Most healthcare employers require BLS certification before your first shift — and many will pull you from the floor the day it lapses. Red Cross BLS training is one of the two dominant options (the other being the American Heart Association), and knowing exactly what the course covers, what it costs, and whether your employer will accept it can save you a scramble at the worst possible time.
This guide covers everything you need to know about Red Cross BLS training: the format, the skills tested, the cost, how to find a class, and how it stacks up against AHA BLS if your employer doesn't specify a preference.
What Red Cross BLS Training Actually Covers
BLS stands for Basic Life Support. Despite the word "basic," this is not the general public CPR course — it's the clinical-grade certification required of nurses, paramedics, EMTs, respiratory therapists, dental hygienists, and most hospital-employed staff. The skills go deeper than Heartsaver CPR and are designed for people who may need to run a resuscitation with a team.
Red Cross BLS training covers:
- High-quality chest compressions for adults, children, and infants — including correct hand placement, depth, and rate (100–120 compressions/min)
- One-rescuer and two-rescuer CPR sequences
- Bag-mask ventilation (the bag-valve-mask or BVM, which general CPR courses don't teach)
- AED operation including pad placement for adults and pediatric patients
- Relief of foreign-body airway obstruction (choking) in responsive and unresponsive patients
- Team dynamics and role assignment during resuscitation
The curriculum follows ILCOR (International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation) guidelines, the same evidence base used by AHA. The Red Cross updates its courses when ILCOR publishes new guidelines, which happens roughly every five years (the last major update was 2020).
How Red Cross BLS Training Is Structured
Red Cross BLS uses a blended learning format. You complete a two-part sequence:
Part 1: Online Learning (~2 hours)
You work through the cognitive portion — science of CPR, compression mechanics, AED decision trees, and pediatric considerations — at your own pace via the Red Cross Learning Center. You can pause and return. This module typically takes 90 minutes to 2 hours depending on your prior experience. You get a completion certificate for this portion that's valid for 90 days, which gives you the window to complete Part 2.
Part 2: In-Person Skills Session (~2 hours)
You attend a hands-on class at a licensed Red Cross training location (hospitals, fire stations, community centers, and dedicated CPR training businesses all host them). An instructor evaluates you on the physical skills: compression depth and rate on a manikin, proper BVM technique, and AED pad placement. You must pass each skill station to receive your certification card.
Total time commitment: roughly 4 hours split across two sessions. The skills session cannot be skipped or done remotely — this is a firm requirement of Red Cross BLS certification, not just a recommendation.
Certification and Renewal
Your Red Cross BLS certification is valid for two years from the date of your skills session. Renewal follows the same blended format, though some instructors offer a shorter renewal path if you're already current. Red Cross does not offer a purely online BLS certification — any provider claiming to do so is not issuing a legitimate Red Cross credential.
Red Cross BLS Training Cost and Where to Find Classes
The cost of Red Cross BLS training depends on where you register:
- Red Cross website direct: Typically $75–$90 for the full blended course
- Employer-sponsored: Many hospitals and health systems provide BLS training free or at reduced cost for staff. Check with your HR department before paying out of pocket.
- Third-party training centers: Licensed Red Cross instructors at private CPR schools often charge $60–$80 and may offer more flexible scheduling
- Group rates: If you're coordinating for a team, Red Cross offers onsite training where an instructor comes to your facility. Pricing is negotiated per head, typically $40–$60 per person for groups of 8 or more.
To find a class, go to redcross.org, click "Take a Class," and filter by BLS for Healthcare Providers. Enter your zip code and you'll see available skills sessions near you along with available dates. Registration for the online portion happens first; you then select your skills session date during checkout.
Who Needs Red Cross BLS Certification
BLS is specifically required for roles where you're expected to initiate or assist with resuscitation. Common employer requirements include:
- Nurses (RN, LPN/LVN): Required before most clinical placements and for state licensure in several states
- EMTs and paramedics: Required for NREMT certification and most EMS agencies
- Medical and nursing students: Required before clinical rotations begin
- Respiratory therapists and surgical techs: Standard credentialing requirement
- Dental hygienists and dental assistants: Required in many states by the dental board
- Physical and occupational therapists: Required by most hospital employers
- Fitness trainers and lifeguards: Some employers require BLS rather than standard CPR
If you're unsure whether your role requires BLS or the standard Heartsaver CPR course, check your employer's credentialing requirements or ask HR — these are not interchangeable credentials, and showing up with the wrong one delays your start date.
