For nurses, paramedics, EMTs, and allied health professionals in Portland, Beaverton, Oregon City, and Vancouver, WA
In May 2025, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and Legacy Health announced they were ending their proposed merger after an extended period of negotiations and regulatory review. As a result, the two systems continue to operate independently within the Portland–Vancouver healthcare market.The deal would have created the largest health system in the Portland metro area; instead, the systems remain separate. For healthcare professionals in the region, this means the major systems, including OHSU, Legacy Health, Providence, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, and PeaceHealth Southwest, maintain separate credentialing processes and on-boarding requirements.
In a competitive and highly regulated environment, maintaining current and employer-accepted life support credentials remains an essential professional responsibility.
This overview explains:
- What Oregon and Washington generally require for BLS and EMS credentials
- How employer requirements differ from state licensing rules
- How the new AHA Self-Guided Learning™ program fits into current compliance frameworks
- Practical considerations for clinicians working across state lines
This information is provided for general educational purposes only. Always verify current requirements directly with your licensing board and employer.
Click here to learn more about differences between ACLS, BLS, & PALs Certifications
Understanding Credentialing Requirements in Oregon
What Oregon State Requires
Oregon’s credential requirements vary by license type, a distinction that trips up many clinicians who assume the rules are uniform.
EMS Providers (EMR through Paramedic)
Oregon Health Authority’s EMS and Trauma Systems program requires all licensed EMS providers to maintain Healthcare Provider-level BLS with a hands-on skills component under OAR 333-264. Online-only CPR courses do not satisfy this requirement. The credential must include an in-person skills evaluation. EMS providers may be able to claim 4 CAPCE-approved CE credits toward recertification for a qualifying BLS course but only if it includes the practical component. CE eligibility and hour allocation should be verified directly with OHA or through CAPCE documentation where applicable.
Nurses
The Oregon Board of Nursing does not require BLS certification for RN or LPN licensure. However, nearly all acute care hospitals and many outpatient employers in the Portland area require a current AHA BLS course completion card for clinical staff as a condition of employment. In this case, employer policy, rather than state licensure rules, establishes the practical requirement.
Dentists and Dental Hygienists
The Oregon Board of Dentistry requires BLS with a hands-on practical component for initial licensure. For renewal, the Board accepts AHA-approved online renewal courses but explicitly states that fully online CPR courses are not approved for initial certification. The Board publishes a list of approved providers.
Other Licensed Professionals
Oregon’s licensing boards for optometry, chiropractic, physical therapy, and several other professions each require AHA BLS or equivalent with a practical skills component. Oregon’s Board of Optometry publishes a named list of online-only providers it considers ineligible — including several widely marketed online CPR certificate programs. If you hold an Oregon professional license, check your specific board’s requirements before completing any CPR course.
The online-only trap Several popular online-only CPR platforms market themselves aggressively and appear credible. Oregon’s licensing boards have been explicit: fully online courses with no in-person skills component are not accepted for initial licensure and in some cases are not accepted for renewal either. A certificate earned entirely online may look identical to a compliant credential, but will fail an employer or state board audit. If you’re unsure whether a course qualifies, check with your licensing board or confirm that it includes an in-person skills session at an AHA-authorized site. |
Washington State Requirements (for Vancouver-Area Providers)
Healthcare professionals working in Clark County, Washington, including at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center, and Kaiser Permanente facilities, must comply with Washington Department of Health (DOH) regulations.
EMS Providers (EMR through Paramedic)
Washington DOH requires all EMS providers to maintain a Healthcare Provider-level BLS credential with a practical skills component under WAC 246-976. As in Oregon, online-only CPR certificates are not accepted for EMS certification or recertification in Washington.
Nurses and Other Licensed Professionals
Similar to Oregon, Washington’s Nursing Commission does not require BLS certification for licensure. However, employers commonly require current AHA BLS certification for clinical roles. And Washington also allows EMS providers to claim 4 basic CE credits for a qualifying BLS course with a hands-on component.
