CPR & First Aid Certification

CPR & First Aid Certification

A current CPR/First Aid certification can help Homecare Workers (HCWs), Personal Support Workers (PSWs), and Personal Care Attendants (PCAs) respond safely during an emergency.

Oregon Home Care Commission (OHCC) covers the cost of CPR/First Aid certification training for eligible providers with an active provider number. Approved options include in-person training and online training with a virtual demonstration of skills.

A valid certification that includes a demonstration of skills:

✓ Is required for certifications earned through OHCC

✓ May qualify an eligible provider for a $0.25-per-hour wage differential

✓ Must be uploaded directly to the provider’s PACE account

Important: A consumer’s service plan, employer, program, or workplace may have separate CPR/First Aid requirements. Completing a course for the OHCC differential does not replace any additional job-specific requirements.

Who Is Eligible?

OHCC-paid CPR/First Aid training is available to eligible:

• Homecare Workers (HCWs)

• Personal Support Workers (PSWs)

• Personal Care Attendants (PCAs)

To qualify for OHCC-paid training, you must:

✓ Have an active provider number

✓ Submit a training request and receive approval before taking the course

✓ Not have received OHCC-paid CPR/First Aid training during the previous two years

The same basic OHCC eligibility requirements apply to HCWs, PSWs, and PCAs. However, your consumer’s service plan, local office, Case Management Entity, or provider program may have additional job-specific requirements.

Do not purchase a course expecting OHCC to reimburse you afterward. OHCC does not reimburse providers for CPR/First Aid courses taken independently without prior approval.

What Makes a CPR/First Aid Certification Valid?

To qualify for OHCC certification requirements or the CPR/First Aid wage differential, the certification or card must:

✓ Be current and unexpired

✓ Show your legal name

✓ Show the date you completed the certification or training

✓ Include a demonstration of CPR/First Aid skills to an instructor

A card may describe the demonstration using language such as “skills evaluation,” “skill objectives,” or “hands-on skills.”

Online Courses

An online course may qualify only when it includes a live or virtual demonstration of skills. Completing an online course that does not include a skills demonstration is not sufficient for the OHCC certification requirement or wage differential.

OHCC offers an online option through Emergency University that includes a virtual skills assessment. You must request and receive approval from OHCC before beginning the course.

If Your Card Does Not List an Expiration Date

When uploading the card to PACE, enter the final day of the month that occurs two years after the training date.

Example: If the training date is January 1, 2026, enter January 31, 2028.

If OHCC cannot determine whether your course included a skills demonstration, it may contact you and ask for proof or offer an OHCC-paid course that meets the requirements.

How to Request OHCC-Paid Training

Step 1: Sign in to PACE

PACE is the Oregon Home Care Commission’s online learning system. Providers use it to register for OHCC training, upload CPR/First Aid cards, and review certification information.

If you do not have a PACE account, submit an OHCC training account request using your active provider number. OHCC generally sends an email after the account request is reviewed and activated.

Step 2: Find a CPR/First Aid course

Sign in to PACE and look for available CPR/First Aid training. OHCC offers:

• In-person courses

• Online courses that include a virtual demonstration of skills

In-person training may be especially helpful if you have limited internet access or need training in a language other than English.

Step 3: Receive approval before taking the course

Follow the registration or request instructions provided through PACE or the official OHCC certification page.

Do not pay for or begin a course on your own if you expect OHCC to cover the cost. OHCC must approve the training in advance and does not reimburse independently purchased courses.

Need Help?

Oregon Home Care Commission

Phone: 877-867-0077

CPR/First Aid questions: cpr.firstaid@odhs.oregon.gov

PACE or card-upload assistance: training.ohcc@odhs.oregon.gov

How to Upload Your CPR/First Aid Card

Your certification must be submitted directly to OHCC through PACE.

Giving a copy to an APD or AAA office, CDDP, Support Services Brokerage, Comagine, or another local program does not replace uploading the card to PACE.

Before You Begin

Make sure your card:

✓ Shows your legal name

✓ Shows the date you completed the training or received the certification

✓ Shows the expiration date, if one is printed

✓ Includes evidence that you completed a demonstration of skills

✓ Can be photographed or scanned clearly on both sides

Upload Instructions

1. Sign in to PACE.

2. Open the Home tab.

3. Look under Other Actions.

4. Select Upload Your CPR Card.

5. Choose CPR/First Aid as the card type.

6. Enter the training date and expiration date shown on your card.

7. Upload clear images of the front and back of the card.

8. Review the images and make sure all information is readable.

9. Select Submit for Approval.

If Your Card Does Not Show an Expiration Date

PACE instructs providers to enter the last day of the month that is two years after the training date.

