North Dakota AED requirements at a glance
Here is what North Dakota 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 | Limited | No general rule for AED owners. |
| Notify agencies of AEDs | No | Not in state law. |
| Register the program | No | Not in state law. |
| Report AED locations | No | Not in state law. |
| 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 | No | Not in state law. |
| School cardiac emergency plan | Yes | Starting with the 2027-28 school year, each public and nonpublic school must build a cardiac emergency response plan from the state health department's template. It covers school-owned grounds and athletic venues, team activation, AED placement and upkeep, staff training, local EMS coordination and a yearly review (N.D.C.C. § 15.1-02-24). |
| Other requirements | Limited | No general rule. |
| AEDs required at specific sites | Yes | Schools. See the list below. |
Compare nearby states: Minnesota, South Dakota and Montana, or see every state on the AED laws by state table.
Is medical direction required in North Dakota?
No. North Dakota 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
Only in certain settings. North Dakota doesn’t require training for AED owners in general, but the law names some settings that must train people.
No general rule for AED owners.
Starting with the 2027-28 school year, each school plan must name the school staff who get trained, including licensed coaches, school nurses and athletic trainers (N.D.C.C. § 15.1-02-24).
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 Dakota sets maintenance rules for some AED owners, not all.
No general rule for AED owners.
Starting with the 2027-28 school year, each public and nonpublic school must build its cardiac emergency response plan from the state template, and the template must call for routine AED maintenance (N.D.C.C. § 15.1-02-24).
Written plan and records: No general rule. Starting with the 2027-28 school year, every public and nonpublic school must have a written cardiac emergency response plan, made part of the district crisis management plan and reviewed every year (N.D.C.C. § 15.1-02-24).
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 Dakota 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 Dakota 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 Dakota
Yes. North Dakota law requires AEDs at one kind of site.
- Public and nonpublic schools (from the 2027-28 school year, placed per American Heart Association or similar guidelines) N.D.C.C. § 15.1-02-24 (enacted by 2025 H.B. 1363)
School cardiac emergency plans: Starting with the 2027-28 school year, each public and nonpublic school must build a cardiac emergency response plan from the state health department's template. It covers school-owned grounds and athletic venues, team activation, AED placement and upkeep, staff training, local EMS coordination and a yearly review (N.D.C.C. § 15.1-02-24).
See AEDs in schools by state to compare, and our cardiac emergency response plan template for a starting point.
Other North Dakota AED rules
No general rule.
Starting with the 2027-28 school year, schools must place each AED on school grounds following American Heart Association (or similar) guidelines and mark each AED with signs (N.D.C.C. § 15.1-02-24).
Does North Dakota's Good Samaritan law protect AED users?
Yes. Under North Dakota law, anyone using an AED in good faith is protected, and so is the AED’s owner, with only the usual exceptions.
What the North Dakota (ND) Good Samaritan law covers: Anyone who gives emergency aid to a person hurt in an accident or suddenly ill, and that person's employer, cannot be held liable unless the complaint alleges and proves intentional misconduct or gross negligence. It excludes people who expect payment, people whose job is giving emergency medical aid, and anyone who caused the injury.
AED-specific protection: A person who uses an AED in good faith without being paid is shielded from civil claims for personal injury, with no training requirement, unless grossly negligent or willful or wanton. The AED section also covers trainers and whoever is responsible for the site where the AED sits, and the general Good Samaritan law separately shields any emergency aid short of gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
Statutes and sources
Every answer on this page comes from these laws, read on North Dakota’s official legislature or code website.
- N.D.C.C. § 32-03.1-02 (with §§ 32-03.1-01, 32-03.1-04, 32-03.1-05, 32-03.1-08): Good Samaritan Act: actions barred
- N.D.C.C. § 32-03.1-02.3: Automated external defibrillators - Liability limited
- N.D.C.C. § 15.1-02-24 (enacted by 2025 H.B. 1363): Superintendent of public instruction - Cardiac emergency response plan for public and nonpublic schools and athletic events
- 2025 N.D. H.B. 1363 (enrolled bill): Cardiac emergency response plans for public and nonpublic schools and athletic events
- N.D.C.C. § 15.1-07-31 (repealed by S.L. 2019, ch. 152, § 1): Automated external defibrillators - Purchase and distribution (repealed)
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 Dakota
AED Log keeps the records North Dakota 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 Dakota AED laws FAQ
Are businesses required to have an AED in North Dakota?
No. North Dakota law requires AEDs only at schools, not at businesses in general, and federal OSHA has no AED standard.
Where does North Dakota law require an AED?
North Dakota 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 Dakota?
No. North Dakota 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 Dakota?
Only in certain settings. Starting with the 2027-28 school year, each school plan must name the school staff who get trained, including licensed coaches, school nurses and athletic trainers (N.D.C.C. § 15.1-02-24).
Does North Dakota law require AED inspections?
Only for some AED owners. Starting with the 2027-28 school year, each public and nonpublic school must build its cardiac emergency response plan from the state template, and the template must call for routine AED maintenance (N.D.C.C. § 15.1-02-24).
Do you have to register an AED in North Dakota?
No. North Dakota 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 Dakota law require after an AED is used?
North Dakota 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 Dakota schools?
North Dakota law requires AEDs at public and nonpublic schools (from the 2027-28 school year, placed per American Heart Association or similar guidelines).
Do North Dakota schools need a cardiac emergency response plan?
Yes. Starting with the 2027-28 school year, each public and nonpublic school must build a cardiac emergency response plan from the state health department's template.
Do gyms in North Dakota need an AED?
No. North Dakota law doesn’t require health clubs or gyms to have an AED.
What does the North Dakota Good Samaritan law cover?
Anyone who gives emergency aid to a person hurt in an accident or suddenly ill, and that person's employer, cannot be held liable unless the complaint alleges and proves intentional misconduct or gross negligence.
Does the North Dakota Good Samaritan law protect someone who uses an AED?
Yes. Any unpaid, good-faith user is covered without training unless grossly negligent or willful or wanton, and the person responsible for the AED's site is protected with no program duties (N.D.C.C. §§ 32-03.1-02, 32-03.1-02.3).
Which North Dakota laws cover AEDs?
North Dakota’s AED rules come from N.D.C.C. § 32-03.1-02 (with §§ 32-03.1-01, 32-03.1-04, 32-03.1-05, 32-03.1-08); N.D.C.C. § 32-03.1-02.3; N.D.C.C. § 15.1-02-24 (enacted by 2025 H.B. 1363); 2025 N.D. H.B. 1363 (enrolled bill); and one more, each linked to its official text on this page.