How to Get Your BLS Card

Basic life support (BLS) for health care providers is required for many people working in a health care setting. It is the course that teaches CPR, the use of an automatic external defibrillator and the steps to relieve choking. The American Heart Association is the organization that provides certification in this required knowledge. For convenience, there is both an online and classroom version of the BLS course. However, both require skills sessions to be completed in front of a live instructor, so finding a nearby BLS instructor will be necessary.

Instructions

Online

• 1

  Go to American Heart Association Website. Click on "CPR & ECC." Click on "Healthcare Training." Click on "BLS." Click on "Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers (HCP) Online Part 1."

• 2

  Click "ECC Class Connector." This will open up a window that will allow a search for a live skills instructor in a specific area. Enter your ZIP code and required radius into the boxes. Select "BLS Healthcare Providers Skills Session" from the drop-down menu. Choose from the list of live instructors for skills session testing to be performed after computer work is completed.

• 3

  Click "OnlineAHA.org." Click "Course Catalog." Click "Purchase" next to "BLS for Healthcare Providers Online part 1." Follow the instructions for registering with the website and completing the purchase.

• 4

  Access the purchased course materials and work through the modules. There are 10 critical checkpoints that must be answered in order to generate a certificate to take to the live skills instructor. However, there are 21 review sessions and 17 videos to help reinforce the information. Once all checkpoints have been passed correctly, print out the certificate for the live instructor.

• 5

  Go to skills session with the live skills instructor and performs the skills as demonstrated on the computer portion of the BLS course. If the instructor approves the performance, then a BLS card will be issued. It will be good for two years.

In Person

• 6

  Go to American Heart Association Website. Click on "CPR & ECC." Click on "Healthcare Training." Click on "BLS." Click on "Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers."

• 7

  Click "ECC Class Connector." This will open a window that will allow for a class search. Enter your ZIP code and required radius into the boxes. Select "BLS Healthcare Providers" or "BLS for Healthcare Providers Renewal" from the drop-down menu. Choose a location close enough to facilitate a day long class.

• 8

  Obtain a copy of the student class materials and study them before the class. Call the facility where the class will be held and ask about purchase or loan of these books.

• 9

  Attend the class on the scheduled date. Dress comfortably -- there will be a lot of crouching and stooping. Take the written and skills tests at the end of the day. If performance is satisfactory, a BLS card will be issued. It will be good for two years.