West Virginia AED requirements at a glance
Here is what West Virginia 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 | A program must maintain and test each AED per the manufacturer and keep written records; compliance is also a condition of AED immunity (§§ 16-4D-3(3), 16-4D-4(1)). |
| Train expected users | Yes | Programs must require anticipated operators to take CPR, AED and advance directive training from the AHA, Red Cross or another national or OEMS-approved course (§ 16-4D-3(2)). |
| Notify agencies of AEDs | Yes | Through program registration and AED placement reporting: see those rows. |
| Register the program | Yes | The program must register with the state’s Office of EMS (OEMS), listing AED placement, operator training, EMS coordination, the medical director, maintenance and use reports (§ 16-4D-3(1)). |
| Report AED locations | Yes | The program must tell the local EMS system and the 911 center (or other dispatch center) that the program exists, where it is, and how it will coordinate with EMS (§ 16-4D-3(5)). |
| Physician medical direction | Yes | The program must name a medical director, defined as a licensed physician, to coordinate training, EMS coordination and AED deployment, and to review every AED use (§§ 16-4D-2(f), 16-4D-3(4)). About medical direction |
| Report each AED use | Yes | The operator who uses an AED must report the use to the program's medical director (§ 16-4D-3(6)). The OEMS registration also covers reports of AED use (§ 16-4D-3(1)). |
| Written plan or records | Yes | Programs must keep written records of AED maintenance and testing (§ 16-4D-3(3)). |
| Call 911 when an AED is used | Yes | The program must make sure any operator who uses an AED on a person in cardiac arrest activates EMS as soon as possible (§ 16-4D-3(6)). |
| School cardiac emergency plan | Yes | Every elementary and secondary school under a county board must have a cardiac emergency response plan for its grounds, plus a venue-specific plan practiced yearly if it has athletics (§ 18-5-22e). Athletic schools since 2024 (SB 602); all schools since July 2025 (SB 652). |
| Other requirements | Yes | Programs must follow OEMS guidelines on data collection and reporting (§ 16-4D-3(7)). |
| AEDs required at specific sites | Yes | School sports, schools, some worksites and some dental offices. See the list below. |
Compare nearby states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, or see every state on the AED laws by state table.
Is medical direction required in West Virginia?
Yes. West Virginia law requires a physician (or another licensed practitioner it names) to be involved in an AED program.
The program must name a medical director, defined as a licensed physician, to coordinate training, EMS coordination and AED deployment, and to review every AED use (§§ 16-4D-2(f), 16-4D-3(4))
AED Log’s Medical Direction add-on covers this for $65 per AED per year, on top of your plan: a licensed physician oversees the program, AED Log handles the paperwork, and each covered AED shows that it’s covered.
Training requirements
Yes. West Virginia law requires CPR and AED training for the people expected to use an AED.
Programs must require anticipated operators to take CPR, AED and advance directive training from the AHA, Red Cross or another national or OEMS-approved course (§ 16-4D-3(2)).
Schools: trained staff; coaches need yearly cardiac arrest training (§ 18-5-22e(b)(3), (e)).
WVSSAC sports personnel (§ 18-2-25c(b)).
Surface mines: all personnel, with a written record (56 CSR 3 § 48.4)
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. West Virginia law requires AED owners to keep each AED maintained and tested.
A program must maintain and test each AED per the manufacturer and keep written records; compliance is also a condition of AED immunity (§§ 16-4D-3(3), 16-4D-4(1)).
School cardiac plans must cover routine AED maintenance (§ 18-5-22e(h)(3)).
Surface mine AEDs must be stored in a controlled environment per the manufacturer (56 CSR 3 § 48.4)
Written plan and records: Programs must keep written records of AED maintenance and testing (§ 16-4D-3(3)). Each school's cardiac emergency response plan is a written document posted on the school's web page (§ 18-5-22e(a), (d)). Surface mines keep a written AED training record (56 CSR 3 § 48.4).
