Iowa AED requirements at a glance
Here is what Iowa 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 | Yes | A premises owner or manager is immune only if it keeps the AED ready for immediate, effective use under state rules. The rule says to maintain and inspect it per the manufacturer's guidelines (Iowa Code § 613.17(2)(b); Iowa Admin. Code 641-143.2(1)). The rule is worded as a duty but only carries out the immunity statute. |
| Train expected users | No | No duty on AED owners or programs. |
| 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 | No | Not in state law. |
| Call 911 when an AED is used | No | Not in state law. |
| School cardiac emergency plan | No | No mandate. A 2026 law only tells the Department of Education to report to lawmakers by January 15, 2027 on how many schools have a cardiac emergency response plan and how many AEDs each school owns (2026 Iowa Acts ch. 1140, § 2). |
| Other requirements | Yes | Under the same maintenance rule, the AED must be programmed to current nationally accepted guidelines for treating cardiac arrest. This is part of the standard a premises owner must meet to be immune (Iowa Admin. Code 641-143.2(2); Iowa Code § 613.17(2)(b)). |
| AEDs required at specific sites | Yes | Some dental offices. See the list below. |
Compare nearby states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri, or see every state on the AED laws by state table.
Is medical direction required in Iowa?
No. Iowa 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
No. Iowa law doesn’t require AED training for AED owners in general.
No duty on AED owners or programs.
Every student must complete a CPR certification course by the end of grade 12; the statute does not mention AEDs (Iowa Code § 256.11(6)(c)).
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
Yes. Iowa law requires AED owners to keep each AED maintained and tested.
A premises owner or manager is immune only if it keeps the AED ready for immediate, effective use under state rules. The rule says to maintain and inspect it per the manufacturer's guidelines (Iowa Code § 613.17(2)(b); Iowa Admin. Code 641-143.2(1)). The rule is worded as a duty but only carries out the immunity statute.
In practice, that means 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.
Other Iowa AED rules
Under the same maintenance rule, the AED must be programmed to current nationally accepted guidelines for treating cardiac arrest. This is part of the standard a premises owner must meet to be immune (Iowa Admin. Code 641-143.2(2); Iowa Code § 613.17(2)(b)).
EMS notification, registration and placement reporting
No. Iowa 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. Iowa 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 Iowa
Yes. Iowa law requires AEDs at one kind of site.
- Dental offices that give moderate or deep sedation or general anesthesia (the rule calls for a defibrillator) Iowa Admin. Code 481-579.8(2) (effective April 9, 2025)
Does Iowa's Good Samaritan law protect AED users?
Yes, with conditions. Iowa 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 Iowa (IA) Good Samaritan law covers: A person who gives emergency care or help in good faith without being paid can’t be held liable for civil damages at the scene, in transit, or at an emergency shelter, unless the acts are reckless or willful and wanton. Workplace rescues and volunteer responders paid only nominal amounts are included (Iowa Code § 613.17(1)).
AED-specific protection: Anyone who uses, tries to use, fails to use or fetches an AED for a perceived cardiac arrest is protected while acting reasonably and in good faith; an unpaid rescuer also has the general law's protection unless reckless. The AED's acquirer and trainers have the same reasonable-and-good-faith protection, but a premises owner or manager is protected only if it keeps the AED ready under state maintenance rules.
Statutes and sources
Every answer on this page comes from these laws, read on Iowa’s official legislature or code website.
- Iowa Code § 613.17 (2026): Emergency assistance in an accident (Good Samaritan; AED immunity in subsection 2)
- Iowa Admin. Code 641-143.1 and 143.2 (effective June 1, 2025): Automated External Defibrillator Maintenance
- Iowa Code § 147A.15 (2026): Automated external defibrillator equipment: penalty
- Iowa Code § 256.11(6)(c) (2026): Educational standards: CPR certification course by the end of grade 12
- 2026 Iowa Acts ch. 1140 (SF 2474), § 2: Department of Education report on school cardiac emergency response plans and AEDs
- Iowa Admin. Code 481-579.8(2) (effective April 9, 2025): Facility and equipment requirements for moderate sedation, deep sedation or general anesthesia (dentists)
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 Iowa
AED Log keeps the records Iowa 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)
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.
Iowa AED laws FAQ
Are businesses required to have an AED in Iowa?
Only certain kinds. Iowa law requires AEDs at some dental offices. Other businesses aren’t required to have one by Iowa law, and federal OSHA has no AED standard.
Where does Iowa law require an AED?
Iowa law requires AEDs in some dental offices. See the full list, with each statute, on this page.
Do you need medical direction for an AED in Iowa?
No. Iowa 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 Iowa?
Not for AED owners in general. Every student must complete a CPR certification course by the end of grade 12; the statute does not mention AEDs (Iowa Code § 256.11(6)(c)).
Does Iowa law require AED inspections?
Yes, as a condition of civil immunity. A premises owner or manager is immune only if it keeps the AED ready for immediate, effective use under state rules. The rule says to maintain and inspect it per the manufacturer's guidelines (Iowa Code § 613.17(2)(b); Iowa Admin. Code 641-143.2(1)).
Do you have to register an AED in Iowa?
No. Iowa 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 Iowa law require after an AED is used?
Iowa 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 Iowa schools?
No. Iowa law doesn’t require AEDs in schools or at school sports.
Do gyms in Iowa need an AED?
No. Iowa law doesn’t require health clubs or gyms to have an AED.
Do dental offices in Iowa need an AED?
Iowa law requires AEDs at dental offices that give moderate or deep sedation or general anesthesia (the rule calls for a defibrillator).
What does the Iowa Good Samaritan law cover?
A person who gives emergency care or help in good faith without being paid can’t be held liable for civil damages at the scene, in transit, or at an emergency shelter, unless the acts are reckless or willful and wanton.
Does the Iowa Good Samaritan law protect someone who uses an AED?
Yes, with conditions. Users, retrievers, acquirers and trainers acting reasonably and in good faith are protected, but a premises owner is protected only if it keeps the AED ready under state maintenance rules (Iowa Code § 613.17(2)).
Which Iowa laws cover AEDs?
Iowa’s AED rules come from Iowa Code § 613.17 (2026); Iowa Admin. Code 641-143.1 and 143.2 (effective June 1, 2025); Iowa Code § 147A.15 (2026); Iowa Code § 256.11(6)(c) (2026); 2026 Iowa Acts ch. 1140 (SF 2474), § 2; and one more, each linked to its official text on this page.