Pennsylvania AED requirements at a glance
Here is what Pennsylvania law asks of an AED program, row by row, with the statute behind each answer.
| Requirement | Required? | What the law says |
|---|---|---|
| Inspect and maintain AEDs | Yes | Owners who acquire an AED for use under the Good Samaritan section must maintain and test it per the manufacturer's guidelines (42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2(b)(2)). |
| Train expected users | Yes | AED owners must make sure expected users complete AED training consistent with Red Cross, American Heart Association or other Health Department-approved national standards (42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2(b)(1), (c)). |
| Notify agencies of AEDs | Limited | Through AED placement reporting: see that row. |
| Register the program | No | Not in state law. |
| Report AED locations | Limited | No general rule. |
| Physician medical direction | No | Not in state law. |
| Report each AED use | No | Not in state law. |
| Written plan or records | Limited | No general rule. |
| Call 911 when an AED is used | Yes | AED owners must tell users to call EMS right away by whatever means are available (42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2(b)(3)). |
| School cardiac emergency plan | Yes | Each school entity (district, charter, regional or cyber charter school, intermediate unit or career and technical school) and nonpublic school in interscholastic athletics must adopt a cardiac emergency response plan with yearly review, AED placement, training numbers and yearly cardiac arrest drills, by May 13, 2029 (Public School Code § 1423.1(f); Act 17 of 2026, § 6). |
| Other requirements | Yes | AED owners must make appropriate data or information available to EMS personnel or other health care providers when asked (42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2(b)(4)). |
| AEDs required at specific sites | Yes | School sports, health clubs, nursing homes or assisted living and some worksites. See the list below. |
Compare nearby states: New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, or see every state on the AED laws by state table.
Is medical direction required in Pennsylvania?
No. Pennsylvania law doesn’t require a physician to oversee an AED program.
Some programs choose a medical director anyway, for example to write the response protocol or review each use. If you want one, AED Log’s Medical Direction add-on is $65 per AED per year.
Training requirements
Yes. Pennsylvania law requires CPR and AED training for the people expected to use an AED.
AED owners must make sure expected users complete AED training consistent with Red Cross, American Heart Association or other Health Department-approved national standards (42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2(b)(1), (c)).
By May 13, 2029, school entities need a CPR/AED-certified person in each building every school day, and listed school staff must be trained (Public School Code § 1423.1).
Training still matters: an AED talks the rescuer through each step, but people who have practiced start CPR sooner and hesitate less. Keep each responder’s card current, since most CPR and AED cards last two years. See how long CPR and AED certification lasts.
Inspection and maintenance
Yes. Pennsylvania law requires AED owners to keep each AED maintained and tested.
Owners who acquire an AED for use under the Good Samaritan section must maintain and test it per the manufacturer's guidelines (42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2(b)(2)).
Schools must test and maintain each AED and meet Health Department specifications (Public School Code § 1423.3(d)).
Underground coal mines: maintain and inspect per the manufacturer (25 Pa. Code § 208.70(c)).
Written plan and records: No general rule. Schools in interscholastic athletics must adopt a cardiac emergency response plan, and all school entities and nonpublic schools must keep signed, dated records of staff CPR/AED training in each person's file (Public School Code § 1423.1(e), (f)).
In practice, that means check the status indicator, the pads’ and battery’s expiration dates and the cabinet on a regular schedule, replace anything used or expired, and keep a dated record of each check. Our AED inspection requirements guide covers the routine, and the free AED inspection checklist is a printable version.
EMS notification, registration and placement reporting
Only in some cases. Pennsylvania doesn’t require every AED owner to register or report AED locations.
Placement reporting: No general rule. Each school entity and nonpublic school must report to the Department of Education every year, starting by June 30, 2027, the number, condition, age, expiration date and placement of AEDs in each school building (Public School Code § 1423.2(i)).
Keep the confirmation with your program records, and update it when an AED moves or is replaced. AED Log’s document library keeps registrations, letters and notices with the AEDs they cover.
Notification after an AED is used
Yes. Pennsylvania law requires the person who uses an AED to call 911 or notify EMS.
