Our Story
About CPR Certified Chicago
Born in Chicago. Built on a mission. Dedicated to putting life-saving skills in the hands of every person in our city.
Our Mission
Every Second Counts.
We Make Sure You're Ready.
Cardiac arrest, choking, severe bleeding — emergencies don't wait for the right moment. They happen at home, at work, on the train, at the park. And in those first critical minutes before paramedics arrive, the person standing closest is the most important person in the room.
CPR Certified Chicago was founded on one belief: life-saving skills should be accessible to everyone — not just healthcare workers. We've spent 15+ years making that belief a reality, training over 12,500 Chicagoans from every walk of life.
Our instructors aren't just certified trainers — they're ER doctors, paramedics, and nurses who've worked real emergencies in Chicago hospitals and on city streets. That real-world experience is what makes our training different.
Our Journey
15 Years of Saving Lives in Chicago
What We Stand For
Our Core Values
These aren't just words on a wall. They're the principles that guide every class we teach and every student we certify.
Real-World Expertise
Every instructor is an active or former emergency professional — ER physicians, paramedics, nurses. Not just trainers. People who've actually saved lives.
Community First
We believe CPR knowledge belongs to everyone. We offer sliding-scale pricing, community partnerships, and free training events throughout Chicago neighborhoods.
AHA Standards, Always
Every course follows the latest American Heart Association guidelines. Your certification is nationally recognized and accepted by employers, hospitals, and schools everywhere.
Hands-On Learning
We keep class sizes small so every student gets real practice time — not just watching a video. You leave confident, not just certified.
Chicago Through & Through
We're not a national franchise. We're a Chicago-born organization that knows this city, its neighborhoods, and its people. We're your neighbors.
Always Evolving
From Stop The Bleed to Mental Health Emergencies, we continuously expand our curriculum to address the real emergencies Chicagoans face today.
Meet the Team
Our Instructors
Every CPR Cert Chicago instructor is an active or former emergency professional. Real credentials. Real experience. Real results.
Dr. Marcus Williams
Lead CPR Instructor & Medical Director
Dr. Williams founded CPR Cert Chicago in 2009 after witnessing too many preventable deaths in the ER — cases where bystander CPR could have made the difference. He brings the urgency and precision of emergency medicine to every class he teaches.
- MD, Emergency Medicine — University of Illinois Chicago
- AHA Master Instructor (CPR, BLS, ACLS)
- 18 Years ER Experience — Northwestern Memorial Hospital
- NAEMSP Certified Pre-Hospital Physician
Jennifer Kowalski, RN
Pediatric CPR Specialist
Jennifer specializes in making pediatric CPR approachable for parents, babysitters, and childcare workers. Her background in the pediatric ICU gives her a unique ability to communicate the urgency of infant and child emergency response in a calm, empowering way.
- BSN, Registered Nurse — Loyola University Chicago
- AHA Certified Instructor (Heartsaver, PALS)
- 12 Years Pediatric ICU — Lurie Children's Hospital
- Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN)
Carlos Reyes, NRP
BLS, PHTLS & Stop The Bleed Instructor
Carlos spent a decade as a paramedic with Chicago Fire Department before joining CPR Cert Chicago full-time. His street-level emergency experience makes his classes intensely practical — he teaches you what actually works when seconds matter.
- National Registered Paramedic (NRP)
- AHA Certified Instructor (BLS, ACLS)
- NAEMT PHTLS Instructor
- Stop The Bleed Instructor — American College of Surgeons
- 10 Years Chicago Fire Department EMS
Aisha Thompson
Corporate Training Director
Aisha leads all corporate and group training programs, having certified over 5,000 employees across Chicago businesses, schools, and nonprofits. She specializes in designing custom training programs that fit any organization's size, schedule, and safety goals.
- MS, Health Education — DePaul University
- AHA Certified Instructor (Heartsaver, BLS)
- Certified Workplace Safety Trainer (OSHA 30)
- Mental Health First Aid Instructor — MHFA USA
David Park, RN, CCRN
ACLS & EKG Specialist
David brings 14 years of cardiac ICU experience to his ACLS and EKG courses. His ability to break down complex cardiac rhythms and resuscitation algorithms into clear, memorable steps has made him a favorite among nurses and physicians seeking recertification.
- BSN, Critical Care RN — Rush University
- CCRN — Critical Care Registered Nurse
- AHA ACLS Instructor
- EKG Interpretation Specialist — 14 Years ICU Experience
Maria Santos
Community Outreach Instructor
Maria is passionate about bringing CPR education to underserved Chicago communities. As a bilingual instructor, she runs Spanish-language CPR classes and partners with community organizations, churches, and schools across the South and West sides of Chicago.
- BS, Public Health — UIC
- AHA Certified Instructor (Heartsaver CPR, First Aid)
- Stop The Bleed Instructor
- Bilingual Instructor — English & Spanish
Become a CPR Instructor
Passionate about saving lives? Our Instructor Certification course qualifies you to teach and certify others in CPR and first aid across Chicago.
View Instructor Certification CourseCredentials & Affiliations
Nationally Recognized. Locally Trusted.
Our certifications are issued by the most respected organizations in emergency medicine and accepted by employers, hospitals, and schools nationwide.
American Heart Association
Official AHA Training Site — all certifications are AHA-issued and nationally recognized.
American College of Surgeons
Authorized Stop The Bleed training program provider.
Mental Health First Aid USA
Certified MHFA instructor program for mental health emergency response.
NAEMT
National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians — PHTLS course provider.
Ready to get certified?
Browse all courses — community, corporate, and healthcare professional tracks available.