# BLS vs CPR: What's the Difference and Which Do You Need? > Is BLS the same as CPR? Not exactly. BLS is the AHA CPR and AED course for healthcare providers, adding pulse checks, bag-mask breaths, and team CPR. Source: https://qkchealth.com/resources/bls-vs-cpr/ Last updated: 2026-10-17 Is BLS the same as CPR? Not exactly. BLS (Basic Life Support) is the American Heart Association's CPR and AED course for healthcare professionals and trained first responders. It covers adult, child, and infant CPR and adds pulse checks, bag-mask ventilation, and team resuscitation. Heartsaver CPR AED is the AHA's CPR course for people without medical training. Last updated: October 17, 2026 · Written by QKC Health, an AHA Authorized Training Center · Based on the 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC **What this guide is:** a plain-language comparison of two American Heart Association courses, BLS Provider and Heartsaver CPR AED, based on AHA course information and the 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC. **What it is not:** hands-on training, a certification, or a promise that a specific card will be accepted. Confirm the course and card your employer, school or program, licensing board, or state rules require before you register. ## Is BLS the Same as CPR? BLS includes CPR, but it is a broader course built for clinical and rescue roles. CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is the emergency procedure of chest compressions, with or without rescue breaths, for someone whose heart has stopped beating. The American Heart Association says immediate CPR can double or triple the chance of survival after cardiac arrest. BLS (Basic Life Support) is the name of an AHA course and card. The current course is called BLS Provider, and the card states that the holder completed the AHA Basic Life Support (CPR and AED) Program. In other words, BLS is CPR training designed for healthcare professionals, trained first responders, and students in healthcare training programs. For people without medical training, the AHA's CPR course is Heartsaver CPR AED. It is designed for anyone who needs a CPR AED course completion card for a job or regulatory requirement, or who simply wants to be ready to help. ### Key differences in brief - **Audience:** BLS is for healthcare and rescue roles. Heartsaver CPR AED is for people with little or no medical training. - **Assessment:** BLS rescuers check breathing and a pulse at the same time. Lay rescuers do not check a pulse. - **Teamwork:** BLS trains both single-rescuer and multirescuer team CPR. - **Equipment:** BLS adds bag-mask ventilation to breaths given with a pocket mask. - **Testing:** BLS requires a written exam with an 84% passing score. In Heartsaver, the exam is an optional module. ## What Is the Difference Between BLS and CPR? How the AHA's provider course (BLS Provider) and its lay rescuer CPR course (Heartsaver CPR AED) compare, row by row. **BLS vs CPR at a glance** | Feature | BLS (AHA BLS Provider) | CPR (AHA Heartsaver CPR AED) | | --- | --- | --- | | Who it is for | Healthcare professionals, trained first responders, and students in healthcare training programs | People with little or no medical training, including workplace responders and the general public | | Ages covered | Adult, child, and infant CPR, all required | Adult CPR required; child and infant CPR are optional modules | | Recognizing cardiac arrest | Check breathing and pulse at the same time, for no more than 10 seconds | Check responsiveness and breathing; no pulse check | | Rescuers | Single-rescuer and multirescuer team CPR | Mainly one rescuer acting alone | | Compression-to-breath ratio | 30:2 for adults and for a lone rescuer with a child or infant; 15:2 for two rescuers with a child or infant | 30:2 | | Breaths and ventilation | Pocket mask and bag-mask ventilation; rescue breathing for a patient who has a pulse but is not breathing normally | Breaths with a barrier device such as a CPR pocket mask | | AED use | Yes | Yes | | Choking relief | Adult, child, and infant | Adult required; child and infant optional | | Opioid-associated emergencies | Naloxone step in the 2025 adult BLS algorithm for healthcare professionals | Required topic in Heartsaver CPR AED and the Heartsaver first aid courses | | Other required topics | In-hospital or out-of-hospital scenarios | Heart attack and stroke warning signs; drowning prevention and response | | Written exam | Required; 84% passing score | Optional module | | Hands-on skills test | Required: adult CPR and AED test plus infant CPR test | Required for CPR and AED skills | | First aid included | No | No (Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED adds it) | | Card and validity | BLS Provider eCard, valid 2 years through the end of the Renew By month | Heartsaver CPR AED eCard, valid 2 years through the end of the Renew By month | | AHA course formats | Classroom, blended (HeartCode BLS online plus a skills session), or self-guided (HeartCode Complete) | Classroom, blended (online plus a skills session), or self-guided | Course details summarize AHA course pages and the 2025 AHA Guidelines, listed in the Sources section at the end of this page. Ratios and techniques are shown for comparison only and are not a substitute