Calling 911: AED owners must tell users to call EMS right away by whatever means are available (42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2(b)(3)).
After any use, replace the pads, check the AED and its rescue kit, and write down what happened while it’s fresh. AED Log’s incident reports record whether a shock was advised, how many were delivered, whether CPR was given and when EMS arrived.
AEDs required at specific locations in Pennsylvania
Yes. Pennsylvania law requires AEDs at four kinds of sites.
- Schools that take part in interscholastic athletics, public and nonpublic (by May 13, 2029) Public School Code of 1949 § 1423.3 (24 P.S. § 14-1423.3), added by Act 17 of 2026
- Health clubs that open without staff (in the member-access area) Health Club Act (Act 87 of 1989) § 14 (73 P.S. § 2161 et seq.), as amended by Act 106 of 2012
- Assisted living residences (each building on the premises) (One AED in each building. An AED in residence vehicles is optional.) 55 Pa. Code § 2800.96(a)
- Underground coal mines (at the entry and in each working section) 25 Pa. Code § 208.70
School cardiac emergency plans: Each school entity (district, charter, regional or cyber charter school, intermediate unit or career and technical school) and nonpublic school in interscholastic athletics must adopt a cardiac emergency response plan with yearly review, AED placement, training numbers and yearly cardiac arrest drills, by May 13, 2029 (Public School Code § 1423.1(f); Act 17 of 2026, § 6).
See AEDs in schools by state to compare, and our cardiac emergency response plan template for a starting point.
Other Pennsylvania AED rules
AED owners must make appropriate data or information available to EMS personnel or other health care providers when asked (42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2(b)(4)).
School AEDs must meet the Health Department's latest minimum specifications (Public School Code § 1423.3(d)).
Health clubs open without staff must post use instructions by each AED (Health Club Act § 14).
Does Pennsylvania's Good Samaritan law protect AED users?
Yes, with conditions. Pennsylvania protects people who use an AED in good faith, but some of that protection depends on the AED program meeting the law’s duties.
What the Pennsylvania (PA) Good Samaritan law covers: Any person, trained or not, including emergency responders, who in good faith gives emergency care, first aid or rescue at an emergency, or moves the person to a hospital, can’t be held liable for civil damages except for acts meant to harm or grossly negligent acts. Vehicle drivers stay liable for how they operate the vehicle.
AED-specific protection: Anyone who uses an AED in good faith in an emergency, trained or not, is shielded from civil damages unless the harm comes from intentional or grossly negligent conduct, or the user interferes with EMS. A person who in good faith acquires and maintains an AED gets the same shield, and the section also requires owners to train expected users, test the AED, instruct users to call EMS and share data on request.
Statutes and sources
Every answer on this page comes from these laws, read on Pennsylvania’s official legislature or code website.
- 42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2: Good Samaritan civil immunity for use of automated external defibrillator
- 42 Pa.C.S. § 8332: Emergency response provider and bystander good Samaritan civil immunity
- 42 Pa.C.S. § 8337.1: Civil immunity of school officers or employees relating to emergency care, first aid and rescue
- Act of July 5, 2012, P.L. 1081, No. 125 (SB 351): Amending 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 8331.2 and 8332
- Public School Code of 1949 § 1423.1 (24 P.S. § 14-1423.1), added by Act 17 of 2026: AED and CPR Instruction and Procedure
- Public School Code of 1949 § 1423.2 (24 P.S. § 14-1423.2), added by Act 17 of 2026: Automated External Defibrillator Program
- Public School Code of 1949 § 1423.3 (24 P.S. § 14-1423.3), added by Act 17 of 2026: Availability and Specifications of Automated External Defibrillators
- Act of May 13, 2026, P.L. 207, No. 17 (SB 375, Greg Moyer's Law): Public School Code omnibus amendments: repeals § 1423, adds §§ 1423.1-1423.3
- Health Club Act (Act 87 of 1989) § 14 (73 P.S. § 2161 et seq.), as amended by Act 106 of 2012: Employee available to administer CPR (nonstaffed-hours exception)
- 25 Pa. Code § 208.70: Automated external defibrillators (underground coal mines)
- 55 Pa. Code § 2800.96(a): First aid kit (assisted living residences)
Last reviewed against each statute on the state’s official website. This is a plain-language summary for general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so read the statute or ask a lawyer before you rely on it.
