CPR Training and BLS Certification in Vero Beach: Does Your Job Require It?

Hospital Jobs in Vero Beach

Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital

Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital is Vero Beach’s largest healthcare employer. The 332-bed acute care facility employs approximately 2,200 caregivers and 300 providers. The hospital joined the Cleveland Clinic health system in 2019 and offers emergency care, surgery, cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, and neurosciences. It has received Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval certifications for cardiac care, total hip and knee replacement, and stroke care.

BLS requirement: Cleveland Clinic requires “Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross” for clinical positions. Some roles allow three months from hire to obtain certification; others require it upon hire. Positions requiring BLS include registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, patient care nurse assistants (PCNAs—Cleveland Clinic’s title for CNA-level roles), surgical technologists, monitor technicians, phlebotomists, medical assistants, and patient companions.

Emergency department, ICU, and procedural roles typically require both BLS and ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support). Pediatric-adjacent roles may require PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support).

Rehabilitation Hospital Jobs in Vero Beach

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of the Treasure Coast is located on 37th Street in Vero Beach. The facility specializes in inpatient rehabilitation for patients recovering from strokes, hip replacements, neurological conditions, and other conditions requiring intensive physical therapy.

BLS requirement: Because rehabilitation patients are often medically fragile and at elevated risk for cardiac events during physical exertion, BLS certification is strictly enforced. Rehabilitation nursing technicians (Encompass Health’s version of a CNA), physical therapy assistants, occupational therapy assistants, and registered nurses all require current BLS. Many RN positions also require ACLS.

Ambulatory Surgery Center Jobs in Vero Beach

The Advanced Center for Surgery

The Advanced Center for Surgery is an ambulatory surgery center in Vero Beach performing outpatient surgical procedures. Procedural settings involve sedation and anesthesia risks that require immediate life-support response capabilities.

BLS requirement: Operating room circulator RNs, pre-op and PACU nurses, surgical technologists, and radiologic technologists are required to hold current CPR/BLS certification. Perioperative nursing roles typically require both BLS and ACLS.

Dental Jobs in Vero Beach

Vero Beach has a high concentration of dental practices serving its retiree population. Dental professionals in Florida face a state licensure requirement for CPR training—not just an employer preference.

The Florida Board of Dentistry requires dentists and dental hygienists to complete “CPR training at the basic support level, including one-rescuer and two-rescuer CPR for adults, children, and infants; the use of an automatic external defibrillator (AED) and the use of ambu-bags,” resulting in certification from the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or equivalent.

For dental practices offering sedation, requirements increase. Florida’s dental sedation permit guidance requires dentists and assisting personnel to be certified in CPR at the basic life support level, plus ACLS (or ATLS) for general or deep sedation. Pediatric sedation dentistry adds PALS to the requirement stack.

Local practices include Dental Partners of Vero Beach, Vero Elite Dentistry, Vero Beach Dental Care, and oral surgery offices on Indian River Boulevard.

Dialysis Jobs in Vero Beach

DaVita operates multiple dialysis centers in Vero Beach, including DaVita Indian River Dialysis Center and DaVita Oslo Dialysis. Fresenius Kidney Care also serves the area. Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) provide direct patient care during hemodialysis treatments under RN supervision.

BLS requirement: Experienced dialysis PCTs are required to have “current BLS/CPR certification” from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross. Dialysis nurses require BLS, and many facilities expect ACLS for charge nurses or those managing acute patient deterioration.

Home Health and Hospice Jobs in Vero Beach

Vero Beach’s significant retiree population creates strong demand for home-based care. The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of the Treasure Coast is a major employer, having been voted “Best Place to Work” for seven consecutive years in Indian River County. VNA provides home health, private care, and hospice services, including the VNA Hospice House on 37th Street.

BLS requirement: VNA explicitly requires “CURRENT CPR TRAINING (MUST be from American Heart Association, American Red Cross)” for clinical staff. Home health aides and CNAs working under a clinical medical plan must maintain BLS because they operate in isolated settings where they are the first responder until EMS arrives.

Other home health employers in Vero Beach include Indian River Home Care (requires “Current CPR Certification with in-person check-off”), Preferred Care at Home of Indian River County, Right at Home Vero Beach, and Cicily Cares.

Skilled Nursing and Long-Term Care Jobs in Vero Beach

Skilled nursing facilities in Vero Beach include Vero Beach Care Center and Palm Garden of Vero Beach. These facilities provide post-acute rehabilitation and long-term care for medically fragile residents who can experience rapid deterioration.

BLS requirement: Licensed nurses (RN/LPN) and CNAs typically require “CPR certification upon hire or obtain during orientation.” Staff are often the first responders on-site before EMS arrival, making BLS a baseline safety requirement.

