Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR – Course Overview for Healthcare Providers

Course Description:
This Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR course is designed for healthcare professionals and allied personnel who need to be prepared to respond to cardiac and respiratory emergencies. It covers essential life-saving skills including high-quality CPR, AED use, and team-based resuscitation strategies, with a focus on real-world application in both clinical and out-of-hospital settings.

Certifying Options:
We offer BLS CPR certification through the following nationally recognized organizations:

• American Heart Association (AHA)

• American Red Cross (ARC)

• Health & Safety Institute (HSI)

Please confirm with your employer or licensing board which certification is required for your role.

Who Should Take This Course:

• Nurses, physicians, EMTs, paramedics, and other healthcare professionals

• Medical, dental, and nursing students

• Allied health personnel

• Anyone in a clinical setting required to maintain BLS certification

What You Will Learn:

• How to recognize cardiac arrest and initiate CPR immediately

• High-quality chest compressions for adults, children, and infants

• Proper use of a bag-mask device and barrier devices for rescue breathing

• Safe and effective use of an automated external defibrillator (AED)

• How to relieve airway obstructions (choking) in responsive and unresponsive patients

• The principles of team dynamics during multi-rescuer resuscitation

Course Format:

• Instructor-led or blended learning (online + in-person skills session)

• Hands-on practice with professional equipment including manikins and AED trainers

• Realistic scenarios and skills testing

Each student is required to have the current, appropriate course textbook readily available for use before, during, and after the course; a digital version of the textbook is included with all blended learning options.

Certification:
Upon successful completion of the course and skills evaluation, participants will receive a 2-year BLS CPR certification card from the certifying organization chosen at registration.

The American Heart Association strongly promotes knowledge and proficiency in all AHA courses and has developed instructional materials for this purpose. Use of these materials in an educational course does not represent course sponsorship by the AHA. Any fees charged for such a course, except for a portion of fees needed for AHA course materials, do not represent income to the AHA.​