North Carolina AED requirements at a glance
Here is what North Carolina 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 | Limited | No general rule for AED owners. |
| Train expected users | Yes | No outright training duty, but the AED site's immunity applies only when the person responsible for the site has provided for a training program (a nationally recognized CPR/AED course, such as AHA or Red Cross) (G.S. 90-21.15(b)(3), (d)). |
| Notify agencies of AEDs | No | Not in state law. |
| Register the program | No | Not in state law. |
| Report AED locations | No | No duty on owners. The seller of an AED, not the buyer, must tell the state Office of Emergency Medical Services that the AED exists, where it is, and what type it is (G.S. 90-21.15(g)). |
| Physician medical direction | No | No physician oversight is required. |
| Report each AED use | No | Not in state law. |
| Written plan or records | Limited | No general rule for AED owners. |
| Call 911 when an AED is used | No | Not in state law. |
| School cardiac emergency plan | Yes | Every public school unit (local school boards, charter schools, the state schools for the deaf and blind, the Northeast Regional School, and UNC-run K-12 schools) must adopt a cardiac emergency response plan with a response team, annual CPR/AED training, annual drills and EMS coordination, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year (G.S. 115C-375.6; S.L. 2026-41, § 7.38). |
| Other requirements | Limited | No general rule for AED owners. |
| AEDs required at specific sites | Yes | Schools. See the list below. |
Compare nearby states: Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina, or see every state on the AED laws by state table.
Is medical direction required in North Carolina?
No. North Carolina law doesn’t require a physician to oversee an AED program.
No physician oversight is required.
Public schools: State Board rules must provide for coordination with appropriate licensed professionals in overseeing AED training, which covers training only, not the AED program (G.S. 115C-375.6(d)(5)).
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. North Carolina law requires CPR and AED training for the people expected to use an AED.
No outright training duty, but the AED site's immunity applies only when the person responsible for the site has provided for a training program (a nationally recognized CPR/AED course, such as AHA or Red Cross) (G.S. 90-21.15(b)(3), (d)).
Public schools: school nurses and staff who supervise physical activity need annual CPR/AED training (G.S. 115C-375.6(a)(3)).
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
Only in certain settings. North Carolina sets maintenance rules for some AED owners, not all.
No general rule for AED owners.
Public schools: State Board of Education rules must provide for proper maintenance and testing of school AEDs, and each school's cardiac emergency response plan must cover their maintenance (G.S. 115C-375.6(d)(4), 115C-47(73)), starting with the 2026-2027 school year.
Written plan and records: No general rule for AED owners. Every public school unit must keep a cardiac emergency response plan and review and update it every year, starting with the 2026-2027 school year. The law does not use the word "written" (G.S. 115C-375.6(a)-(b)).
Either way, the manufacturer’s instructions are the standard to follow: 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
No. North Carolina law doesn’t require AED owners to register their AEDs or report where they are.
Telling your local EMS agency about your AEDs is still worth doing: some 911 centers can direct a caller to the nearest one. AED Log’s document library keeps registrations, letters and notices with the AEDs they cover.
Notification after an AED is used
No. North Carolina law doesn’t require a report after an AED is used.
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 North Carolina
Yes. North Carolina law requires AEDs at one kind of site.
- Every public school, including charter and state-run schools (from the 2026-27 school year, under State Board rules) S.L. 2026-41 (S.B. 257), § 7.38, enacting N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-375.6 and amending §§ 115C-47(73), 115C-150.12C(39), 115C-218.75(p), 115C-229.35(25), 116-11(15)
School cardiac emergency plans: Every public school unit (local school boards, charter schools, the state schools for the deaf and blind, the Northeast Regional School, and UNC-run K-12 schools) must adopt a cardiac emergency response plan with a response team, annual CPR/AED training, annual drills and EMS coordination, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year (G.S. 115C-375.6; S.L. 2026-41, § 7.38).
See AEDs in schools by state to compare, and our cardiac emergency response plan template for a starting point.