for hands-on training. ## What BLS and CPR Courses Cover Both courses teach the same core lifesaving skills. BLS goes further for clinical and rescue settings. ### What both courses teach - High-quality chest compressions at 100 to 120 per minute, letting the chest fully recoil - Using an AED as early as possible - Giving breaths with a barrier device - Choking relief for adults ### What BLS adds - Checking breathing and pulse together in 10 seconds or less - Rescue breathing for an adult who has a pulse but is not breathing normally, at 1 breath every 6 seconds - Bag-mask ventilation, including the two-rescuer technique in which one rescuer seals the mask with both hands and the other squeezes the bag - Multirescuer team CPR with defined roles, which the AHA calls High Performance Teams - A 15:2 compression-to-breath ratio when two rescuers care for a child or infant - Choking relief for children and infants, which is optional in Heartsaver - Required adult and infant skills tests and a written exam ### What Heartsaver CPR AED adds Heartsaver CPR AED includes topics aimed at everyday settings: recognizing the warning signs of heart attack and stroke, drowning prevention and response, and responding to opioid-associated emergencies, a required topic in Heartsaver CPR AED and the Heartsaver first aid courses. Child and infant CPR are optional AHA modules. QKC Health's Heartsaver CPR AED class teaches adult, child, and infant CPR along with AED use and choking relief. ### What is BLS (Basic Life Support)? BLS stands for Basic Life Support. In AHA training, BLS certification means holding a current AHA BLS Provider card, which shows you passed the course's hands-on skills tests and written exam. The AHA's single BLS Provider course replaced the older BLS for Healthcare Providers and BLS for Prehospital Providers courses, and it teaches single-rescuer and team BLS for in-hospital and out-of-hospital settings. A job posting that asks for "BLS for Healthcare Providers" may mean the older AHA course name or the American Red Cross course of that name, so check which card your employer accepts. Requirements written as "CPR for healthcare providers" or "healthcare provider CPR" usually mean a BLS course; confirm with the employer or program. ## BLS or CPR: Which Do You Need? Typical choices by role. Your employer, school or program, licensing board, or state rules make the final call. ### Nurses, CNAs, and Hospital Staff Usually BLS. The AHA designs BLS Provider for healthcare professionals who care for patients in a wide variety of settings. See the [BLS Provider class](https://qkchealth.com/classes/bls-provider/). ### Healthcare Students Usually BLS. The AHA includes people enrolled in healthcare training programs in the BLS audience. Nursing, medical, dental, and allied health programs set their own requirements, so check yours. See [BLS certification options](https://qkchealth.com/classes/bls/). ### EMTs, Firefighters, and Police Usually BLS. The AHA says first responders and professional rescuers typically need BLS and should confirm with their employer or licensing authority. ### Dental and Medical Offices Clinical staff usually need BLS, while non-clinical staff may only need a CPR AED card. QKC Health offers on-site BLS and Heartsaver classes for groups of 3 or more. See [healthcare provider training](https://qkchealth.com/classes/healthcare-providers/). ### Workplace Responders Usually Heartsaver CPR AED. For non-healthcare workers who need CPR and AED training for their job, the AHA says Heartsaver CPR AED is probably the best fit. If your role also requires first aid, choose Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED (the full version, which the AHA calls Heartsaver Total and designs for workplace requirements). See [workplace training](https://qkchealth.com/classes/workplace-training/). ### Teachers, Coaches, Childcare Staff, and Parents Usually Heartsaver CPR AED, or Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED when first aid is also required. Child care roles can have specific rules: the AHA designs its Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED course for child care workers, so confirm which course your licensing rules name. See [Heartsaver CPR AED](https://qkchealth.com/classes/heartsaver-cpr-aed/). Confirm the course and card your employer, school or program, licensing board, or state rules require before you register. ## Does BLS Count as CPR Certification? Often yes, with two important exceptions. BLS includes adult, child, and infant CPR and AED skills, so many employers that ask for CPR certification accept a current BLS Provider card. But BLS does not include first aid, and some roles require a specific course (for example, Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED for childcare). Confirm with your employer or program. ### Does BLS include first aid? No. The AHA's BLS courses do not include first aid. First aid is taught in Heartsaver First Aid, Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED, and Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED. If a requirement says CPR and first aid, a BLS card alone will not cover the first aid part. ### Does a CPR card count as BLS? Usually not. Healthcare programs and employers that require BLS