BLS certification is a credential that proves you can perform CPR, use an automated external defibrillator (AED), and respond to life-threatening emergencies like cardiac arrest and choking. It’s primarily designed for healthcare professionals, though anyone who needs advanced emergency response skills can earn it. The certification is valid for two years and is most commonly issued through the American Heart Association.
What BLS Covers
BLS stands for Basic Life Support. The course trains you to recognize cardiac arrest and other emergencies quickly, deliver high-quality chest compressions, provide appropriate rescue breaths, and use an AED. These skills apply to adults, children, and infants, and the techniques vary slightly for each age group.
What separates BLS from a standard CPR class is depth and context. The American Heart Association’s Heartsaver CPR course is built for people with little or no medical training, covering the basics someone might need at work, school, or home. BLS goes further. It teaches team-based resuscitation, meaning you learn how to coordinate with other responders during a cardiac emergency. You also practice using bag-mask devices for ventilation and learn to manage choking in patients who can’t communicate. The course reflects the 2025 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care, so the techniques are current.
Who Needs BLS Certification
If you work in healthcare, you almost certainly need it. Nurses, paramedics, EMTs, medical assistants, dental hygienists, physical therapists, and physicians are all typically required to hold a current BLS card. Many nursing and medical school programs require BLS certification before you start clinical rotations.
Outside of clinical settings, BLS is common among firefighters, lifeguards, athletic trainers, and personal trainers. Some workplaces that go beyond basic OSHA first aid requirements also ask for BLS. If a job posting lists “BLS certification required,” they’re looking for this specific credential, not a general CPR class.
How to Get Certified
The most widely recognized BLS certification comes from the American Heart Association, though the American Red Cross also offers an equivalent course. Both involve a combination of learning the science behind resuscitation and demonstrating hands-on skills.
The AHA offers a few formats. A fully in-person, instructor-led course covers everything in a single session. A blended learning option lets you complete the knowledge portion online, then attend a shorter in-person skills session where an instructor watches you perform CPR, use an AED, and manage airway emergencies. Both formats end the same way: you need to pass a hands-on skills test and a written exam. The minimum passing score on the written exam is 84%.
Courses are offered through AHA-authorized training centers, which include hospitals, community colleges, fire departments, and private training companies. Pricing varies by provider but generally falls between $50 and $90.
What the Skills Test Looks Like
The practical portion requires you to demonstrate CPR on manikins representing adults, children, and infants. An instructor evaluates your compression depth, compression rate, hand placement, and whether you allow the chest to fully recoil between compressions. You’ll also show that you can deliver effective breaths using a pocket mask or bag-mask device, operate an AED trainer, and relieve choking.
For the team-based component, you’ll practice rotating compressor roles with other students, communicating clearly during a simulated cardiac arrest, and coordinating tasks like calling for help while someone else begins compressions. This mirrors what actually happens in a hospital or ambulance, where multiple people work together during resuscitation.
Certification Validity and Renewal
Your BLS card is valid for two years through the end of the month it was issued. So if you certify in March 2025, your card stays active through March 2027. You’ll receive a digital completion card (eCard) rather than a physical one, which you can print or share electronically with employers.
When your certification approaches expiration, you take a renewal course rather than repeating the full class from scratch. The AHA’s BLS renewal course runs approximately four hours, including skills practice and testing. You’ll need to contact a local training center to schedule renewal, and it’s worth doing this a few weeks before your card expires to avoid any lapse that could affect your employment.
BLS vs. CPR Certification
People often use “CPR certified” and “BLS certified” interchangeably, but they’re different credentials aimed at different audiences. The AHA’s Heartsaver CPR AED course is designed for the general public and meets OSHA workplace requirements. It teaches compression-only CPR, basic AED use, and first aid. It does not cover team dynamics, bag-mask ventilation, or multi-rescuer scenarios.
BLS assumes you may be the first medical professional on the scene or part of a resuscitation team. The skills are more detailed, the expectations for precision are higher, and the certification carries more weight with healthcare employers. If your job involves patient care or emergency response, BLS is the one you need. If you’re a teacher, office worker, or parent who wants to be prepared, Heartsaver CPR is sufficient.