Other North Carolina AED rules
No general rule for AED owners.
Public schools: State Board rules must place school AEDs with signage, never behind a lock or key, and close enough to reach a victim within three minutes (G.S. 115C-375.6(d)(2)).
Sellers must report each AED's location and type to the state EMS office (G.S. 90-21.15(g)).
Does North Carolina's Good Samaritan law protect AED users?
Yes, with conditions. North Carolina 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 North Carolina (NC) Good Samaritan law covers: Anyone who gives first aid or emergency care voluntarily and without expecting pay, when the situation calls for quick action and delay would seriously worsen the person's condition, is not liable unless grossly negligent, wanton or intentional. Health professionals acting in their normal course of practice are not covered.
AED-specific protection: Anyone who uses an AED voluntarily and without expecting pay is covered by the general Good Samaritan law and is not liable unless grossly negligent, wanton or intentional; no training is needed. The person responsible for the AED's site is immune only if it has provided for a CPR/AED training program.
Statutes and sources
Every answer on this page comes from these laws, read on North Carolina’s official legislature or code website.
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-21.15: Emergency treatment using automated external defibrillator; immunity
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-21.14: First aid or emergency treatment; liability limitation
- S.L. 2026-41 (S.B. 257), § 7.38, enacting N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-375.6 and amending §§ 115C-47(73), 115C-150.12C(39), 115C-218.75(p), 115C-229.35(25), 116-11(15): Cardiac Emergency Response Plans and One AED per School (Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2026)
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 North Carolina
AED Log keeps the records North Carolina 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)
- 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.
North Carolina AED laws FAQ
Are businesses required to have an AED in North Carolina?
No. North Carolina law requires AEDs only at schools, not at businesses in general, and federal OSHA has no AED standard.
Where does North Carolina law require an AED?
North Carolina law requires AEDs in schools. See the full list, with each statute, on this page.
Do you need medical direction for an AED in North Carolina?
No. North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
Yes, as a condition of civil immunity. No outright training duty, but the AED site's immunity applies only when the person responsible for the site has provided for a training program (a nationally recognized CPR/AED course, such as AHA or Red Cross) (G.S. 90-21.15(b)(3), (d)).
Does North Carolina law require AED inspections?
Only for some AED owners. Public schools: State Board of Education rules must provide for proper maintenance and testing of school AEDs, and each school's cardiac emergency response plan must cover their maintenance (G.S. 115C-375.6(d)(4), 115C-47(73)), starting with the 2026-2027 school year.
Do you have to register an AED in North Carolina?
No. North Carolina law doesn’t require AED owners to register an AED or report where it is. Telling your local EMS agency is still worth doing: some 911 centers can direct a caller to the nearest AED.
What does North Carolina law require after an AED is used?
North Carolina law doesn’t require a report after an AED is used. Call 911 anyway, then replace the pads, check the AED and its rescue kit, and write down what happened while it’s fresh.
Are AEDs required in North Carolina schools?
North Carolina law requires AEDs at every public school, including charter and state-run schools (from the 2026-27 school year, under State Board rules).
Do North Carolina schools need a cardiac emergency response plan?
Yes. North Carolina 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 North Carolina need an AED?
No. North Carolina law doesn’t require health clubs or gyms to have an AED.
What does the North Carolina Good Samaritan law cover?
Anyone who gives first aid or emergency care voluntarily and without expecting pay, when the situation calls for quick action and delay would seriously worsen the person's condition, is not liable unless grossly negligent, wanton or intentional.
Does the North Carolina Good Samaritan law protect someone who uses an AED?
Yes, with conditions. Any unpaid volunteer who uses an AED is protected unless grossly negligent, wanton or intentional, but the site's protection applies only when it has provided a CPR/AED training program (G.S. 90-21.14; 90-21.15(d)).
Which North Carolina laws cover AEDs?
North Carolina’s AED rules come from N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-21.15, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-21.14 and one more, each linked to its official text on this page.