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
Yes. West Virginia requires AED programs to register and to report where their AEDs are.
Registration: The program must register with the state’s Office of EMS (OEMS), listing AED placement, operator training, EMS coordination, the medical director, maintenance and use reports (§ 16-4D-3(1)).
Placement reporting: The program must tell the local EMS system and the 911 center (or other dispatch center) that the program exists, where it is, and how it will coordinate with EMS (§ 16-4D-3(5)).
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.
Other West Virginia AED rules
Programs must follow OEMS guidelines on data collection and reporting (§ 16-4D-3(7)).
Schools: preseason cardiac arrest meetings, a signed plan form from each athlete and parent, and youth leagues on school grounds must get the plan and know AED locations (§ 18-5-22e(c), (d), (k))
Notification after an AED is used
Yes. In West Virginia, the rescuer must call 911, and each use has to be reported.
Calling 911: The program must make sure any operator who uses an AED on a person in cardiac arrest activates EMS as soon as possible (§ 16-4D-3(6)).
Reporting the use: The operator who uses an AED must report the use to the program's medical director (§ 16-4D-3(6)). The OEMS registration also covers reports of AED use (§ 16-4D-3(1)).
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 West Virginia
Yes. West Virginia law requires AEDs at six kinds of sites.
- School athletic events and practices (since 2021-22, with a posted emergency action plan) W. Va. Code § 18-2-25c
- Every elementary and secondary school under a county board (through its cardiac emergency response plan) W. Va. Code § 18-5-22e
- Underground coal mines (one AED with each required first aid station) W. Va. Code § 22A-2-59
- Surface mining operations (stored in a climate-controlled place, with personnel trained) W. Va. Code § 22A-1-42(b)
- Quarries (with the required first aid equipment) W. Va. Code R. § 56-20-20.1.b.14 (effective July 1, 2015)
- Dental offices that give class 2, 3 or 4 sedation W. Va. Code R. § 5-12-5.2.10 (effective July 1, 2022)
School cardiac emergency plans: Every elementary and secondary school under a county board must have a cardiac emergency response plan for its grounds, plus a venue-specific plan practiced yearly if it has athletics (§ 18-5-22e). Athletic schools since 2024 (SB 602); all schools since July 2025 (SB 652). WVSSAC events need a posted emergency action plan (§ 18-2-25c).
See AEDs in schools by state to compare, and our cardiac emergency response plan template for a starting point.
Does West Virginia's Good Samaritan law protect AED users?
Yes, with conditions. West Virginia 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 West Virginia (WV) Good Samaritan law covers: A person or entity, including a trained professional, who gives emergency care at the scene in good faith, voluntarily and without pay, can’t be held liable for civil damages over acts or omissions at the scene. The section states no exception for gross negligence.
AED-specific protection: Anyone who uses an AED without pay and in good faith is protected unless grossly negligent, and an untrained bystander does not need a program behind the AED. The program entity, its trainers and medical director, and its trained operators are protected only when the program meets all the duties in § 16-4D-3.
Statutes and sources
Every answer on this page comes from these laws, read on West Virginia’s official legislature or code website.
- W. Va. Code §§ 16-4D-1 to 16-4D-4: Early defibrillation programs (purpose, definitions, program duties, limitation on liability)
- W. Va. Code § 55-7-15: Aid to victim of accident, emergency, or disaster; immunity from civil liability (Good Samaritan)
- W. Va. Code § 18-5-22e: Cardiac response plans (schools; 2024 SB 602, amended 2025 SB 652)
- W. Va. Code § 18-2-25c: Defibrillator required at certain events (The Alex Miller Law)
- W. Va. Code § 22A-2-59: First-aid equipment (underground coal mines)
- W. Va. Code § 22A-1-42(b): Surface ground control plan; automated external defibrillator
- W. Va. Code R. § 56-3-48.4 (emergency rule effective Jan. 26, 2026): Rule governing the safety of those employed in and around surface mines: AED unit
- W. Va. Code R. § 56-20-20.1.b.14 (effective July 1, 2015): Rules governing the safety of those employed in and around quarries: first aid requirements
- W. Va. Code R. § 5-12-5.2.10 (effective July 1, 2022): Board of Dentistry: administration of anesthesia by dentists, facility equipment
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 West Virginia
AED Log keeps the records West Virginia 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)
- Physician medical direction for $65 per AED per year (Medical Direction)
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.