generally do not accept a Heartsaver or other lay rescuer CPR card, because BLS covers provider skills such as pulse checks, bag-mask ventilation, and team CPR. Check with your program before you book. ### What about OSHA? OSHA does not certify or approve CPR or first aid courses. OSHA requires adequately trained first-aid personnel in some workplaces (29 CFR 1910.151(b)) and specifically requires CPR training under certain industry standards. AHA designs Heartsaver CPR AED and its other workplace Heartsaver courses, such as the full (Heartsaver Total) version of Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED, to meet OSHA requirements; your employer decides what satisfies its obligations. ## Can You Get BLS or CPR Certified Online? You can do part of the learning online, but every AHA CPR card requires hands-on skills testing. Every AHA course that includes CPR skills requires a hands-on skills session before a card is issued. A course completed entirely online does not produce an AHA CPR or BLS card, and OSHA has stated that online training alone does not meet its first aid and CPR training requirements. The AHA offers BLS three ways, and all three teach the same skills and lead to a BLS Provider eCard valid for two years: - **Classroom:** an instructor-led course with skills practice and testing. - **Blended learning:** HeartCode BLS online, followed by a hands-on skills session with an instructor. HeartCode BLS does not issue a card on its own. - **Self-guided:** HeartCode Complete, finished at an AHA CPR verification station. Its card is labeled HeartCode Complete BLS Provider. Heartsaver CPR AED follows a similar pattern, with classroom, blended, and self-guided options. BLS renewal options are set by each AHA Training Center. To see when your own card runs out and plan your renewal, use the [CPR and BLS renewal planner](https://qkchealth.com/resources/cpr-renewal-planner/). At QKC Health, the BLS Renewal Class is for providers with a current or recently expired BLS certification, and the BLS Skills Session is the in-person skills testing session for healthcare providers who have completed the AHA BLS online course. ## What Changed in the 2025 AHA Guidelines The AHA published the 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC in October 2025. These changes matter for both BLS and CPR students. - **One Chain of Survival.** The 2025 Guidelines use a single, unified Chain of Survival for adults and children, in and out of the hospital, beginning with prevention and preparedness. - **Choking relief starts with back blows.** For an adult or child with severe choking (cannot breathe, speak, or make sounds, or has only a weak cough), the 2025 Guidelines recommend repeated cycles of 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts until the object comes out or the person becomes unresponsive, then CPR. If the rescuer cannot reach around the person's abdomen, or the person is in late pregnancy, they recommend chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts. For infants, they recommend alternating 5 back blows with 5 chest thrusts; abdominal thrusts are not recommended for infants. - **No more two-finger infant compressions.** Infant compressions now use the heel of one hand or the two thumb-encircling hands technique. The two-finger technique is no longer recommended. - **Breaths for children, starting with the 911 call.** For infants and children, CPR with breaths remains the recommendation, and the 2025 Guidelines now direct 911 dispatchers to coach CPR with breaths for children and Hands-Only CPR for adults. Compression-only CPR is reasonable when a rescuer is unable or unwilling to give breaths. The BLS Provider course was updated for these changes, including new algorithms, updated choking protocols, and testing on both infant compression techniques. The AHA stopped issuing 2020-version course cards after February 28, 2026, so a BLS Provider or Heartsaver CPR AED card issued today is a 2025 Guidelines card. A 2020-version card that is still within its Renew By date remains valid. ## Book BLS or CPR Training With QKC Health QKC Health is an AHA Authorized Training Center serving Fairfield County CT, Westchester County NY, and New Jersey. On-site classes are available for groups of 3 or more. ### Heartsaver CPR AED CPR Course Learn adult, child, and infant CPR along with AED use and choking relief. No prior training or medical background is required. $115 per person [View Heartsaver CPR AED Course](https://qkchealth.com/classes/heartsaver-cpr-aed/) ### BLS Provider Class Full Certification Complete AHA BLS Provider course for first-time certification or those without a current BLS card. Covers high-quality CPR, AED use, choking relief, and team-based resuscitation. $95.99 per person [View BLS Provider Course](https://qkchealth.com/classes/bls-provider/) ### BLS Renewal Class Recertification Streamlined renewal course for providers with a current or recently expired BLS certification. $70 per person [View BLS Renewal Course](https://qkchealth.com/classes/bls-renewal/) ### BLS Skills Session Skills Test Only For healthcare providers who have completed the AHA BLS online course and need in-person skills testing. $60 per person [View BLS Skills Course](https://qkchealth.com/classes/bls-skills/) Course