What Is BLS Certification? Requirements, Cost, and How to Get Certified

BLS certification , or Basic Life Support certification, is a healthcare-focused emergency response credential that teaches CPR, AED use, airway management, and life-saving resuscitation techniques for adults, children, and infants. Many healthcare professionals, first responders, and patient care workers are required to maintain BLS certification as part of their job responsibilities.

In this guide, we’ll explain who needs BLS certification, what the training covers, how much it costs, and how to get certified online or in person.

Table of Contents

• What Is BLS Certification? 
• Who Needs BLS Certification? 
• What Does BLS Training Cover? 
• How to Get BLS Certification 
• Enroll in BLS Certification Online 

What Is BLS Certification?

BLS certification prepares individuals to recognize and respond to life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, and airway obstruction. The training focuses on delivering high-quality CPR, using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), assisting patients experiencing breathing emergencies, and working effectively during team-based resuscitation situations. While BLS certification is most commonly associated with healthcare workers, many non-healthcare professionals may also need this training depending on their workplace responsibilities and level of patient or public interaction.

Who Needs BLS Certification?

Many people go into roles, whether in healthcare or otherwise, unsure of whether they’ll need a BLS certification or even a simple CPR certification for employment. Here we explain the professional roles that require BLS for employment.

Healthcare Professionals

For healthcare providers with direct patient contact, BLS is a standard requirement. Such provider roles range from more obvious roles (nurses, doctors) to less obvious ones (pharmacy technicians). See below for a comprehensive list of healthcare roles that require BLS training.

Other Jobs That Require BLS

With that large of a list, you may think that encapsulates all roles requiring BLS certification. On the contrary, there are many other employment situations that can require BLS training. See below for a list of roles that may require BLS training. These include the following:

• Fitness Trainers : Where encountering complex medical conditions (e.g. post-stroke rehabilitation, cardiac rehabilitation).
• Childcare Providers : With complex or high-risk conditions (e.g. tracheostomies, ventilators, feeding tubes).
• Workplace Safety Roles : Security guards in specific settings (e.g. hospitals, government facilities, large event spaces).

What Does BLS Training Cover?

Next, what is actually included in a BLS certification training course? Core competencies for BLS certification include CPR and AED use, team-based resuscitation, and airway management.

CPR and AED Use

The first and most essential topics covered in a BLS course are CPR and AED utilization. The CPR portion involves rapid patient assessment as well as proper performance of chest compressions and rescue breaths in order to maintain adequate flow of oxygenated blood to the vital organs. Compression metrics are taught, including proper rate and depth of chest compressions with adequate chest recoil. Age-specific considerations are also given including hand/finger placement for chest compressions in adults versus children or infants.

AED-specific content involves learning the correct steps in order to deliver a shock, if necessary, to the patient as quickly as possible. This content includes turning on the AED, applying the pads to the patient’s chest, standing “clear” when analyzing or shocking, and resuming compressions after a shock.

Team-Based Resuscitation

Another core competency included in BLS training is team-based resuscitation. This content covers how often to switch roles between compressors, managing the Bag-Valve Mask and operating the AED. This section also provides tips for minimal interruption when switching compressors.

Airway Management

Finally, airway management is another critical pillar of BLS training. This includes learning about how to properly open the patient’s airway and proper ventilation techniques utilizing pocket masks and Bag-Valve-Masks (BVM). The training also includes management of a Foreign Body Airway Obstruction (FBAO), both for adults and for children.

How to Get BLS Certification

Now that you are aware of the content covered in a BLS certification course, how can you find a course and get certified? This section will cover how to quickly and accurately select the course that best fits your needs and timeline.

Choose a BLS Provider Course

Selecting the correct BLS course depends on several factors. The most significant considerations are whether your employer requires a BLS course with an in-person skills session, and whether they require a course by a specific provider (e.g. the American Heart Association ). Depending on the requirement, you can either select an online BLS training course or an in-person one. Note that online BLS training courses are typically less expensive and more flexible for obtaining certification.

Complete Training

Once you’ve selected your training course, complete the online and in person training portions as required. In a 100% online format, the course duration is typically faster along with the added flexibility to start and stop the course as needed. This is in contrast to an in-person class which is typically longer in duration with rigid scheduling.

Pass the Exam

Lastly, all BLS training courses require passing an exam after learning the content. For 100% online courses, successful completion of the online exam usually allows you to receive your certificate and digital BLS cards instantly. This is in contrast to a “hybrid” or 100% in-person course where passing the exam and skills checkoff is then followed by waiting for physical BLS cards to arrive via mail.

Enroll in BLS Certification Online

In summary, BLS is a critical skill for those both in traditional healthcare roles and non-healthcare roles. Thankfully, BLS is no longer only conducted in an in-person format; online BLS training courses offer a convenient, flexible and cost-effective alternative for obtaining your certification. ACLS Medical Training offers 100% online certification courses for both BLS certification and ACLS certification . Consider taking the next step to master these life-saving skills by registering on our site today!