CPR certifications last two years, and renewing before yours expires lets you take a shorter, faster course instead of repeating the full class from scratch. The process involves choosing the right course for your certification level, completing any required online modules and an in-person skills test, and receiving a new card valid for another two years. Here’s how to handle each step.
Check Your Expiration Date First
Your CPR card is valid for two years through the end of the month it was issued. If you were certified on March 15, 2023, your card stays valid through March 31, 2025. You can find this date on your physical card or digital eCard.
This matters because renewal courses are designed for people whose credentials are still valid but near expiration. If your certification has already lapsed, most providers will require you to take the full initial course rather than the abbreviated renewal version. Don’t wait until the last week. Give yourself at least a month’s buffer to find a class that fits your schedule.
Pick the Right Course for Your Role
The two biggest certification bodies are the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Red Cross, and each offers different course levels depending on your profession. Choosing the wrong one can mean your employer won’t accept it.
- BLS (Basic Life Support): Required for healthcare professionals, nurses, paramedics, and first responders. Covers single-rescuer and team-based CPR, with a focus on high-quality compressions and team dynamics in both hospital and out-of-hospital settings. The AHA BLS renewal takes about 4 hours including skills practice and testing.
- Heartsaver CPR/AED: Designed for the general public, workplace responders, teachers, coaches, and fitness professionals. Covers adult and child CPR plus AED use. Shorter and less clinically detailed than BLS.
- Red Cross courses marked “Review” or “Challenge”: These are the abbreviated renewal versions of Red Cross certifications. Look specifically for these labels when searching the Red Cross course catalog.
If your employer requires CPR certification, check with them before registering. Some workplaces only accept AHA cards, others only Red Cross, and some accept either. Getting the wrong provider’s card can mean retaking the class on your own dime.
Three Ways to Complete Your Renewal
Fully In-Person
You show up to a classroom, review updated guidelines with an instructor, practice on manikins, and take a skills test. This can be completed in a few hours and is the most straightforward option. Search for classes through your provider’s website by entering your zip code.
Blended Learning (Online Plus In-Person)
This is the most popular option for people with busy schedules. You complete the knowledge portion online at your own pace, then attend a shorter in-person session where you demonstrate your skills on manikins and pass a hands-on test. The in-person portion is typically faster than a fully in-person class since you’ve already covered the didactic material.
For AHA’s BLS Heartcode, the online module and the skills session are often booked separately. You’ll finish the online component first, print or save your certificate of completion, then bring it to a scheduled skills session.
Fully Online
Some providers offer online-only CPR courses, but there’s an important catch: courses without an in-person skills session do not qualify for workplace certification requirements. If you need your card for a job, licensure, or school program, online-only won’t cut it. These courses are only useful for personal knowledge.
What Happens During the Skills Test
Every renewal course that results in a valid workplace certification includes a hands-on skills session. You’ll practice and then demonstrate proficiency on a manikin, typically covering chest compressions at the correct depth and rate, rescue breaths with a barrier device, and AED use. BLS renewals also test bag-mask ventilation and team-based resuscitation scenarios.
Instructors will coach you through practice rounds before the actual test. If you don’t pass on the first attempt, most programs allow you to retry during the same session. The skills portion isn’t designed to trick you. It’s a competency check, not a high-stakes exam.
What Renewal Typically Costs
Prices vary by provider, location, and course level. As a general benchmark, Cleveland Clinic’s training center charges $60 for a BLS Heartcode online module plus skills session, $40 for a BLS skills session alone (if you’ve already completed the online portion), and $40 for a Heartsaver CPR/AED course. Independent training centers and community colleges often fall in a similar range, roughly $40 to $75 for most renewal courses.
Many employers cover the cost of recertification, so check with your HR department or manager before paying out of pocket. Some hospitals and healthcare systems also run their own AHA training centers with discounted or free classes for employees.
What You Get After Completing the Course
Both the AHA and Red Cross now issue digital eCards rather than (or in addition to) physical cards. Your eCard typically arrives by email within a few days of course completion, sometimes the same day. It includes your name, the course completed, the issue date, and the expiration date two years out.
Keep your eCard accessible. Employers, licensing boards, and school programs will ask for it, and some may want to verify it directly through the issuing organization’s website. Save a PDF copy and note the expiration date in your calendar so you’re not scrambling two years from now.
If Your Certification Already Expired
Renewal courses are specifically for people whose cards are still current. If yours has already expired, you’ll generally need to take the full initial certification course instead of the shortened renewal version. The full course covers the same material but in more depth and takes longer, typically 4 to 5 hours for BLS and slightly less for Heartsaver.
There’s no formal grace period from either the AHA or the Red Cross. The day after your card expires, you’re technically uncertified. For healthcare workers, this can affect your ability to work clinical shifts, so it’s worth setting a reminder well before your expiration month arrives. A good rule of thumb: start looking for a renewal class three months before your card expires, and book one no later than two months out.