Always confirm employer-specific requirements prior to renewal.
Working across the Columbia River? Clinicians who hold licenses in both Oregon and Washington, or who take contract or per-diem assignments across the state line, should confirm that their AHA course completion eCard satisfies both states’ employer requirements. In practice, a standard AHA eCard from any authorized pathway is accepted on both sides of the river. The key is that it must indicate a course that included an in-person skills component. |
What Portland / Vancouver’s Major Systems Expect
The five dominant health systems in the Portland–Vancouver metro area each maintain their own credentialing standards. The chart below charts publicly available information about requirements at each system.
This chart is for demonstration purposes only. For accurate and up-to-date information on credential requirements for your position, consult your employer directly.
Credential Expectations by System — Portland/Vancouver Metro Area
* Required upon hire.
º Department specific requirement
^ Preferred /Recommended
| System | BLS | ACLS | PALS |
|---|---|---|---|
| OHSU |
* All clinical staff & nursing students (AHA only; required before or early in program) |
* ED, ICU / critical care, cardiac units, anesthesia, procedural areas
º Med-Surg, telemetry (often required within 90 days) |
* Peds, PICU, pediatric ED, pediatric procedural (Doernbecher)
º General ED (sees peds); L&D / NICU uses NRP instead of PALS ^ Burn Unit (pediatric to geriatric mix) |
| Legacy Health | * All RNs system-wide; AHA required
º HeartCode BLS offered in-house at Legacy Emanuel (AHA training site) |
* ICU, ED, CVICU, cardiac step-down, telemetry, OR/PACU
º ACLS required or within 90 days for L&D RNs ^ Med-Surg (encouraged, may be required by specialty) |
* PICU, Peds Acute Care, Peds ED (Randall Children’s at Emanuel)
º General ED (sees peds) required within 6 mo. ^ NICU uses NRP (not PALS); PALs noted as preferred for NICU travel RNs |
| Providence Health | * All RNs upon hire; AHA BLS required in job postings across other departments | * ED RNs, ICU, CCU, cardiac care, interventional, PACU upon hire
º Med-Surg; BLS only on hire; ACLS within 3-6 months |
* Peds, NICU/PICU (Providence Child Center & St. Vincent peds)
º Providence ED: PALS required within 90 days of hire º L&D; NICU primarily used NRP alongside PALS |
| Kaiser Permanente NW | * All RNs & new-grad residents upon hire; AHA or Red Cross accepted | * ED, ICU, CCU, telemetry, PACU, cardiac; required per Kaiser RN job postings
^ Med-Surg, preferred, may be required depending on unit |
º PEds, PICU, peds ED, ED RNs, ENPC or PALs within 6 months of hire
º L&D / Maternal & Child Health; NRP primary; PALS often alongside |
| PeaceHealth SW (Vancouver, WA) | * All direct-care RNs on hire; AHA standard
º In-house training via Workplace Wellness |
* ED, ICU, CCU, cardiac, interventional, PACU, surgical services
º Trauma unit (Level II trauma center) : ACLS + TNCC ^ Med-Surg (preferred; required by some specialties) |
* Ped units, NICU (WA state NICU RN postings confirm BLS + ACLS + PALS)
º L&D: NRP primary; general ED (treats peds) PALS within 6 mo. º NICU: NRP required; PALS preferred alongside |
Requirements in this table current as of early 2026 based on publicly available job postings and hospital training pages. Requirements vary by unit and role. Always verify directly with your employer or credentialing office.
Important notes: All five systems accept AHA-issued eCards. PALs is standard for Peds/ PICU while NICU across systems requires NRP as primary credential. Specific requirements vary by unit and shift. Always confirm with your current employer.
How Self-Guided Learning™ Fits the Oregon and Washington Requirements
In March 2026, the American Heart Association® and Laerdal Medical launched Self-Guided Learning™ nationwide, a new training pathway combining HeartCode® Complete online coursework with an in-person skills session at a CPR Verification Station™. No instructor is present during the skills session; instead, learners receive real-time, objective performance feedback from the station’s voice-assisted manikin technology.
