Frequently Asked Questions

The RECOVER certification process is the ONLY veterinary CPR certification recognized by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC) and Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS) as a standardized method derived from the latest evidence-based veterinary CPR guideline. The initiative is also a non-profit endeavor.

The first step in certification is to complete the online course to earn a certificate in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS). You can then become a RECOVER Certified BLS Rescuer® and RECOVER Certified ALS Rescuer® by participating in an in-person training session. Rescuers also will gain the option to become a RECOVER Certified BLS Instructor® and RECOVER Certified ALS Instructor®. More information on the process can be found at “How Certification Works”

We have a network of RECOVER Certified BLS Instructors® and RECOVER Certified ALS Instructors® that conduct in-person certification sessions. Those instructors are independent of RECOVER. Instructors who are available for in-person certification sessions are listed in the Public Recover Instructor Directory.

To View upcoming Workshops, refer to our Upcoming Workshops page

Conferences:

There are RECOVER Certifications held at IVECCS annually. We are falling into an annual pattern at some of the conferences like VMX, WVC, SWVS, and will keep adding to the list. Please see the Upcoming Workshops Page for updates on available workshops.

The online course fees for veterinarians:

• BLS/ALS bundle – $150
• BLS only – $90
• ALS only – $65

The online course fees for veterinary technicians/nurses, veterinary students, support staff:

• BLS/ALS bundle – $75
• BLS only – $45
• ALS only – $35

Rescuer certification and Instructor certification sessions have varied pricing depending on the session.

Group pricing for online courses are available for 5 or more individuals registering as a part of the group, leading to a 20% discount.

The discounted course fees for veterinarians:

• BLS/ALS bundle – $120
• BLS only – $72
• ALS only – $52

The course fees for veterinary technicians/nurses, veterinary students, support staff:

• BLS/ALS bundle – $60
• BLS only – $36
• ALS only – $28

To place a group order please fill out this form.

Certificates for online courses valid for 2 years from the date completion. Rescuer certification is valid indefinitely so long as your online courses are not expired. Instructor certification is valid for 2 years from the date of your most recently completed certification.

Every veterinary professional is eligible to take the online courses and become RECOVER Certified BLS Rescuers® or RECOVER Certified ALS Rescuers®. The option to become a RECOVER Certified BLS Instructor® or RECOVER Certified ALS Instructor® is available to licensed veterinarians and credentialed veterinary technicians. An online course specifically for pet owners and pet professionals such as trainers, groomers, dog walkers, and dog daycare providers, is available, as well as in-person workshops. There is no age restriction to learning RECOVER CPR.

The RECOVER CPR courses currently do not include first aid.

RECOVER Certified BLS Instructors® and RECOVER Certified ALS Instructors® are independent of RECOVER and have an agreement with us to provide veterinary CPR training using our standardized training methods. The RECOVER Initiative can help you contact these instructors to arrange for training.

Please refer to our Instructor Directory to find an available instructor.