details and pricing are on each class page. Not sure which class fits? Use the [CPR course finder](https://qkchealth.com/resources/cpr-course-finder/). To find a class date, call [(212) 548-3284](tel:2125483284) or [request training](https://qkchealth.com/contact/). Looking for CPR classes near you? See [CPR classes and certification](https://qkchealth.com/classes/cpr/). Need CPR and first aid together? See [Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED](https://qkchealth.com/classes/first-aid/). Training a whole team? [Workplace training](https://qkchealth.com/classes/workplace-training/) brings the training equipment to your office or facility for groups of 3 or more. Healthcare teams that need advanced skills can also explore [healthcare provider training](https://qkchealth.com/classes/healthcare-providers/), including ACLS. ## BLS vs CPR: Frequently Asked Questions ### Is BLS the same as CPR? Not exactly. BLS includes CPR, but it is a broader course for healthcare professionals and trained first responders. Along with adult, child, and infant CPR and AED use, BLS teaches pulse checks, bag-mask ventilation, and team resuscitation. Heartsaver CPR AED is the American Heart Association's CPR course for people without medical training. ### Does BLS include CPR? Yes. The BLS Provider card states that the holder completed the AHA Basic Life Support (CPR and AED) Program. The course covers high-quality CPR for adults, children, and infants, AED use, breaths and ventilation, and choking relief. ### Is a BLS certification the same as a CPR certification? A BLS Provider card shows you completed CPR and AED training at the healthcare provider level, so many employers that ask for CPR certification accept it. It is not the same card as Heartsaver CPR AED, and it does not include first aid. Confirm with your employer or program before you register. ### What does BLS stand for, and what is BLS certification? BLS stands for Basic Life Support. In AHA training, BLS refers to the BLS Provider course and card, and BLS certification means holding a current BLS Provider card after passing the course's skills tests and written exam. The course replaced the older BLS for Healthcare Providers course and covers single-rescuer and team CPR in in-hospital and out-of-hospital settings. ### Is BLS a certification or a license? BLS is a course completion card, not a professional license. You receive an AHA BLS Provider eCard after you pass the skills tests and the written exam, and the card shows a Renew By date two years out. Employers and licensing boards may require a current card, but the card itself is proof of training. ### Is BLS the same as CPR and First Aid? No. BLS covers CPR, AED use, and choking relief, but it does not include first aid. If you need both CPR and first aid, the AHA course is usually Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED, or Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED for child care roles. ### Is Heartsaver CPR AED the same as BLS? No. Heartsaver CPR AED is the AHA's CPR and AED course for people with little or no medical training. BLS Provider is for healthcare professionals, trained first responders, and healthcare students, and it adds pulse checks, bag-mask ventilation, team CPR, and a required written exam. Both cards are valid for two years. ### Can I get BLS or CPR certified completely online? No. Every AHA course that includes CPR skills requires a hands-on skills session before a card is issued. With HeartCode BLS you can finish the learning part online, then complete an in-person skills session. OSHA has also stated that online training alone does not meet its first aid and CPR training requirements. ### Do BLS and CPR cards last the same amount of time? Yes. AHA BLS Provider and Heartsaver CPR AED cards are both valid for two years, through the end of the Renew By month. ## Sources This guide summarizes the following official sources. Course details and guideline changes were checked against them on October 17, 2026. 1. [What is CPR](https://cpr.heart.org/en/resources/what-is-cpr), American Heart Association 2. [Basic Life Support (BLS) Training](https://cpr.heart.org/en/cpr-courses-and-kits/healthcare-professional/basic-life-support-bls-training), American Heart Association 3. [BLS Course Options](https://cpr.heart.org/en/courses/basic-life-support-course-options), American Heart Association 4. [2025 Guidelines FAQ: BLS Instructor-Led Training (PDF)](https://cpr.heart.org/en/-/media/CPR-Files/2025-documents-for-cpr-heart-edits-posting/Courses-Kits/2025-Guidelines-FAQ-BLS-ILT.pdf), American Heart Association 5. [2025 Guidelines HeartCode FAQs (PDF)](https://cpr.heart.org/en/-/media/CPR-Files/2025-documents-for-cpr-heart-edits-posting/Courses-Kits/2025-Guidelines-HeartCode-FAQs.pdf), American Heart Association 6. [Heartsaver Courses](https://cpr.heart.org/en/cpr-courses-and-kits/heartsaver), American Heart Association 7. [Heartsaver CPR AED Training](https://cpr.heart.org/en/cpr-courses-and-kits/heartsaver/heartsaver-cpr-aed-training), American Heart Association 8. [Heartsaver Course Topics and Paths (PDF)](https://cpr.heart.org/en/-/media/CPR-Files/2025-documents-for-cpr-heart-edits-posting/Courses-Kits/1_01_Heartsaver_Course_Topics_Paths-%283%29.pdf), American