Read the American Heart Association press release here! The AHA HeartCode® Complete course with an in-person skills verification satisfies the requirements of certification for healthcare professionals in both Oregon and Washington.
At the CPR Verification Station™ learners perform compression and ventilation on a manikin and receive objective feedback on rate, depth, recoil, and hand position. This constitutes the practical skills component required by Oregon OAR 333-264 for EMS licensure and by Washington WAC 246-976. It also satisfies the in-person requirement for the Oregon licensing boards that explicitly disqualify fully online-only courses.
Successful completion results in the same standard AHA course completion eCard issued after instructor-led training.
Self-Guided Learning™ vs. online-only: the distinction that matters Self-Guided Learning™ is not an online-only course. It requires a mandatory in-person skills session at a CPR Verification Station™ learning center. The resulting AHA course completion eCard is equivalent to instructor-led training for all Oregon and Washington employer and licensing purposes. A fully online certificate with no in-person component is not. |
Where to Get Certified in the Portland Metro Area and Clark County
Project Heartbeat is an American Heart Association® Authorized Training Center with four locations serving healthcare professionals across Portland Metro Area and Clark County. All locations offer BLS, ACLS, and PALS Self-Guided Learning™ through CPR Verification Station™ learning centers producing standard AHA course completion eCards accepted by every major employer in the region.
Located in the Nase Building at 1125 SE Madison St, Suite 103D, Portland, OR 97214 — near OHSU Hospital, Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, and Providence Portland Medical Center. Serves healthcare professionals throughout Portland’s central eastside, close-in neighborhoods, and the inner metro. Book now!
Located at 4145 SW Watson Ave, Beaverton, OR — near Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. Serves healthcare professionals in Beaverton, Tigard, Lake Oswego, Hillsboro, and Washington County. Book now!
Located at 704 Main St, Oregon City, OR — near Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente Clackamas Medical Center. Serves healthcare professionals in Oregon City, Clackamas, Milwaukie, Gladstone, and southern Multnomah County. Book now!
Located at 701 NE 136th Ave, Suite 200, Vancouver, WA 98684 — near PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center, and Kaiser Permanente Cascade Park Medical Center. Serves healthcare professionals throughout Clark County, including Vancouver, Battle Ground, Camas, and Washougal. Book now!
All four locations operate CPR Verification Station™ learning centers. Complete HeartCode® Complete online at your own pace, then schedule your in-person skills session at the nearest location. Same-day AHA eCards are available upon successful completion.
Practical Next Steps
If you work in the Portland metro area or Clark County:
- Confirm your employer’s specific requirements. Following the merger collapse, Legacy and OHSU each maintain independent credentialing standards. If you’ve recently changed roles or systems, verify what your new employer accepts before renewing.
- Check your eCard expiration dates now. AHA course completion eCards are valid for two years. A lapsed credential discovered during onboarding or a credentialing audit creates delays that are entirely avoidable.
- Know which state’s rules apply to your license. Oregon and Washington share the AHA standard but have distinct EMS licensing and continuing education frameworks. If you hold licenses in both states, track renewal requirements for each independently.
- Complete BLS, ACLS, and PALS renewals simultaneously when timing allows. All four Project Heartbeat Portland-area locations offer all three credentials. If your ACLS renewal is approaching and your BLS is within six months of expiration, renew both in the same visit.
Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. Credentialing and licensure requirements vary by profession, employer, and state, and are subject to change.
Healthcare professionals should verify current requirements directly with:
- Oregon Health Authority
- Washington Department of Health
- Their specific licensing board
- Their employer’s credentialing department
Always rely on official regulatory sources and employer guidance when making certification decisions.
HeartCode® is a trademark of the American Heart Association.
This post is for informational purposes only. Credential and licensing requirements vary by profession, employer, and state. Always verify current Oregon Health Authority, Washington DOH, and employer requirements directly.
