AHA BLS Online Certification for Healthcare Providers Part 1

Through our AHA BLS online certification for healthcare providers, students will learn single-rescuer and team basic life support for adults, children and infants through 5 interactive exercises, scenarios and a written test. Navigation controls allow students to move easily through content as they learn how to recognize life-threatening emergencies, provide high-quality chest compressions, deliver appropriate ventilation and provide early use of an AED. The course also teaches relief of choking.

This self-paced course is accessible anytime from any computer to help students get their BLS certification online. Students can access the BLS for Healthcare Providers Student Manual, BLS Pocket Reference Card and more for 24 months.

This course may be used for initial or renewal BLS for Healthcare Providers Course completion.


Features and Benefits

Features of the online course (Part 1)

  • Key changes in basic life support, reflecting new science from the 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
  • Critical concepts in high-quality CPR
  • The American Heart Association Chain of Survival
  • 1-rescuer CPR and AED for adults, children and infants
  • 2-rescuer CPR and AED for adults, children and infants
  • Differences among adult, child and infant rescue techniques
  • Bag-mask techniques for adults, children and infants
  • Rescue breathing for adults, children and infants
  • Relief of choking for adults, children and infants

Course Benefits

  • Students have access to all information in the course for 2 years after activation of course key, including the BLS for Healthcare Providers Student Manual, downloadable algorithms, summary of steps of CPR, the BLS pocket reference card and more.

  • The course is accessible at any time (24 hours a day)
  • You may proceed through the modules at your own pace and review as many times as you need
  • The course design is flexible and accommodates a range of learning styles and needs from basic checkpoint review to more extensive learning by accessing the optional sections
  • You receive immediate feedback
  • By self-pacing and reviewing as you proceed through the modules, your learning is reinforced and your competence ensured

Skills Session

  • Part 1 must be paired with a hands-on skills practice and testing session (Parts 2 and 3) with an AHA BLS Instructor. Students who successfully complete Part 1 receive a certificate that allows them entrance to a skills practice and testing session. An AHA BLS for Healthcare Providers course completion card will be issued upon successful completion of all three parts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is BLS for Healthcare Providers Online Part 1?

BLS for Healthcare Providers Part 1 is a web-based, self-directed course that uses case-based scenarios and interactive lessons to teach students both single-rescuer and team basic life support for application in both in- and out-of-hospital settings. This course teaches participants to promptly recognize several life-threatening emergencies, give high-quality chest compressions, deliver appropriate ventilations, provide early use of an AED and relieve choking. It includes adult, child, and infant rescue techniques.

This online course provides an alternative to classroom training for healthcare professionals seeking an initial or renewal BLS for Healthcare Providers course completion card.

To help students gain proficiency in performing skills for full course completion, Part 1 is combined with a hands-on skills practice and testing session (Parts 2 and 3), where students have the opportunity for one-on-one practice time with an AHA Basic Life Support Instructor before testing.

Who is the target audience for this course?

This online course provides an alternative to BLS for Healthcare Providers classroom training 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- and out- of hospital settings. This audience includes nurses, physicians, EMS professionals, students in a healthcare program at a university/college, allied health professionals (physical therapists, occupational therapist, athletic trainers, etc.) and others seeking an initial or renewal BLS for Healthcare Providers course completion card.

What is the course format?

BLS for Healthcare Providers Online Part 1 presents cognitive information through a series of case-based scenarios, videos and interactive exercises. Upon successful completion of Part 1, including the online written test, a Part 1 Certificate of Completion is available for students to print. This certificate must then be presented for parts 2 and 3, the hands-on skills practice and testing session* with an AHA BLS Instructor. Students will receive an AHA BLS for Healthcare Providers Course Completion card, issued by their Instructor’s Training Center, upon successful completion of all three parts.