Heart Association 9. [Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Training](https://cpr.heart.org/en/cpr-courses-and-kits/heartsaver/heartsaver-pediatric-training), American Heart Association 10. [Course FAQs](https://cpr.heart.org/en/resources/faqs/course-faqs), American Heart Association 11. [Course Card Information](https://cpr.heart.org/en/resources/course-card-information), American Heart Association 12. [Course Card Reference Guide (PDF)](https://cpr.heart.org/en/-/media/CPR-Files/2025-documents-for-cpr-heart-edits-posting/Resources/KJ1976_CCRG_0926SECURED-%281%29.pdf), American Heart Association 13. [2025 AHA Guidelines, Part 7: Adult Basic Life Support](https://cpr.heart.org/en/resuscitation-science/cpr-and-ecc-guidelines/adult-basic-life-support), American Heart Association 14. [2025 AHA Guidelines, Part 6: Pediatric Basic Life Support](https://cpr.heart.org/en/resuscitation-science/cpr-and-ecc-guidelines/pediatric-basic-life-support), American Heart Association 15. [Highlights of the 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC (PDF)](https://cpr.heart.org/-/media/CPR-Files/2025-documents-for-cpr-heart-edits-posting/Resuscitation-Science/252500_Hghlghts_2025ECCGuidelines.pdf), American Heart Association 16. [Adult BLS Algorithm for Health Care Professionals, 2025 (PDF)](https://cpr.heart.org/-/media/CPR-Files/CPR-Guidelines-Files/2025-Algorithms/Algorithm-BLS-Adult-Healthcare-250701.pdf), American Heart Association 17. [Adult BLS for Lay Rescuers, 2025 (PDF)](https://cpr.heart.org/-/media/CPR-Files/CPR-Guidelines-Files/2025-Algorithms/Algorithm-BLS-Adult-Lay-Rescuer-250514.pdf), American Heart Association 18. [29 CFR 1910.151, Medical Services and First Aid](https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.151), Occupational Safety and Health Administration 19. [OSHA Standard Interpretation, June 19, 2019](https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2019-06-19), Occupational Safety and Health Administration 20. [OSHA Standard Interpretation, February 23, 2023](https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2023-02-23), Occupational Safety and Health Administration 21. [OSHA Standard Interpretation, August 2, 2012](https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2012-08-02), Occupational Safety and Health Administration Last updated: October 17, 2026 ## Ready to Book BLS or CPR Training? If your job or program asks for BLS, book BLS; it includes CPR. If you need a CPR card without medical training, start with Heartsaver CPR AED. Not sure? Check your requirement, then call us with questions. - [Book Training](https://qkchealth.com/contact/) - [Call (212) 548-3284](tel:2125483284) ## Disclaimer **General information only.** This guide is general educational information about American Heart Association (AHA) courses. It is not medical, legal, or OSHA compliance advice. It does not replace hands-on CPR, BLS, or first aid training, and reading it does not certify you in any course. In an emergency, call 911. **Accuracy.** We strive to keep this guide accurate and current, but AHA guidelines, course content, card rules, and certification requirements can change, and we cannot promise that every detail is complete, current, or free of errors. Prices and class details shown here can also change; the price confirmed in writing before your class is the price you pay. **Check the official source.** Before you rely on anything here, confirm course, card, and guideline details with the AHA at [cpr.heart.org](https://cpr.heart.org/), and confirm what you are required to hold with your employer, school or program, licensing board, or state agency. If this guide differs from an official source, follow the official source. You are responsible for confirming which course and card you need before you register. **Spot an error?** If anything on this page, or anywhere on our site, looks incorrect or out of date, please call us at [(212) 548-3284](tel:2125483284) or send us a message through our [contact page](https://qkchealth.com/contact/) so we can review it and update it. **About the AHA.** QKC Health LLC is an AHA Authorized Training Center. This guide is written and published by QKC Health, not by the AHA, and the AHA has not reviewed or endorsed it. The American Heart Association strongly promotes knowledge and proficiency in all AHA courses and has developed instructional materials for this purpose. Use of these materials in an educational course does not represent course sponsorship by the AHA. Any fees charged for such a course, except for a portion of fees needed for AHA course materials, do not represent income to the AHA. **Outside links and terms.** Links to the AHA, OSHA, and other outside websites are provided for convenience. We do not control those sites and are not responsible for their content. Your use of this guide is subject to our [Terms of Service](https://qkchealth.com/terms/), including its Limitation of Liability section and its notices for New Jersey and New York residents. --- Published by QKC Health LLC (https://qkchealth.com/), an American Heart Association Authorized Training Center serving Connecticut, Westchester County NY, and New Jersey. Phone: (212) 548-3284. Book training: https://qkchealth.com/contact/