A BLS (Basic Life Support) course teaches healthcare professionals how to respond to cardiac arrest, breathing emergencies, and choking in adults, children, and infants. It covers chest compressions, rescue breathing, AED use, and team-based resuscitation. BLS certification is typically required for nurses, physicians, paramedics, CNAs, and other clinical or public safety professionals, and it lasts for two years.
If you’re looking into BLS, you’re probably either entering a healthcare field or renewing a certification your employer requires. Here’s what the course actually involves and what to expect.
Who Needs BLS Certification
BLS is specifically designed for people who work in healthcare or public safety. That includes nurses, doctors, EMTs, paramedics, certified nursing assistants, dental hygienists, physical therapists, and others who may encounter a cardiac or breathing emergency on the job. Many hospitals, clinics, and EMS agencies require current BLS certification as a condition of employment, credentialing, or licensure.
If you’re not a healthcare professional, you probably don’t need BLS. Standard CPR/AED courses (sometimes called “Heartsaver” courses through the American Heart Association) cover similar skills but are geared toward laypeople, workplace first responders, and parents. BLS goes deeper into team dynamics, multi-rescuer scenarios, and clinical protocols that are most relevant in a hospital or pre-hospital setting.
What You Learn in a BLS Course
The course is built around a handful of core skills, practiced on manikins and evaluated by an instructor.
High-quality CPR. This is the centerpiece. You learn to recognize cardiac arrest, check for responsiveness and a pulse, and begin chest compressions. For adults, compressions should be at least 2 inches deep (but no more than about 2.4 inches) at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute. The standard ratio before an advanced airway is placed is 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths. For newborns, the ratio shifts to 3 compressions for every 1 breath. Full chest recoil between compressions is critical, and you’re trained to minimize any interruptions.
Rescue breathing. You practice delivering breaths using a barrier device (like a pocket mask), opening the airway properly, and delivering each breath over one second. The goal is visible chest rise with each breath. You’re also taught what to do when breaths aren’t going in, which usually means repositioning the airway.
AED use. You walk through powering on an automated external defibrillator, attaching the pads correctly, clearing everyone away from the patient for the device to analyze the heart rhythm, and safely delivering a shock. The emphasis is on speed: compressions should resume immediately after a shock is delivered.
Choking relief. The course covers airway obstruction for adults, children, and infants. For a conscious adult or child who can’t cough, speak, or breathe, you alternate between five back blows and five abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich maneuver). For infants under one year old, you hold the baby facedown on your forearm and deliver back blows, then flip them over for chest thrusts. If the person becomes unconscious, you transition to CPR with chest compressions and rescue breaths, checking the mouth for a visible object before each set of breaths.
Multi-rescuer teamwork. Unlike basic CPR classes, BLS trains you to work as part of a team. You practice switching compressor roles every two minutes to prevent fatigue, coordinating who manages the airway versus compressions, and communicating clearly during a resuscitation.
Course Formats and Time Commitment
Both the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross, the two largest BLS providers, offer the course in multiple formats. A fully in-person class typically takes about four to five hours. Blended learning options let you complete the knowledge portion online at your own pace, then attend a shorter in-person skills session where an instructor watches you perform CPR, use an AED, and manage choking scenarios on a manikin.
No matter which format you choose, hands-on skills testing with an instructor is required for full certification. Online-only courses exist for general knowledge, but they don’t result in a certification that healthcare employers accept. After completing the AHA’s online module (called HeartCode BLS), for example, you receive a certificate of completion that you then present at a hands-on session to finish the process.
How You’re Evaluated
BLS certification requires passing both a written (or online) exam and a practical skills test. During the skills check, an instructor watches you work through a complete cardiac arrest scenario on a manikin. You’re graded on specific benchmarks: correct hand placement on the lower half of the breastbone, completing 30 compressions in 15 to 18 seconds, achieving proper depth and full recoil, delivering breaths that produce visible chest rise, and resuming compressions within 10 seconds of any pause. For the AED portion, you need to correctly attach the pads, verbally clear the patient, and deliver a shock safely. Each step is pass/fail on a checklist.
Certification and Renewal
BLS certification is valid for two years from both the AHA and the Red Cross. When it’s time to renew, you take a shorter recertification course that refreshes your skills and updates you on any guideline changes. The Red Cross allows you to recertify if your certification is still current or has expired within the past 30 days. If you’ve lapsed beyond that window, you’ll need to take the full course again.
BLS vs. CPR Certification
The terms get used interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing. A standard CPR/AED course teaches the basics of chest compressions and defibrillator use and is designed for the general public. It satisfies OSHA workplace safety requirements and is appropriate for teachers, coaches, office workers, and parents.
BLS builds on that foundation with multi-rescuer CPR, bag-mask ventilation, team communication, and scenarios tailored to clinical environments. It meets the competency verification, credentialing, and privileging requirements for healthcare settings. If a job posting says “BLS required,” a basic CPR card won’t satisfy it.
Choosing a Provider
The American Heart Association and the American Red Cross are the two most widely recognized BLS providers. Most healthcare employers accept certification from either one, though some hospitals or EMS agencies specify one over the other. Before signing up, check with your employer or school to confirm which provider’s card they require. Both organizations offer in-person and blended learning options, and both certify for two years. Pricing varies by location and training center, but courses generally run between $50 and $90 for initial certification, with renewal courses slightly less.