Basic Life Support (BLS)

The American Heart Association’s BLS course trains participants to promptly recognize several life-threatening emergencies, give high-quality chest compressions, deliver appropriate breaths and ventilations, and provide early use of an AED. The course reflects science and education from the 2025 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC).

Who should take this course?

The American Heart Association’s BLS Course is designed for healthcare professionals and other personnel who need to know how to perform CPR and other basic cardiovascular life support skills in a wide variety of in-hospital and out-of-hospital settings.

Basic Life Support (BLS) Course Options

What does this course teach?

  • High-quality CPR for adults, children, and infants
  • BLS concepts from the Chain of Survival
  • Delivering effective breaths or ventilations
  • Importance of early use of and how to use an AED
  • Performance as an effective team member during multirescuer CPR
  • Relief of foreign-body airway obstruction (choking) for adults, children, and infants

 

Ready to take a Basic Life Support (BLS) class?

The Association offers options for how you can purchase BLS. You can take a full classroom course, a blended learning course (HeartCode BLS + a hands-on skills session training), or purchase additional course materials. Choose from the options below.
Sign up for a BLS classroom course near you Find a hands-on skills session for HeartCode BLS Purchase HeartCode BLS or other BLS course materials

Course Completion Card

Upon completion of all course requirements, participants receive a BLS Provider Course Completion Card which is valid for two years.
Learn more about Course Completion Cards

Continuing Education Credits

Depending on which BLS course option you choose, CE/CME may be available for your profession.
Find more information about CE/CME credits available for this course