Missouri AED requirements at a glance
Here is what Missouri 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 | Anyone who acquires an AED must maintain and test it per the manufacturer's guidelines, test it at least once every two years and again after every use, and inspect every AED on the premises at least every 90 days for problems such as a blinking light or tampering (§ 190.092.2). |
| Train expected users | Limited | No training rule for AED owners or users in general. |
| Notify agencies of AEDs | Limited | Through program registration: see that row. |
| Register the program | Limited | No general registration rule. |
| Report AED locations | No | No general rule to tell EMS or 911 about an AED. |
| Physician medical direction | No | Not in state law. |
| Report each AED use | No | Not in state law. |
| Written plan or records | Limited | No general plan or record rule for AED owners. |
| Call 911 when an AED is used | No | Not in state law. |
| School cardiac emergency plan | Yes | Starting in 2026-27, every public school, including charter schools, must adopt and carry out a cardiac emergency response plan built with local EMS. It must cover a response team, AED placement and upkeep, campus-wide sharing, staff CPR/AED training, yearly drills, yearly review and 911 Service Board registration (§ 160.482). |
| Other requirements | Limited | Schools with athletic programs must keep the AED clearly marked, unlocked and easy to reach at each athletic venue and event, available during the school day and practices, and make a best effort to keep it within three minutes (§ 160.482.6). |
| AEDs required at specific sites | Yes | School sports and some transport. See the list below. |
Compare nearby states: Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee, or see every state on the AED laws by state table.
Is medical direction required in Missouri?
No. Missouri 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. Missouri doesn’t require training for AED owners in general, but the law names some settings that must train people.
No training rule for AED owners or users in general.
From 2026-27, school staff named in each public school's cardiac plan, including coaches, nurses and athletic trainers, must hold first aid, CPR and AED certification (§ 160.482.7).
Basic life support ambulances and stretcher vans must have at least one AED-trained staff member (§ 190.092.4).
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. Missouri law requires AED owners to keep each AED maintained and tested.
Anyone who acquires an AED must maintain and test it per the manufacturer's guidelines, test it at least once every two years and again after every use, and inspect every AED on the premises at least every 90 days for problems such as a blinking light or tampering (§ 190.092.2).
Public school plans must also cover routine AED maintenance (§ 160.482.4).
Written plan and records: No general plan or record rule for AED owners. From 2026-27, each public school must have a cardiac emergency response plan and share it across the campus; the statute does not use the word 'written' (§ 160.482.2, .4).
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.
EMS notification, registration and placement reporting
Only in some cases. Missouri doesn’t require every AED owner to register or report AED locations.
Registration: No general registration rule. From 2026-27, each public school's cardiac plan must include registering its AEDs with the registry kept by the Missouri 911 Service Board (§ 160.482.4(9)).
Keep the confirmation with your program records, and update it when an AED moves or is replaced. AED Log’s document library keeps registrations, letters and notices with the AEDs they cover.
Notification after an AED is used
No. Missouri 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 Missouri
Yes. Missouri law requires AEDs at two kinds of sites.
- Athletic venues and events at public schools with an athletic program (from 2026-27, once the state funds the AEDs) RSMo § 160.482 (2025 S.B. 68, effective Aug. 28, 2025)
- Basic life support ambulances and stretcher vans (staffed by at least one person trained to use the AED) RSMo § 190.092 (Public Access to Automated External Defibrillator Act)
School cardiac emergency plans: Starting in 2026-27, every public school, including charter schools, must adopt and carry out a cardiac emergency response plan built with local EMS. It must cover a response team, AED placement and upkeep, campus-wide sharing, staff CPR/AED training, yearly drills, yearly review and 911 Service Board registration (§ 160.482).
See AEDs in schools by state to compare, and our cardiac emergency response plan template for a starting point.
Other Missouri AED rules
Schools with athletic programs must keep the AED clearly marked, unlocked and easy to reach at each athletic venue and event, available during the school day and practices, and make a best effort to keep it within three minutes (§ 160.482.6).
Owners must follow any AED placement regulations (§ 190.092.2(1)); none were found.
Does Missouri's Good Samaritan law protect AED users?
Yes. Under Missouri law, anyone using an AED in good faith is protected, and so is the AED’s owner, with only the usual exceptions.
What the Missouri (MO) Good Samaritan law covers: Licensed physicians, nurses and EMTs who give unpaid emergency care at the scene are protected except for gross negligence or willful or wanton acts. Any other person is covered only if trained in a recognized first aid program, unpaid, and acting within that training.
AED-specific protection: Anyone who uses or provides an AED for free and in good faith is shielded from civil damages and criminal penalties unless willful and wanton or reckless, with no training requirement. The AED's owner, the site and the trainer get the same protection, and it is not tied to the maintenance and inspection duties in the same section.
Statutes and sources
Every answer on this page comes from these laws, read on Missouri’s official legislature or code website.
- RSMo § 190.092 (Public Access to Automated External Defibrillator Act): Defibrillators, requirements; good faith immunity; ambulances and stretcher vans
- RSMo § 537.037: Emergency care, no civil liability, exceptions (Good Samaritan law)
- RSMo § 160.482 (2025 S.B. 68, effective Aug. 28, 2025): Cardiac emergency response plan; AED placement; certification of school personnel; funding
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 Missouri
AED Log keeps the records Missouri 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.
Missouri AED laws FAQ
Are businesses required to have an AED in Missouri?
No. Missouri law requires AEDs only at school sports and basic life support ambulances and stretcher vans, not at businesses in general, and federal OSHA has no AED standard.
Where does Missouri law require an AED?
Missouri law requires AEDs in school sports and basic life support ambulances and stretcher vans. See the full list, with each statute, on this page.
Do you need medical direction for an AED in Missouri?
No. Missouri 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 Missouri?
Only in certain settings. From 2026-27, school staff named in each public school's cardiac plan, including coaches, nurses and athletic trainers, must hold first aid, CPR and AED certification. Basic life support ambulances and stretcher vans must have at least one AED-trained staff member.
Does Missouri law require AED inspections?
Yes. Anyone who acquires an AED must maintain and test it per the manufacturer's guidelines, test it at least once every two years and again after every use, and inspect every AED on the premises at least every 90 days for problems such as a blinking light or tampering (§ 190.092.2).
Do you have to register an AED in Missouri?
Only in some cases. From 2026-27, each public school's cardiac plan must include registering its AEDs with the registry kept by the Missouri 911 Service Board (§ 160.482.4(9)).
What does Missouri law require after an AED is used?
Missouri 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 Missouri schools?
Missouri law requires AEDs at athletic venues and events at public schools with an athletic program (from 2026-27, once the state funds the AEDs).
Do Missouri schools need a cardiac emergency response plan?
Yes. Starting in 2026-27, every public school, including charter schools, must adopt and carry out a cardiac emergency response plan built with local EMS.
Do gyms in Missouri need an AED?
No. Missouri law doesn’t require health clubs or gyms to have an AED.
What other sites need an AED under Missouri law?
Missouri law also requires AEDs at basic life support ambulances and stretcher vans (staffed by at least one person trained to use the AED).
What does the Missouri Good Samaritan law cover?
Licensed physicians, nurses and EMTs who give unpaid emergency care at the scene are protected except for gross negligence or willful or wanton acts. Any other person is covered only if trained in a recognized first aid program, unpaid, and acting within that training.
Does the Missouri Good Samaritan law protect someone who uses an AED?
Yes. An unpaid good-faith AED user or provider is protected unless willful and wanton or reckless, and the AED's owner, site and trainer are likewise protected, with no training or upkeep conditions (RSMo § 190.092.3).
Which Missouri laws cover AEDs?
Missouri’s AED rules come from RSMo § 190.092 (Public Access to Automated External Defibrillator Act); RSMo § 537.037; and RSMo § 160.482 (2025 S.B. 68, effective Aug. 28, 2025), each linked to its official text on this page.