Emergency Services Jobs in Vero Beach

Indian River County Fire Rescue operates stations throughout Vero Beach, including Station 1 on 4th Street. Firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics provide emergency response across the county.

BLS requirement: Florida EMS statutes (Chapter 401) require EMT applicants to hold a current AHA or Red Cross CPR course card. Paramedic applicants must hold ACLS certification. Florida EMS rules specifically reference maintaining a “CPR BLS card for the professional rescuer” in EMT certification pathways. All fire-rescue personnel are BLS-mandatory at minimum.

Lifeguard and Aquatics Jobs in Vero Beach

The City of Vero Beach employs lifeguards at South Beach, Humiston Park, and Jaycee Park. Indian River County also provides American Red Cross lifeguard training certification classes through its aquatics programming at the North County Aquatic Center.

CPR requirement: Ocean and pool lifeguards must hold CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer certification—not basic consumer CPR. The county’s lifeguard training course provides “Lifeguarding, First Aid, and CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer valid for two years.” This professional-rescuer level is functionally equivalent to BLS in skill requirements.

School, Childcare, and Athletics Jobs in Vero Beach

The School District of Indian River County employs school nurses, athletic trainers, coaches, and other staff who may require CPR training. Florida law creates specific requirements for several of these roles.

School nurses: The district’s school nurse (LPN) job description requires CPR certification, first aid training, and epinephrine injector training.

Athletic trainers: Florida Board of Athletic Training licensure requires “current certification in CPR and AED use at the professional rescue level,” explicitly accepting American Heart Association or American Red Cross credentials.

Coaches: Florida statute 1006.165 requires that an employee or volunteer with current training in CPR and AED use be present at each athletic event, including practices and conditioning sessions.

Childcare staff: Florida’s child care facility handbook (incorporated by reference in rule 65C-22.001) requires that a specified number of child care personnel maintain pediatric CPR certification and first aid training while children are in care, including during field trips and transportation.

Nursing and Allied Health Students

Indian River State College operates the Mueller Campus in Vero Beach, offering a part-time Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program. Students in nursing, CNA, and allied health programs need AHA BLS certification before starting clinical rotations—often called your “passport to clinicals.”

IRSC’s nursing programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). After completing the Nursing Assistant program, students are eligible to apply for Prometric exams to become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Florida.

Why Vero Beach Employers Require AHA BLS

BLS requirements in Vero Beach come from three sources:

1. State and professional rules: Florida Board of Dentistry CE requirements, Florida Board of Athletic Training licensure, Florida EMS statutes, and Florida child care facility standards all explicitly mandate CPR at the basic support or professional rescuer level.

2. Employer policy and risk management: Hospitals, home health agencies, and long-term care facilities require BLS as facility policy even when not mandated by state nursing licensure rules.

3. Program and facility standards: High-acuity environments like operating rooms and emergency departments commonly require BLS plus ACLS; pediatric settings add PALS.

Advertisements for “free CPR” or online-only certifications typically do not meet these requirements. Vero Beach employers—Cleveland Clinic, Encompass Health, VNA, dental practices, and others—require AHA BLS certification because it includes hands-on skills evaluation with adult, child, and infant CPR techniques, AED use, and bag-valve-mask ventilation.

Want to Work in Healthcare? Start with CNA Training

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is one of the fastest paths into Vero Beach’s healthcare job market. CNAs work at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital (as Patient Care Nurse Assistants), Encompass Health (as Rehabilitation Nursing Technicians), skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, and dialysis centers.

To become a CNA in Florida, you must complete a state-approved training program and pass the Prometric competency exam. Medical Plus Training Center in Fort Pierce offers CNA training that prepares you for the Prometric exam.

Once you pass the Prometric exam and receive your CNA license, you will need AHA BLS certification to get hired. Vero Beach employers require both credentials.

CPR Training and BLS Certification Near Vero Beach

Medical Plus Training Center is located in Fort Pierce, south of Vero Beach on the Treasure Coast. The training center offers:

• AHA BLS certification for healthcare providers

• Same-day certification—walk out with your card

• Hands-on CPR training that meets employer and state board requirements

• CNA training for the Prometric exam

Classes are scheduled by phone so the training center can confirm availability and ensure you receive the correct certification for your role.

Schedule Your CPR Training or CNA Class

If your job in Vero Beach requires BLS certification—or if you want to start a healthcare career with CNA training—Medical Plus Training Center can help.

Call Medical Plus Training Center to schedule your CPR training class.

Fort Pierce location serving Vero Beach, Indian River County, and the Treasure Coast.