Red Cross BLS vs. AHA BLS: Does It Matter?
This is the most common question people ask before registering. The short answer: for most employers, it doesn't matter — both are nationally recognized and follow the same ILCOR guidelines. The longer answer has a few nuances.
AHA BLS (formerly called BLS for Healthcare Providers, now just BLS) is the older and historically more dominant brand in hospital settings. Some facilities have a stated preference for AHA BLS, and a small number explicitly require it. Before you register for Red Cross BLS training, do one quick check: look at your offer letter or credentialing paperwork and see if it specifies a provider. If it says "AHA BLS" specifically, you need AHA. If it says "BLS certification from an accredited provider," Red Cross qualifies.
In practice, the clinical content is nearly identical. Both teach compression rates and depths from the same ILCOR guidelines. The main practical difference is availability: Red Cross tends to have more flexible scheduling options in suburban and rural areas, while AHA-certified training sites dominate in major metropolitan hospital systems.
Top Courses for Healthcare and Medical Professionals
BLS is your clinical floor credential, but continuing education beyond the certification itself matters for career progression. If you're building technical skills alongside your clinical work, here are some well-rated options:
Building AI Powered Chatbots Without Programming
Healthcare administrators and clinical informaticists increasingly use AI tools for patient communication and scheduling. This Coursera course (rated 9.7) teaches chatbot deployment without requiring a coding background — applicable to patient-facing digital health tools.
Industrial AI: Predictive Maintenance, Digital Twin & Vision
Rated 9.8 on Udemy, this course is relevant for biomedical equipment technicians and clinical engineers who maintain hospital equipment — predictive maintenance techniques reduce downtime on critical care devices.
How to Redesign Your Job and Business with ChatGPT
A practical Udemy course (rated 9.6) on integrating AI tools into daily workflows — useful for healthcare managers looking to reduce documentation burden and administrative overhead in clinical settings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Red Cross BLS Training
Is Red Cross BLS accepted everywhere AHA BLS is?
At most employers, yes. Both certifications follow the same ILCOR clinical guidelines and are widely accepted across hospitals, clinics, and EMS agencies. A small number of facilities specify AHA BLS in their credentialing requirements — always verify before registering.
Can I complete Red Cross BLS training entirely online?
No. Red Cross BLS requires an in-person skills session with an instructor-evaluated hands-on component. The online portion covers the cognitive content only. Any website offering a purely online Red Cross BLS certification is not issuing a legitimate credential.
How long does Red Cross BLS certification last?
Two years from the date of your skills session. You'll receive a digital and physical certification card with the expiration date. Most employers require an active (non-expired) card on file — plan to renew at least 30–60 days before expiration to avoid scheduling conflicts.
What happens if my BLS certification lapses?
If your certification has expired, you take the full blended course again rather than a shorter renewal pathway. Some employers will allow a brief grace period (usually two weeks to one month) while you complete the renewal, but this varies — check your facility's policy and don't assume you'll get a pass.
How do I find Red Cross BLS training near me?
Go to redcross.org, select "Take a Class," filter for BLS for Healthcare Providers, and enter your zip code. The site shows available skills session dates and locations. You can also call local hospitals, fire stations, or community centers — many host Red Cross-licensed skills sessions that don't appear in the main search results.
Does the Red Cross BLS course include infant CPR?
Yes. Red Cross BLS training covers CPR for adults, children (ages 1 through puberty), and infants (under 1 year). This is a core distinction between BLS and standard adult CPR courses — healthcare providers need to be competent across all patient age groups.
Bottom Line
Red Cross BLS training is a legitimate, nationally recognized path to BLS certification for healthcare providers. The blended format — roughly two hours online followed by a two-hour hands-on skills session — is about as efficient as BLS training gets. Cost runs $60–$90 depending on where you register, and employer-sponsored options often eliminate the out-of-pocket cost entirely.
Before you register, confirm whether your employer specifies a provider. If they're AHA-only, that's a non-negotiable. If they accept any accredited BLS provider, Red Cross qualifies and often offers better scheduling flexibility. Either way, don't wait until the last week before expiration — skills sessions fill up, and showing up on your first shift without a valid card is a preventable problem.