Successful completion of this course includes three (3) parts:

  • Part 1, online portion
  • Part 2*, a hands-on skills session with an authorized AHA BLS Instructor
  • Part 3*, a skills test with an authorized AHA BLS Instructor

*Parts 2 and 3 should be completed in one “skills practice and testing” session.

Is a skills test required?

Yes. To earn an AHA BLS Healthcare Provider card you must successfully demonstrate the required skills to an authorized AHA BLS Instructor.

How is a skills session scheduled?

To find American Heart Association skills session providers in your area, use this handy form. You may search by either zip code or state. Be sure to uncheck the “View Scheduled Classes” box, then click Submit. On the next page choose the course for which you need a skills test from the drop-down list. A list of AHA Training Centers that can provide your skills session will be displayed.

You must schedule and complete your skills and testing sessions within 60 days of completing the course. A Training Center may charge for their time to perform the skills practice and testing session and for issuing the card.

How long after completing the online program do I have to complete the skills session and test?

The AHA requires that your take the skills practice and test session within 60 days of successfully completing the online portion.

How long does it take to complete the online course?

You will need 1 to 2 hours to complete the online portion of the course; time to complete a practice and testing session (Parts 2 and 3) varies.

Do I have to take the course in one sitting?

No. You may log in and out as many times as you choose. You must complete a checkpoint before logging out to ensure your work up to that point is saved. When you resume the course it will then show exactly where you were before logging out. When you are ready to continue training, simply return to www.HealthEdSolutions.com and login to My HES with your registered e-mail and password.

How do I get a receipt for my purchase?

You can print a receipt for your order on the My Courses page. The ”My Courses” link is located on the top of each page within www.healthedsolutions.com.

What is your refund policy for this course?

All AHA courses are non-refundable.

Does the program require special computer or support software?

Most Web browsers will have no problem using our site. The videos require the free QuickTime or Flash plug-in.

Whom should I contact if I have problems with the online course?

Please contact Health Education Solutions by phone at 866.511.4637 or e-mail at info@healthedsolutions.com. Our regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central time. Weekend and after-hours requests will be addressed the following business day.

What skills are tested during the skills testing session*?

During skills testing, students must successfully demonstrate competency performing the following skills:

  • 1- and 2-Rescuer Adult BLS (includes CPR w/pocket mask, AED use and use of a bag-mask device)
  • 1- and 2-Rescuer Infant BLS (includes CPR w/pocket mask and use of a bag-mask device)

*Parts 2 and 3 should be completed in one “skills practice and testing” session.

Does successful completion of the BLS for Healthcare Providers Course result in receipt of an AHA course completion card? If so, what card?

Yes, upon successful completion of all three parts, (online course and in-person practice and testing session) will receive an AHA BLS for Healthcare Providers Course Completion card, issued by their Instructor’s Training Center.  This card is valid for two years.

What is the process for taking this course?

Here are the steps for this course:
  • Contact an AHA BLS Training Center about skills practice and testing session availability before purchasing.
  • Complete all checkpoints.
  • Complete the online test.
  • Print Part 1 Certificate of Completion.
  • Present certificate verifying completion of Part 1 to the AHA BLS Instructor who will conduct the skills practice and testing sessions. **If you have not been able to successfully complete the online checkpoints or final test, print out the course homepage and take it to your AHA BLS Instructor, who can help you with remediation.
  • Complete the skills practice (Part 2) and testing (Part 3) sessions with your AHA BLS Instructor.
  • After successful completion of the online course and skills practice and testing sessions, you will receive an AHA BLS for Healthcare Provider card from the AHA BLS Training Center where you took your skills test.

Does BLS for Healthcare Providers Online Part 1 offer continuing education (CE/CME)?

No, CE/CME credits are not offered for this course, as BLS training is most often an educational requirement and a basic qualification for employment.

Can course material be accessed after the online portion is completed?

Yes, students may access all material included in the BLS for Healthcare Providers Online Part 1 program for 24 months following initial activation of their course key.