American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation

What American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation does

The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) is a nonprofit professional association founded in 1985 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It serves clinicians, program directors, and institutions working in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, with a stated workforce of roughly 501-1,000 employees. Its mission centers on advancing the practice, certification, and reimbursement infrastructure for rehabilitation programs serving patients with cardiovascular and pulmonary disease.

AACVPR's core product surface spans professional credentialing (Program Certification for institutions, the Certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Professional or CCRP credential for individuals, and a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Certificate), a member Learning Center delivering continuing education, the AACVPR Registry for program-level outcomes data, the peer-reviewed Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention (JCRP), and an Annual Meeting now in its 38th year (2023). Strategic partners include the Million Hearts initiative, the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, the American Thoracic Society, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, CMS, Medicare Administrative Contractors, and Human Kinetics.

The business model is a multi-stream nonprofit: individual membership dues ($235-$275 per year, with newer Emerging Professional and Retired tiers), institutional program certification fees, CCRP and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Certificate fees, registry participation, JCRP subscriptions/royalties, and Annual Meeting/learning product revenue. Distribution runs through direct member acquisition, a state-affiliate network, and federal-policy channels. No equity funding, acquisitions, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed in the available material.

Name

American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Legal name

American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Website

https://aacvpr.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) is a Chicago-based nonprofit professional association, founded 1985, that certifies clinicians and programs, maintains a patient outcomes registry, publishes the JCRP journal, and convenes an annual meeting for the cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation field.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees ranging from $235-$275 depending on member's state. Provides access to CE credits (10+ annually worth $990), clinical guidelines, reimbursement updates, advocacy resources, networking, committee participation, and fellowship opportunities.
2. Education and CE Courses: Revenue from paid webinars, on-demand courses, certification exam preparation, and annual meeting registration. Non-member pricing typically higher than member pricing. Courses include leadership development academy, ECG series, and billing/coding workshops.
3. Program Certification Fees: Fees for cardiac rehabilitation program certification and recertification. Discounts available for AACVPR members.
4. CCRP Certification: Fees for Certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Professional examination and recertification.
5. Registry Subscriptions: Subscription fees for cardiac and pulmonary registries supporting data collection and research.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AACVPR is a nonprofit professional association that sells memberships, certifications, and continuing education to cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation professionals and programs. Its core offerings include the CCRP professional certification, Pulmonary Rehabilitation Certificate, Program Certification for facilities, the online Learning Center, the data Registry, the Annual Meeting, the JCRP journal, and the Day on the Hill advocacy program, all bundled around advancing evidence-based CR/PR care.

