HeartCode BLS is the online portion of the American Heart Association’s blended learning approach to Basic Life Support (BLS) training. Instead of spending an entire day in a classroom, you complete the knowledge-based learning online at your own pace, then finish with a shorter in-person hands-on skills session. The result is the same BLS Provider certification you’d earn from a traditional instructor-led course.
How the Blended Learning Format Works
The course splits BLS training into two distinct parts. First, you work through the online HeartCode module, which covers the cognitive material: recognizing cardiac arrest, understanding CPR technique, learning how to use an AED, and knowing when and how to provide rescue breaths. The online portion uses an adaptive algorithm that adjusts to your performance and self-reported confidence level as you go. If you already know a topic well, the system moves you forward faster. If you’re struggling with a concept, it provides more practice before letting you advance.
The content includes self-guided learning modules, knowledge checks (called “probes”), and scenario-based cognitive assessments. Because the path adapts to each student, the AHA does not list a fixed completion time. Someone with prior CPR experience may finish significantly faster than a first-time learner.
After completing the online module, you schedule a hands-on skills session. This takes place either with an AHA instructor or, where available, using a Voice Assisted Manikin (VAM) that guides you through the physical skills and provides real-time feedback. You must pass this skills session to earn your certification. The online portion alone does not result in a BLS card.
Who the Course Is Designed For
HeartCode BLS targets healthcare professionals and other personnel who need CPR and basic cardiovascular life support skills for both in-hospital and out-of-hospital settings. That includes nurses, physicians, paramedics, medical and nursing students, dental professionals, and allied health workers. Many hospitals and healthcare systems accept the blended learning format as equivalent to the traditional classroom course, since the final certification card is identical.
The format is especially useful if you have an unpredictable schedule. Rather than blocking out a full day for a classroom session, you can chip away at the online content over several sittings, then attend a shorter skills check when it fits your calendar.
Skills Covered in the Course
HeartCode BLS covers the core competencies expected of any BLS provider. These include high-quality CPR for adults, children, and infants, with emphasis on correct compression depth, rate, and chest recoil. You also learn single-rescuer and team-based CPR techniques, proper use of bag-mask ventilation, AED operation, and how to relieve choking in all age groups.
The course content reflects the latest AHA guidelines. The AHA published updated Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care in 2025, building on evidence reviewed since the previous 2020 guidelines. HeartCode courses are updated to align with these guideline cycles, so completing the current version means you’re learning the most recent science-backed protocols.
Certification and Renewal
Once you pass both the online module and the hands-on skills session, you receive a BLS Provider Course Completion Card. This card is valid for two years through the end of the month in which it was issued. So if you complete your course in March 2025, your certification remains active through March 2027.
When your card approaches expiration, you’ll need to retake the course to renew. You can use the blended HeartCode format again or switch to a traditional in-person class. The renewal process is the same full course, not an abbreviated refresher.
Cost and Technical Requirements
The HeartCode BLS online module costs $37 through the AHA’s official shop. That price covers only the online portion. The hands-on skills session is a separate cost, which varies depending on your training center or employer. Some healthcare employers cover the full expense, so it’s worth checking before paying out of pocket.
The online course runs in any modern web browser, including the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. You’ll need at least 4 GB of RAM on a Windows or Mac computer, or 2 GB on an Android or iOS device. A broadband internet connection is required. The course works on screens as small as 4 inches, though a larger display makes the scenario-based activities easier to navigate.
HeartCode BLS vs. Traditional Classroom BLS
Both paths lead to the same certification card, and neither is considered more or less valid by employers. The key differences are practical. The traditional instructor-led course happens entirely in one sitting, typically lasting several hours, with lectures, video demonstrations, and hands-on practice all in the same session. HeartCode splits the lecture and video content into the self-paced online module, which means your in-person time is shorter and focused entirely on physical skills.
The adaptive technology in HeartCode is a genuine advantage for experienced providers renewing their certification. If you already know the material well, you won’t sit through hours of content you could pass in your sleep. For first-time learners, the traditional classroom offers more immediate access to an instructor for questions, which some people prefer. Either way, you’ll need to demonstrate the same physical skills on a manikin before earning your card.