Example: If the training date was January 1, 2026, enter January 31, 2028.

After You Submit the Card

OHCC will review your submission. The review may take several days.

You should receive an email when the card is approved. Check your spam or junk folder if you do not see it.

You can also check the status in PACE:

1. Select Profile.

2. Open CPR Cards.

3. Look for Approved or Waiting for Approval.

If your submission remains pending or is rejected, contact OHCC before uploading the same documents repeatedly.

Renewing Your Certification

OHCC will cover the cost of eligible CPR/First Aid certification training every two years.

You may complete an OHCC-paid renewal during the three months before your current certification expires.

Avoid an Interruption in Your Differential

Upload your renewed card to PACE at least one month before your current card expires.

Your $0.25-per-hour differential continues only while OHCC has a valid CPR/First Aid certification or card showing that you completed a demonstration of skills.

If your certification expires before OHCC receives and approves a valid replacement:

• The differential may stop.

• It will begin again after a valid card is provided and approved.

• The missed differential will not be paid retroactively.

Keep track of the expiration date instead of waiting for a reminder. You can review your card information and approval status in PACE.

Renewal Checklist

✓ Begin the renewal process within three months before expiration.

✓ Request and receive OHCC approval before taking an OHCC-paid course.

✓ Complete a course that includes a demonstration of skills.

✓ Upload the new card to PACE at least one month before the old card expires.

✓ Confirm that the new card shows Approved in PACE.

✓ Save a copy of the card and the approval email for your records.

The $0.25-Per-Hour Differential

Eligible HCWs, PSWs, and PCAs with a valid CPR/First Aid certification may receive an additional $0.25 per hour.

The differential applies to work performed for all consumers when:

✓ Your provider number is active.

✓ The certification shows that you completed a demonstration of skills.

✓ Your card has been submitted to and approved by OHCC through PACE.

✓ Your CPR/First Aid certification or card is current and has not expired. 

Do You Need to Submit a Separate Pay Claim?

No. After OHCC approves an eligible certification in PACE, the differential should be applied automatically.

Continue checking your paystub to confirm that the differential appears. If it does not appear after your card is approved, contact OHCC or the office responsible for your payroll.

Does the Differential Combine With Other Certification Pay?

The CPR/First Aid differential generally does not stack with a higher hourly differential that you are already receiving because of an OHCC certification, including:

• Professional Development Certification (PDC)

• Enhanced Certification

• Exceptional Certification

• Ventilator-Dependent Quadriplegia (VDQ) Certification

However, you may still receive the CPR/First Aid differential when you hold an Enhanced, Exceptional, or VDQ certification but are not receiving that certification’s higher rate because the consumer or work does not qualify.

If a higher OHCC certification ends but your CPR/First Aid certification remains valid, you may qualify for the $0.25 differential.

When the Differential May Stop

The differential may stop when:

• Your CPR/First Aid card expires.

• OHCC has not received and approved your renewed card.

• Your certification does not show a demonstration of skills.

• You are already receiving a higher OHCC certification differential for the same hours.

The differential is not retroactive when it stops because a renewed card was submitted late.

Questions About Your Differential

Confirm first that your card shows Approved in PACE. Then review your paystub and contact OHCC if the differential is missing or appears incorrect.

Official Resources and Help

Use the official OHCC resources below to review the policy, follow the card-upload instructions, or request assistance.

For questions about CPR/First Aid eligibility, training approval, certification acceptance, renewals, or the pay differential:

Oregon Home Care Commission

Phone: 877-867-0077

Email: cpr.firstaid@odhs.oregon.gov

For help creating a PACE account or uploading a certification card:

Email: training.ohcc@odhs.oregon.gov

Before Contacting OHCC

Have the following information available:

• Your legal name

• Your active provider number

• Your provider type: HCW, PSW, or PCA

• The training or certification date

• The card’s expiration date

• The status shown under CPR Cards in PACE

Do not send sensitive personal information, such as your Social Security number, unless an authorized representative specifically requests it through a secure method.