AED Laws & Requirements in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's AED rules for most owners come from its Good Samaritan statute (42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2). Anyone who acquires and maintains an AED takes on four duties, and meeting them is what keeps the program inside the law's liability protection. Schools have a separate, stricter set of rules under Act 17 of 2026, known as Greg Moyer's Law.

Medical Oversight:

Pennsylvania does not require physician approval, a prescription, or medical direction to acquire or use an AED.

Training:

Owners must make sure expected users complete training consistent with American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or other national standards approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. CPR and AED certification courses that follow AHA or Red Cross guidelines meet this standard.

Maintenance and Testing:

Every AED must be maintained and tested according to the manufacturer's operational guidelines. Keeping inspection records is the simplest way to show you met this duty if the device is ever used. See our pad and battery guide for replacement schedules by model.

When the AED Is Used:

Owners must instruct users to call 911 and activate emergency medical services right away, and must make data from the device available to EMS or other health care providers on request.

EMS Notification:

Pennsylvania does not require general AED owners to register devices with EMS or a 911 center. Telling your local dispatch center where your AEDs are is still worth doing, because a dispatcher who knows the location can send a bystander to it. Schools have their own reporting duty under Act 17 (below).

Good Samaritan Protection:

Anyone who acquires and maintains an AED, or uses one in an emergency, in good faith is protected from civil liability. The protection does not cover acts intended to cause harm, gross negligence, or interfering with care given by EMS or other health professionals (42 Pa.C.S. § 8331.2).

Schools (Act 17 of 2026, Greg Moyer's Law):

Signed May 13, 2026, and effective immediately, Act 17 applies to school districts, charter and cyber charter schools, intermediate units, and career and technical schools. Nonpublic schools are covered by the athletics, training access, and reporting provisions. Schools have three years, until May 2029, to fully comply.

• At least one person trained and certified in CPR and AED use must be in every school building each school day.
• School nurses, coaches, PE teachers, athletic trainers, and marching band directors must complete CPR and AED training and keep their certification current.
• CPR and AED training must be offered to all employees and volunteers at least once every two years. Online training is allowed.
• AEDs must be readily accessible for students in interscholastic athletics and practices, with a trained person at each AED location.
• Schools with interscholastic athletics must adopt a cardiac emergency response plan built on evidence-based standards, review it every year, and run an annual sudden cardiac arrest drill.
• Every school entity and nonpublic school must report the number, condition, age, expiration dates, and placement of its AEDs by June 30, 2027, and every year after.

The state's school safety grants now cover AED purchases and related training, and up to $2.5 million is set aside to help nonpublic schools meet the training requirements. Browse AEDs for schools.