Managing a compliant AED program in Pennsylvania
AED Log keeps the records Pennsylvania law asks for, and reminds you before anything lapses.
- Monthly AED inspections on a phone, with a dated record of every check (inspection tracking)
- Pad and battery expiration dates, with a warning before each one (expiration tracking)
- Responders’ CPR and AED cards, with an alert before each expires (certification tracking)
- A report for every AED use, so the details are on record (incident reporting)
- Registrations, EMS notices and your written plan, filed with the AEDs they cover (document management)
Plans start at $114 a year for one AED, with unlimited users and locations. Start a free trial (no credit card) or talk to us.
Pennsylvania AED laws FAQ
Are businesses required to have an AED in Pennsylvania?
Only certain kinds. Pennsylvania law requires AEDs at health clubs, nursing homes or assisted living and underground coal mines. Other businesses aren’t required to have one by Pennsylvania law, and federal OSHA has no AED standard.
Where does Pennsylvania law require an AED?
Pennsylvania law requires AEDs in school sports, health clubs, nursing homes or assisted living and underground coal mines. See the full list, with each statute, on this page.
Do you need medical direction for an AED in Pennsylvania?
No. Pennsylvania law doesn’t require a physician to oversee an AED program. You can still choose one: AED Log’s Medical Direction add-on is $65 per AED per year.
Is AED training required in Pennsylvania?
Yes. AED owners must make sure expected users complete AED training consistent with Red Cross, American Heart Association or other Health Department-approved national standards (42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2(b)(1), (c)).
Does Pennsylvania law require AED inspections?
Yes. Owners who acquire an AED for use under the Good Samaritan section must maintain and test it per the manufacturer's guidelines. Schools must test and maintain each AED and meet Health Department specifications. Underground coal mines: maintain and inspect per the manufacturer.
Do you have to register an AED in Pennsylvania?
Only in some settings. Each school entity and nonpublic school must report to the Department of Education every year, starting by June 30, 2027, the number, condition, age, expiration date and placement of AEDs in each school building (Public School Code § 1423.2(i)).
What does Pennsylvania law require after an AED is used?
AED owners must tell users to call EMS right away by whatever means are available (42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2(b)(3)).
Are AEDs required in Pennsylvania schools?
Pennsylvania law requires AEDs at schools that take part in interscholastic athletics, public and nonpublic (by May 13, 2029).
Do Pennsylvania schools need a cardiac emergency response plan?
Yes. Pennsylvania law requires schools to adopt a cardiac emergency response plan. See this page for which schools it covers, what the plan must include and when it takes effect.
Do gyms in Pennsylvania need an AED?
Pennsylvania law requires AEDs at health clubs that open without staff (in the member-access area).
Are AEDs required in nursing homes in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania law requires AEDs at assisted living residences (each building on the premises; one AED in each building; an AED in residence vehicles is optional).
What does the Pennsylvania Good Samaritan law cover?
Any person, trained or not, including emergency responders, who in good faith gives emergency care, first aid or rescue at an emergency, or moves the person to a hospital, can’t be held liable for civil damages except for acts meant to harm or grossly negligent acts.
Does the Pennsylvania Good Samaritan law protect someone who uses an AED?
Yes, with conditions. Any good-faith user is covered, trained or not, but the owner's shield reaches one who acquires and maintains the AED, and the section requires trained users, testing and an EMS-call instruction (42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2).
Which Pennsylvania laws cover AEDs?
Pennsylvania’s AED rules come from 42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2; 42 Pa.C.S. § 8332; 42 Pa.C.S. § 8337.1; Act of July 5, 2012, P.L. 1081, No. 125 (SB 351); Public School Code of 1949 § 1423.1 (24 P.S. § 14-1423.1), added by Act 17 of 2026; and six more, each linked to its official text on this page.