The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) is a multidisciplinary professional association comprised of health professionals who serve in the field of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation.
We are committed to the continued professional development of our members through networking and educational opportunities.
Our Mission
AACVPR is on a mission to advance the practice of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation, educate and support our professionals, ensure the quality of care, and advocate for the impact of these life-changing and life-saving interventions.
Our Vision
We envision a future in which all people with cardiovascular and pulmonary disease experience no barriers to participating in high-quality cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation to achieve and maintain optimal health.
Our Community
The success of AACVPR depends on the activities of a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors, several volunteer committees, a committed professional headquarters staff and our community members. Members include cardiovascular and pulmonary physicians, nurses, exercise physiologists, physical therapists, behavioral scientists, respiratory therapists, dieticians and nutritionists.
The Board of Directors is the governing body for AACVPR and is responsible for developing the organization’s strategic plan and making fiscal and policy decisions that align AACVPR activities with its mission and vision and result in significant benefit to its members.
Committee members develop resources, organize and implement initiatives and keep a keen eye on policies resulting in exceptional educational opportunities, and resources important to the fulfillment of our mission and our members’ success.
Publications
Key publications from AACVPR include:
AACVPR also leads writing groups for guidelines, scientific reviews and publications in peer-reviewed journals. A comprehensive collection of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation resources can be found on AACVPR Central.
Education Resources
The AACVPR Learning Center is a hub of live and on-demand education for CR and PR Professionals, offering continuing education units (CEUs). Key offerings include:
- Live webinars: offered free to members 10 times a year
- Billing and Coding Workshops: virtual, educational workshops on the complexities of CR and PR billing and coding, connecting participants with experts that can aid the process.
- Exercise Prescription Masterclass: a virtual course designed for multidisciplinary healthcare professionals working in the areas of exercise assessment, prescription, and application of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation participants.
- Implementing Virtual of Hybrid CR/PR: From Requirements to Real-World Readiness: an interactive virtual workshop providing a practical deep dive into implementing hybrid and virtual delivery models for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation following Congress’s extension of Medicare telehealth and in-home CR/ICR/PR flexibilities through December 31, 2027.
- Leadership Development Academy: an exclusive, eight-month, virtual program designed to support the growth of current and aspiring leaders in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation
- Staff Competencies for Core Components Bundle: a comprehensive series that provides vital information on core components in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation delivered from our experts.
- 2026 ECG Webinar Series: From Fundamentals to Advanced Interpretation Bundle: provides the fundamentals of ECG interpretation and arrhythmia recognition necessary for the cardiac rehabilitation professional. Specifically designed for the cardiac rehabilitation environment.
- Leading Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation: A Medical Director's Guide to Best Practices: new and experienced Medical Directors will explore the rehabilitation program structure, best practices for leading interdisciplinary teams, and critical regulatory responsibilities.
- AACVPR Pathway to Certification: CCRP Exam Preparation Course: for CR professionals preparing to take the CCR exam, this flexible, in-depth virtual learning experience is key. Bonus: live optional study sessions!
Public Policy Advocacy
AACVPR has a long history of challenging legislation and regulation that negatively impacts the care of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation patients. Our advocacy efforts represent the interests of AACVPR members.
Certification
AACVPR's certification programs set the gold standard for patient care.
Outpatient Data Registries
Awards and Recognition
As the premier multidisciplinary professional association for health professionals in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, AACVPR manages certifications and awards recognition to specialists who excel in the field and advance the mission of our organization.