Product overview

AACVPR is a professional membership organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of certification, education, and advocacy services for cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation professionals. The core offerings include three certification programs: Program Certification for rehabilitation facilities, the CCRP (Certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Professional) credential for individuals, and the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Certificate. These are supported by the AACVPR Learning Center, an online learning management system providing courses, webinars, exam preparation, and CE credit tracking, and the AACVPR Registry for tracking program performance measures. Additional offerings include the News & Views content platform, the AACVPR Annual Meeting, the Day on the Hill advocacy program, Leadership Development Academy, Billing and Coding Workshop, Medical Director On-Demand Series, Exercise Prescription Masterclass, ECG Series, and the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention (JCRP) publication. The organization also provides the AACVPR Central member portal and supports virtual/hybrid delivery of rehabilitation services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AACVPR Program Certification Peer-reviewed accreditation process for cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation programs recognizing adherence to AACVPR standards and guidelines. For hospital-based and outpatient CR/PR programs.
• Certified Cardiac Rehabilitation Professional (CCRP) Professional certification for cardiac rehabilitation professionals demonstrating competency in the field through examination. For nurses, exercise physiologists, and other CR practitioners.
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation Certificate Certificate program for pulmonary rehabilitation professionals covering competencies specific to pulmonary rehabilitation practice. For respiratory therapists, nurses, and other PR practitioners.
• AACVPR Learning Center Online learning management system providing continuing education courses, webinars, exam preparation, and professional development resources for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation professionals. For members and non-members.
• Pathway to Certification: CCRP Exam Preparation Course Self-paced virtual learning program supporting cardiac rehabilitation professionals preparing for the CCRP certification exam, including nine on-demand modules and a live review study session. For CCRP candidates.
• AACVPR Registry Data registry platform for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs to track patient outcomes, program performance measures, and support quality improvement initiatives. For CR/PR programs subscribing to participate.
• AACVPR Annual Meeting Annual national conference providing education sessions across six tracks, networking opportunities, awards, and professional development for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation professionals.
• Day on the Hill (DOTH) Annual legislative advocacy event where AACVPR members engage with Congressional members on Capitol Hill to advocate for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation policies and reimbursement.
• Leadership Development Academy Professional development program designed to cultivate leadership skills among cardiopulmonary rehabilitation professionals, with scheduled sessions, faculty instruction, and capstone criteria.
• Billing and Coding Workshop Educational workshop addressing billing, coding, and reimbursement topics specific to cardiac rehabilitation, intensive cardiac, SET PAD, pulmonary rehabilitation, and outpatient respiratory services programs.
• Medical Director On-Demand Series Self-paced on-demand course providing Medical Directors with a comprehensive overview of their role supporting cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs, covering program structure, interdisciplinary team leadership, and regulatory responsibilities.
• Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention (JCRP) Peer-reviewed scientific journal covering research and clinical practice in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and prevention, published by AACVPR.
• Exercise Prescription Masterclass Advanced professional development course focused on exercise prescription competencies for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, with agenda and faculty information available.
• ECG Series Educational series on electrocardiogram interpretation as a core competency for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation professionals to improve patient care outcomes.
• Masters and Fellows Program Professional recognition program elevating members to Master or Fellow status within AACVPR based on contributions to national and regional associations, requiring application through a formal review process.
• AACVPR Central Member portal providing access to reimbursement updates, regulatory communications, legislative resources, and MAC-specific information for AACVPR members.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10+ CE credits annually ($990 value) delivered through AACVPR's live and/or recorded webcasts
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Million Hearts Initiative (CDC and CMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational initiative co-led by CDC and CMS to prevent one million cardiovascular events, working toward 70% CR participation goal. AACVPR partnered with Million Hearts to publish and disseminate the Cardiac Rehabilitation Change Package (CRCP) and support quality improvement initiatives across CR programs.
• American Heart Association (AHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative relationship in developing clinical guidelines. AACVPR co-authored the 2026 AHA/ACC/AACVPR dyslipidemia guidelines. Joint advocacy efforts for cardiac rehabilitation services and reimbursement.
• American College of Cardiology (ACC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development of clinical guidelines including the 2026 AHA/ACC/AACVPR dyslipidemia guidelines. Collaborative efforts on cardiovascular care standards and rehabilitation best practices.
• American Thoracic Society (ATS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment of evidence-based pulmonary rehabilitation guidelines. ATS developed the 2023 evidence-based pulmonary rehabilitation guidelines presented at AACVPR Annual Meeting.
• State Affiliate SocietiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of state-level cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation societies (e.g., Minnesota Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation). Affiliates participate in Affiliate Leadership Forum (ALF), coordinate educational programming, and support national advocacy efforts.
• Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAACVPR maintains MAC Liaison Task Force with representatives across all 12 MAC jurisdictions. Provides forum for expedited reimbursement information flow between programs and MACs, with issues escalating through state MRG representatives to national level.
• U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicy partnership for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation coverage and reimbursement. Collaborates on value-based care initiatives and Medicare rules affecting CR/PR services.
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIH institute funding research on increasing CR participation through multiple funded projects. Grantees present at AACVPR Annual Meeting and collaborate on implementation strategies for pulmonary rehabilitation participation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: Nursing specialty association with certification (CCRN) and CE programs. Comparable nursing-specialty association structure, particularly relevant given the role of critical care/cardiac nurses in AACVPR's member base.
• National Athletic Trainers' Association: Professional membership association for athletic trainers. Comparable as a healthcare professional association with certification, CE, and advocacy, serving a related exercise/rehabilitation-adjacent audience.

Broad incumbents

• American Heart Association: National nonprofit professional and advocacy organization focused on cardiovascular health. Directly comparable as a cardiovascular-focused membership/advocacy organization and AACVPR co-author of the 2026 AHA/ACC/AACVPR dyslipidemia guidelines.
• American College of Cardiology: Professional society for cardiologists offering clinical guidelines, CME, and advocacy. Comparable as a cardiovascular professional association with guideline co-development and advocacy overlap with AACVPR.
• American Physical Therapy Association: National professional association for physical therapists with similar membership, CE, and advocacy model. Comparable as a rehabilitation-focused professional society with similar revenue streams and policy engagement.
• American Association of Occupational Therapy: National professional association for occupational therapists. Comparable as a rehabilitation-oriented membership association serving allied health professionals with overlapping CE and certification offerings.

Direct peers

• American Thoracic Society: Medical professional society in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. Closely comparable on the pulmonary side: ATS co-developed the 2023 pulmonary rehabilitation guidelines that AACVPR disseminates and operationalizes through its PR Certificate program.
• Heart Failure Society of America: Professional society for heart failure clinicians and researchers with overlapping cardiac rehabilitation patient population. Comparable as a cardiovascular specialty association with CME, advocacy, and guideline development.
• American College of Sports Medicine: Professional association for sports medicine and exercise science, including clinical exercise physiologists who form a key AACVPR member segment. Comparable for exercise prescription training, CE delivery, and ACSM World Heart Games co-participation.
• American Association for Respiratory Care: Professional association for respiratory therapists, a key member segment in pulmonary rehabilitation. Comparable on the pulmonary rehabilitation side with similar CE, certification, and advocacy models.

Market position

Strengths6 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AACVPR
• Facebookfacebook.com/aacvpr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aacvpr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation