Updated NRP materials include 2 curriculum levels, 2 methods to deliver content Trisha Korioth, Staff Writer
October 2025, The Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) 9th edition uses new educational methodologies to better meet the needs of health care professionals caring for newborns at the time of delivery.
For pediatricians and other health care providers, the biggest changes to the 8th edition are two curriculum levels and two methods of delivering educational content, said Gary Weiner, M.D., FAAP, editor in chief of Textbook of Neonatal Resuscitation, 8th edition. “This will make it easier for learners to master the cognitive, technical and behavioral skills that are most relevant to their practice.”
The 8th edition also includes a new NRP Learning Platform hosted by RQI Partners, a partnership between the American Heart Association and Laerdal Medical.
Textbook updates
The Textbook of Neonatal Resuscitation, 9th edition, includes 11 lessons and three supplemental lessons to enhance learning.
“Although the 8th edition textbook has been fully updated to reflect current science, it continues to emphasize the importance of preparation, effective positive pressure ventilation and teamwork,” Dr. Weiner said.
The materials incorporate evidence from the Neonatal Resuscitation guidelines, which stress the importance of improving positive pressure ventilation (PPV) through skill development and practice and ensuring effective PPV through individual and team training. (See what changed in the 2025 resuscitation guidelines at aap/nrp
Key points have been moved to the beginning of each lesson, making them easier to identify. Many of the lessons incorporate QR codes that can be scanned with a mobile device to view short videos that demonstrate key skills. Each lesson includes suggested quality improvement questions and metrics to identify areas for potential improvement.
Although not required as part of the 9th edition course, the supplemental lessons focus on using ergonomics and human factors to improve team performance (lesson 12), resuscitation outside the delivery room (lesson 13) and developing a resuscitation quality improvement program (lesson 14). All providers can enhance resuscitation knowledge and performance with these optional lessons.
Curriculum levels
The two curriculum levels, NRP Essentials and NRP Advanced, provide individualized content based on the provider’s role, access to personnel, and resources during newborn resuscitation. Organizations should decide who should be an Essentials provider or Advanced provider.
The NRP Essentials curriculum (lessons 1-4) is for those assigned responsibility for the newborn at birth when there are no apparent perinatal/neonatal risk factors and who will not participate in resuscitation beyond PPV. It includes skills through face-mask ventilation and laryngeal mask insertion.
The NRP Advanced curriculum (lessons 1-11) is for those who attend births and are responsible for anticipated resuscitation of the newborn with known risk factors and for those who participate in newborn resuscitation beyond PPV, including alternative airway placement, chest compressions, emergency vascular access and medication administration.
All NRP providers will complete a new online learning assessment, which replaces the NRP examination for lessons one through four. The interactive assessment uses artificial intelligence and adaptive learning technology to tailor the instruction to an individual’s knowledge and confidence.
New learning method
In addition to the traditional instructor-led course, the 8th edition also is delivered through Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) for NRP, a new self-directed, simulation-based option.
RQI for NRP offers the NRP Essentials course and uses low-dose, high-frequency quarterly learning and skill sessions to verify competence in PPV performance on a neonatal simulator. The program is available in hospitals that already use RQI solutions for life support education. NRP providers in settings where RQI simulation carts are available can access information about the appropriate approach to training at https://rqipartners.com/nrp/.
Implementation deadline
NRP 9th edition materials must be implemented by Jan. 1, 2026. Instructors and providers may retain their current renewal date, but instructors should brief providers about the 9th Edition changes
AAP Life Support
October 2025, The Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) 9th edition uses new educational methodologies to better meet the needs of health care professionals caring for newborns at the time of delivery.
For pediatricians and other health care providers, the biggest changes to the 8th edition are two curriculum levels and two methods of delivering educational content, said Gary Weiner, M.D., FAAP, editor in chief of Textbook of Neonatal Resuscitation, 8th edition. “This will make it easier for learners to master the cognitive, technical and behavioral skills that are most relevant to their practice.”
The 8th edition also includes a new NRP Learning Platform hosted by RQI Partners, a partnership between the American Heart Association and Laerdal Medical.
Textbook updates
The Textbook of Neonatal Resuscitation, 9th edition, includes 11 lessons and three supplemental lessons to enhance learning.
“Although the 8th edition textbook has been fully updated to reflect current science, it continues to emphasize the importance of preparation, effective positive pressure ventilation and teamwork,” Dr. Weiner said.
The materials incorporate evidence from the Neonatal Resuscitation guidelines, which stress the importance of improving positive pressure ventilation (PPV) through skill development and practice and ensuring effective PPV through individual and team training. (See what changed in the 2025 resuscitation guidelines at aap/nrp
Key points have been moved to the beginning of each lesson, making them easier to identify. Many of the lessons incorporate QR codes that can be scanned with a mobile device to view short videos that demonstrate key skills. Each lesson includes suggested quality improvement questions and metrics to identify areas for potential improvement.
