September 24, 2026

Who Needs BLS Certification? Jobs & Requirements Explained

BLS certification is required for most healthcare professionals, first responders, and many healthcare-adjacent roles, from nurses and physicians to EMTs, medical assistants, and students in clinical training programs. State licensing boards and accrediting bodies like The Joint Commission effectively mandate it for anyone working in a clinical environment.

Here's a full breakdown of which jobs require BLS certification and what the requirements are for each role.

Table of Contents

Who Needs BLS Certification

In clinical settings, Basic Life Support (BLS) is more than just a credential – it’s the foundation for ensuring patient safety in the workplace. However, many people go into jobs in a healthcare or healthcare-adjacent setting unaware of whether they will require the certification. This comprehensive guide breaks down exactly who needs BLS certification, both for clinical and non-clinical roles.

Jobs That Require BLS Certification

Classic jobs requiring the knowledge and skills of BLS Certification are found in healthcare spaces where direct patient encounters occur. The amount of time spent with patients may differ between these roles, but all of them must be ready to act with these living-saving skills.

Nurses and Healthcare Providers

For nurses and other healthcare providers encountering patients around-the-clock, BLS certification is a must. This includes RN’s, LVN’s, LPN’s and clinical nurse specialists. Additionally, those working in the ER or critical care are also required to have Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification, which gives these providers the skills to deal with complex life-threatening cardiac rhythms. Alongside nurses, other healthcare providers that require a BLS certification include:

  • Physicians (MD, DO)
  • Advanced Practice Providers (NP’s, PA’s, CRNA’s)
  • Respiratory Therapists
  • Therapies (PT, OT, Speech Therapy)
  • Pharmacists

EMTs and First Responders

Outside of the hospital or outpatient settings, other personnel who require BLS training include Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, and other first responders. This includes many roles such as:

  • Firefighters
  • Police officers
  • Flight medics
  • Ambulance drivers
  • Oceanic and Open Water Lifeguards

Medical Students and Assistants

Additionally, students whose training involves practicing patient care and those in ancillary positions will also require training in BLS. Such students include:

  • Medical students
  • Nursing students
  • PA students
  • Dental students
  • PT/OT/ST students
  • Pharmacy students
  • EMT students

Finally, medical assistants are also often required to undergo BLS certification, including:

  • Medical assistants (MA/CMA)
  • Certified Nursing Assistants (CAN)
  • Patient Care Technicians (PCT)
  • Dental assistants
  • PT/OT assistants
  • Laboratory assistants
  • Phlebotomists
  • Technicians (Radiology, Surgical, Dialysis, Pharmacy)

Other Professions That May Need BLS Training

At first glance, you may think that the list of roles requiring BLS certification stops there - but you would be mistaken! There are plenty of other roles that may require BLS training in order to perform the job. These are outlined below.

Fitness Trainers

While not very common, some athletic and fitness trainers may be required to undergo BLS certification. This may be in the setting where trainers are working with patients who have chronic medical conditions, including post-stroke and cardiac rehabilitation settings. Other settings may include trainers who work in PT clinics or in medically-integrated wellness centers where BLS is required for all staff.

Childcare Providers

Certain childcare roles may also require BLS training. These include pediatric home health aides working with children who have tracheostomies, ventilators or feeding tubes. Additionally, nannies who are hired to care for children with high-risk conditions may also need to have BLS certification. Other extensions of this category may include School Nurses and Child Life Specialists.

Workplace Safety Roles

In medical or medical-adjacent spaces, BLS training may also be required for those in workplace safety roles. This may include security guards in hospital settings, both acute care hospitals and psychiatric hospitals. It may also include government facility security as well as those who work in large event space security. These roles may often require BLS training due to the need for learning team dynamics (rotating compressors) and utilizing a Bag-Valve Mask (BVM).

BLS Certification Requirements by Role

Depending on the role, some additional training requirements may be required depending on the setting. These are outlined below.

Healthcare Requirements

Most roles in clinical healthcare settings now require BLS certification. This means that, in a hospital, everyone from the cardiothoracic surgeon to the medical assistant is required to undergo BLS certification training. Often these settings will not accept a 100%-online BLS training course but rather will mandate an in-person skills checkoff before the person is cleared to begin working in the setting.

Employer-Specific Requirements

Within BLS certification, some employers may prefer specific BLS training platforms that align with their workplace protocols for BLS training. For instance, some employers may only accept BLS certification from the American Heart Association (AHA) or the American Red Cross. And as above, some employers will require the in-person skills checkoff before working, so be sure to check with your employer prior to signing up for a particular BLS course.

Is BLS Certification Required by Law?

While there is no single federal law codifying BLS certification for particular roles, there are still regulatory requirements that legally mandate training in this skill. For instance, some state boards of nursing, medicine and dentistry may require a valid BLS certification as a condition of practicing. Additionally, accrediting bodies such as The Joint Commission require hospitals to prove that 100% of clinical staff are certified in resuscitative training in order to maintain accreditation.

How to Choose the Right BLS Course

Given the legal and clinical requirements of training, you may now be anxiously wondering, “How do I pick the right BLS course ?” Thankfully, choosing the right course often boils down to your employers’ requirements. Some employers may only require a 100% online BLS course while others (often involving patient care) require an in-person skills checkoff after completing an online course. Additionally, make sure that your employer does not require that you obtain training from a specific BLS training provider (e.g. AHA or Red Cross).

Find the Right BLS Course With ACLS Medical Training

If it’s news to you that you will require BLS certification, are you stressed out? You don’t need to be! ACLS Medical Training has BLS Certification Training Courses geared toward your specific needs. We offer 100% online training at the lowest price point , not only for BLS Certification, but also for ACLS Certification . Consider taking the next step to solidify your knowledge in this life-saving skill by registering on our site today!

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