West Virginia AED laws FAQ
Are businesses required to have an AED in West Virginia?
Only certain kinds. West Virginia law requires AEDs at underground coal mines, surface mining operations, quarries and some dental offices. Other businesses aren’t required to have one by West Virginia law, and federal OSHA has no AED standard.
Where does West Virginia law require an AED?
West Virginia law requires AEDs in school sports, schools, underground coal mines, surface mining operations, quarries and some dental offices. See the full list, with each statute, on this page.
Do you need medical direction for an AED in West Virginia?
Yes. The program must name a medical director, defined as a licensed physician, to coordinate training, EMS coordination and AED deployment, and to review every AED use (§§ 16-4D-2(f), 16-4D-3(4)).
Is AED training required in West Virginia?
Yes. Programs must require anticipated operators to take CPR, AED and advance directive training from the AHA, Red Cross or another national or OEMS-approved course. Schools: trained staff; coaches need yearly cardiac arrest training. WVSSAC sports personnel.
Does West Virginia law require AED inspections?
Yes. A program must maintain and test each AED per the manufacturer and keep written records; compliance is also a condition of AED immunity. School cardiac plans must cover routine AED maintenance. Surface mine AEDs must be stored in a controlled environment per the manufacturer.
Do you have to register an AED in West Virginia?
Yes. The program must register with the state’s Office of EMS (OEMS), listing AED placement, operator training, EMS coordination, the medical director, maintenance and use reports (§ 16-4D-3(1)).
What does West Virginia law require after an AED is used?
The program must make sure any operator who uses an AED on a person in cardiac arrest activates EMS as soon as possible. The operator who uses an AED must report the use to the program's medical director. The OEMS registration also covers reports of AED use.
Are AEDs required in West Virginia schools?
West Virginia law requires AEDs at school athletic events and practices (since 2021-22, with a posted emergency action plan), plus every elementary and secondary school under a county board (through its cardiac emergency response plan).
Do West Virginia schools need a cardiac emergency response plan?
Yes. Every elementary and secondary school under a county board must have a cardiac emergency response plan for its grounds, plus a venue-specific plan practiced yearly if it has athletics. Athletic schools since 2024; all schools since July 2025. WVSSAC events need a posted emergency action plan.
Do gyms in West Virginia need an AED?
No. West Virginia law doesn’t require health clubs or gyms to have an AED.
Do dental offices in West Virginia need an AED?
West Virginia law requires AEDs at dental offices that give class 2, 3 or 4 sedation.
What does the West Virginia Good Samaritan law cover?
A person or entity, including a trained professional, who gives emergency care at the scene in good faith, voluntarily and without pay, can’t be held liable for civil damages over acts or omissions at the scene. The section states no exception for gross negligence.
Does the West Virginia Good Samaritan law protect someone who uses an AED?
Yes, with conditions. An unpaid good-faith bystander is protected unless grossly negligent, but the program owner is protected only if it meets § 16-4D-3: OEMS registration, training, maintenance records, a medical director and EMS notice (W. Va. Code § 16-4D-4).
Which West Virginia laws cover AEDs?
West Virginia’s AED rules come from W. Va. Code §§ 16-4D-1 to 16-4D-4, W. Va. Code § 55-7-15, W. Va. Code § 18-5-22e, W. Va. Code § 18-2-25c, W. Va. Code § 22A-2-59, W. Va. Code § 22A-1-42(b) and three more, each linked to its official text on this page.