to obtain first aid and CPR training within 90 days of employment. At least one first-aid-certified and one CPR-certified staff member (matched to the ages present) must be on site at all times, and online courses are accepted.

Tennessee's Good Samaritan Law (Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-6-218) protects any person who in good faith renders emergency care at the scene of an accident, medical emergency, or disaster without direct charge, with no civil liability except for gross negligence. AED use is expressly included in the immunity, and there is no legal duty to rescue.

Registered and licensed practical nurses in Tennessee renew through the Tennessee Board of Nursing under a continuing-competence rule requiring any two activities from a defined list per 2-year cycle — one option being 5 contact hours of continuing education (10 if not practising) or a current national certification. Basic life support is generally an employer or hospital requirement rather than a licence condition, though an accredited resuscitation course can count toward the contact hours.

In Tennessee, assisted living residences, nursing homes and home health services rely on nurse aides trained in first aid and CPR, with nurse aide training and the registry overseen by the Department of Health, Health Facilities Commission. The 75-hour nurse aide programs require a current Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers CPR certification, so a recognized, up-to-date certificate meets the requirement in addition to occupational training.

In Tennessee, the Department of Children's Services (DCS) requires foster parents to complete CPR and first-aid training as part of pre-approval training and to renew it biennially, within two years of the certificate date. The training is delivered by a recognized provider and typically completed in person, though medical professionals holding a healthcare-provider certification may be exempt.

Online CPR and first aid training is recognized in Tennessee for personal, childcare licensing, and employer purposes, with 3-year certification validity and no explicit ban on the online format. OSHA does not prohibit online training but its interpretation letters favor a hands-on skills evaluation, so blended formats (online theory plus a practical component) are recommended.