Although not required as part of the 9th edition course, the supplemental lessons focus on using ergonomics and human factors to improve team performance (lesson 12), resuscitation outside the delivery room (lesson 13) and developing a resuscitation quality improvement program (lesson 14). All providers can enhance resuscitation knowledge and performance with these optional lessons.
Curriculum levels
The two curriculum levels, NRP Essentials and NRP Advanced, provide individualized content based on the provider’s role, access to personnel, and resources during newborn resuscitation. Organizations should decide who should be an Essentials provider or Advanced provider.
The NRP Essentials curriculum (lessons 1-4) is for those assigned responsibility for the newborn at birth when there are no apparent perinatal/neonatal risk factors and who will not participate in resuscitation beyond PPV. It includes skills through face-mask ventilation and laryngeal mask insertion.
The NRP Advanced curriculum (lessons 1-11) is for those who attend births and are responsible for anticipated resuscitation of the newborn with known risk factors and for those who participate in newborn resuscitation beyond PPV, including alternative airway placement, chest compressions, emergency vascular access and medication administration.
All NRP providers will complete a new online learning assessment, which replaces the NRP examination for lessons one through four. The interactive assessment uses artificial intelligence and adaptive learning technology to tailor the instruction to an individual’s knowledge and confidence.
New learning method
In addition to the traditional instructor-led course, the 8th edition also is delivered through Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) for NRP, a new self-directed, simulation-based option.
RQI for NRP offers the NRP Essentials course and uses low-dose, high-frequency quarterly learning and skill sessions to verify competence in PPV performance on a neonatal simulator. The program is available in hospitals that already use RQI solutions for life support education. NRP providers in settings where RQI simulation carts are available can access information about the appropriate approach to training at https://rqipartners.com/nrp/.
Implementation deadline
NRP 9th edition materials must be implemented by Jan. 1, 2026. Instructors and providers may retain their current renewal date, but instructors should brief providers about the 9th Edition changes
AAP Life Support
For the most part our NRP Certification practicums occur in conjunction with B.E.S.T. Birth Emergency Skills Trainings, some prior and some following the workshops. YOU MUST contact the hosts for inclusion in either or both events prior to attending. It is our sincere intention to be able to meet these dates.
*THE NEW 9th EDITION is on RQI platform*.
Access the ONLINE learning at rqipartners.com
ONLINE testing must be completed prior to attending the practicum.
You may elect to train as an ESSENTIAL or ADVANCED PROVIDER
ESSENTIAL (Chapter 1-4) learners, however, should review and practice up to and including CHEST COMPRESSIONS (Chapter 5 &6)
NRP Skills Videos Now Just a Click Away!
In-person trainings are hard to find right now, so use these tools to review neonatal resuscitation skills. From the NRP Homepage (aap.org/nrp), click NRP Skills Videos under Quick Links and you will be taken directly to the instructional videos. The videos provide step-by-step instructions on topics like CPAP in the Delivery Room, Performing and Assisting with Endotracheal Intubation, Epinephrine and Volume Expanders plus much more. These videos are great refreshers or can be used to teach NRP Providers during your Instructor-led Event. NRP Providers can access these videos too for ongoing education. Check them out and share them with your colleagues and learners!
rqipartners.wistia.com/medias/nzcxaxeky0
In-person trainings are hard to find right now, so use these tools to review neonatal resuscitation skills. From the NRP Homepage (aap.org/nrp), click NRP Skills Videos under Quick Links and you will be taken directly to the instructional videos. The videos provide step-by-step instructions on topics like CPAP in the Delivery Room, Performing and Assisting with Endotracheal Intubation, Epinephrine and Volume Expanders plus much more. These videos are great refreshers or can be used to teach NRP Providers during your Instructor-led Event. NRP Providers can access these videos too for ongoing education. Check them out and share them with your colleagues and learners!
rqipartners.wistia.com/medias/nzcxaxeky0
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What is NRP?
The Neonatal Resuscitation Program® (NRP®) was created by the American Academy of Pediatrics as an evidence-based approach to care for newborns at the time of delivery. The program is focused on healthcare professionals who care for newborns and fosters effective team-based care. Online testing, virtual case-based simulations, and hands-on scenarios is combined to focus on leadership, communication, and building team-work.
What does the training include?
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What do you need to book NRP training?
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Andrea Dixon RN, CNM, began as an instructor of neonatal resuscitation since the inception of NRP. Through its many changes over the years, Andrea has amended the course to embrace the realities of out of hospital response to newborn breath challenges. Through this program, certifications have led to greater self confidence, safe and secure repetitions of basic and advanced techniques and saved lives through no nonsense helpful hints. Step by step instructions are at the foundation of AAP/NRP for BEST stabilization and transfer of care. Through NRP, Andrea has trained and certified thousands of home, hospital, and birth center midwives, nurses, doctors and birth practitioners.
