BLS training is a certification course that teaches healthcare workers and first responders how to respond to cardiac arrest, breathing emergencies, and choking. BLS stands for Basic Life Support, and the course covers CPR, rescue breathing, and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for adults, children, and infants. Certification is valid for two years, after which you need to renew.
What BLS Training Covers
The core of BLS training is learning to perform high-quality CPR. That means chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute, pressed to a depth of at least 2 inches in adults and at least one-third the depth of the chest in infants and children. You also learn to allow the chest to fully recoil between compressions and to minimize any pauses, spending more than 80% of the time actively compressing.
Beyond CPR, BLS courses teach rescue breathing techniques, how to manage airway obstructions (choking), and how to use an AED. For choking, the training follows a progression: encourage the person to cough first, then deliver back slaps, followed by abdominal thrusts if the cough is ineffective. For unconscious choking victims, chest thrusts are used instead. You’re taught never to do blind finger sweeps of the mouth, only removing objects you can clearly see.
AED training walks you through attaching electrode pads to the chest, letting the device analyze the heart’s rhythm, clearing everyone away from the patient, and delivering a shock if the machine advises one. The AED guides you with voice prompts, so the focus in training is on staying calm, placing the pads correctly, and making sure no one is touching the person before a shock is delivered.
Who Needs BLS Certification
BLS is designed for people who work in healthcare or emergency response. That includes doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, EMTs, paramedics, dentists, dental hygienists, physical therapists, mental health professionals, nursing home and assisted living staff, home health aides, and anesthesiologists. First responders like police officers and firefighters also typically need it.
If you’re not in healthcare or emergency services but want to learn CPR, a standard CPR/AED course (sometimes called Heartsaver) is the better fit. Those courses are aimed at parents, teachers, childcare providers, fitness trainers, and anyone who wants to help during a cardiac emergency until paramedics arrive. The skills overlap, but BLS goes deeper because it assumes you might be the person delivering sustained care, not just bridging the gap.
How BLS Differs From ACLS
BLS is the foundation. It covers CPR, rescue breathing, airway obstruction management, and AED use. ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) builds on top of that with skills like starting IV lines, administering medications, managing advanced airways, and using electrical therapies beyond a standard AED, such as cardioversion and pacing. ACLS is typically required for physicians, critical care nurses, and paramedics. You generally need a current BLS certification before taking an ACLS course.
Pediatric Differences in BLS
BLS training covers adults, children, and infants, and the techniques vary by age group. Compression depth is shallower for smaller patients: at least one-third the front-to-back chest dimension rather than the flat 2-inch minimum used for adults. For healthcare providers performing two-rescuer CPR on a child or infant, the compression-to-ventilation ratio changes to 15 compressions followed by 2 breaths, compared to the 30:2 ratio used for adults and for single-rescuer situations. When using an AED on a child under 8 or weighing less than 55 pounds, pediatric pads are preferred. If the pads risk touching each other on a small chest, one goes on the front and the other on the back between the shoulder blades.
Course Formats and What to Expect
BLS courses are offered through organizations like the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross. You can take the course entirely in person, or choose a blended format where you complete the knowledge portion online and then attend a shorter in-person skills session. Either way, you’ll need to demonstrate your skills on a manikin, including compressions, ventilations, and AED use, before you pass.
The in-person portion typically takes a few hours. After completing all requirements, you receive a provider course completion card (usually digital) that’s valid for two years. When it expires, you take a renewal course rather than the full course again, though the renewal still includes a hands-on skills check.
What the Training Is Based On
BLS guidelines come from the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), which reviews published resuscitation science on a rolling basis and publishes comprehensive updates every five years. The most recent full update came in 2025, building on all the evidence reviewed since 2020. The American Heart Association and other national organizations then translate those international consensus recommendations into their specific course materials, so when you take a BLS class, the techniques you learn reflect the current best evidence on what gives cardiac arrest patients the highest chance of survival.