# BLS / CPR certification: cost, renewal & jobs

BLS is the healthcare-provider version of CPR: about $80 to $100, valid for 2 years, and one of the most requested credentials on US patient-care jobs.

- **Author:** MedJobList Editors
- **Published:** Jul 11, 2026
- **Updated:** Jul 16, 2026

## What is BLS / CPR certification?

BLS (Basic Life Support) certification is the healthcare-provider level of CPR training. It certifies that you can recognize cardiac arrest, give high-quality chest compressions, use an AED, clear a blocked airway in an adult or an infant, and work as part of a resuscitation team. A first-time course takes about 3 to 4 hours, and the card is valid for 2 years. The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Red Cross issue the two cards US employers accept most often.

## BLS vs CPR vs ACLS

When a healthcare posting says "CPR required", it almost always means BLS. Heartsaver, BLS, and ACLS are different courses at different levels, and employers rarely swap one for another.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Heartsaver / community CPR | For bystanders, teachers, coaches, and office staff. Covers compressions and AED use for a single rescuer. |
| BLS Provider | For clinical and direct patient care staff. Adds two-rescuer technique, bag-mask ventilation, and resuscitation team dynamics. |
| ACLS | For nurses, paramedics, and physicians in critical care. Adds heart rhythms and drugs, and requires a current BLS card. |

Most hospitals won't accept a Heartsaver or community CPR card in place of BLS during credentialing.

## Who requires BLS

Employers ask for BLS on roles with direct patient contact. In our catalogue that means pharmacy technicians who administer immunizations, medical assistants, phlebotomists, dental assistants, home health aides, hospice aides, behavioral health technicians, and aesthetic nurses. Hospitals and clinics usually list it as required. Retail and administrative roles in the same fields more often list it as preferred, or skip it entirely.

## Requirements and eligibility

- No prerequisite certification. BLS is an entry-level clinical credential, and it's normally the first card you get.
- No license or degree requirement. Students and new graduates can take it before their first job.
- No minimum age set by the AHA, though individual training centers may set one.
- Complete an accredited course, either fully in person or in a blended format.
- Pass a hands-on skills test in front of an instructor.
- Pass a written exam.

## Cost, format, and renewal

Prices below reflect AHA and Red Cross listings as of July 2026 and vary by training center. Confirm current pricing with the provider before you enroll.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Course fee | About $80 to $100 for a full or blended course |
| Fee, broken down | AHA HeartCode online portion about $35, in-person skills session $45 to $100, printed manual $15 to $25 if you want one |
| Renewal fee | From about $80 |
| Format | Fully in person, or blended (online coursework plus an in-person skills session) |
| Course length | About 3 to 4 hours first time, 2 to 4 hours for renewal |
| Validity period | 2 years |
| Renewal requirement | Renewal course before the card expires. No CEU hours needed |
| If it lapses | More than 30 days past expiry, most training centers make you retake the full course |
| Issuing body | American Heart Association or American Red Cross |

## Choosing a provider: AHA, Red Cross, and online-only cards

Both the [American Heart Association](https://cpr.heart.org/en/cpr-courses-and-kits/healthcare-professional/basic-life-support-bls-training) and the [American Red Cross](https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/bls-training/bls-certification) follow the same resuscitation guidelines, and both are widely accepted. Check the posting before you pay: some employers name AHA specifically, and a few state boards do too.

The expensive mistake is a card earned 100% online with no skills test. Hospitals and clinics working to Joint Commission and CMS standards need documented proof that you can actually do compressions, ventilations, and AED use, and a web quiz doesn't produce it. Those cards get rejected at credentialing, which can mean a delayed start date, no badge access, and buying the right course a second time. Blended learning is fine: AHA HeartCode BLS and Red Cross Blended Learning both end in an in-person skills session, so both count.

## How to get certified

1. Check the job posting or your employer's credentialing page for a named provider before you book anything.
2. Pick AHA or Red Cross, and pick a format: fully in person, or blended online coursework plus an in-person skills session.
3. Book the skills session at the same time as the online portion. It's the part that fills up.
4. Complete the coursework, then pass the skills test and the written exam.
5. Download your card. Both providers issue it digitally, usually the same day.
6. Set a reminder for 22 months out. Renewing before expiry is cheaper and shorter than retaking the full course.

## Demand for BLS / CPR on MedJobList

BLS or CPR is named in 2,498 of the active US openings we track right now. It is asked for in pharmacies, dental offices, home health, hospice, and behavioral health, where CPhT belongs to pharmacy alone and RDA to dental. You can browse those openings in the section below, or filter the full job list by BLS / CPR yourself.

## On the job

Bring the card on your first day. Most employers keep a copy on file with HR, and some won't put you on the schedule until they have it. Once you're employed, ask who pays for renewal: many hospitals run free in-house BLS classes for staff, and plenty of clinics reimburse the fee. Ask during the interview or at onboarding, before you pay for it yourself.

## FAQ

### Is BLS the same as a CPR class?

BLS is the healthcare-provider version. A general public CPR class (Heartsaver or a community course) covers compressions and AED use for a single rescuer. BLS adds two-rescuer technique, bag-mask ventilation, and resuscitation team dynamics. When a clinical posting says CPR, it usually means BLS.

### How long is a BLS certification good for?

2 years from the date it is issued. Renew before it expires: once you are more than 30 days past the expiry date, most training centers require the full initial course instead of the shorter renewal.

### How much does BLS certification cost?

About $80 to $100 for a full or blended course as of July 2026, and from about $80 to renew. The AHA HeartCode online portion is around $35 on its own, with the required in-person skills session adding $45 to $100 depending on the training center.

### Can I get BLS certified entirely online?

You can do the coursework online, but not the skills test. Cards issued with no in-person skills session are commonly rejected by healthcare employers at credentialing, because Joint Commission and CMS standards expect documented hands-on competency. Blended learning (AHA HeartCode BLS, Red Cross Blended Learning) includes the skills session and is accepted.

### Should I choose the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross?

Both follow the same resuscitation guidelines and both are widely accepted. Some employers and state boards name AHA specifically, so check the posting or your employer's credentialing page before you enrol.

### What happens if my BLS card expires while I am employed?

Most employers pull you off the patient-care schedule until it is current. Many hospitals run free in-house classes for staff and plenty of clinics reimburse the fee, so ask HR before paying out of pocket.

Source: https://medjoblist.com/guides/bls-cpr-certification