Project Heartbeat

BLS Certification

BLS Certification2025-12-18T12:12:49-08:00

BLS Certification for Healthcare Providers

In-Person BLS Classes in Oakland & Sacramento plus HeartCode BLS Skills at 40 Locations

Basic Life Support (BLS) training prepares healthcare professionals to recognize and respond to life-threatening emergencies with high-quality CPR, early defibrillation, and effective team communication. Project Heartbeat is an American Heart Association (AHA) Training Center offering BLS certification and renewal in two convenient formats: traditional In-Person classroom courses at our Oakland and Sacramento campuses, and HeartCode blended learning with hands-on skills sessions available at 40 locations across our training network.

Choose Your BLS Training Path

BLS certification is available in two learning modalities.  Both modalities lead to the same AHA BLS Provider eCard, which includes professional-level CPR training.

In-Person Classroom

100% classroom instruction with a live AHA instructor. Available at our Oakland and Sacramento campuses.

HeartCode Self-Guided Learning – Choose from 2 options:

HeartCode BLS Complete

Includes both the online course and the skills check

HeartCode BLS Skills Only

Only for students who already finished the online course through the AHA

In-Person Classroom BLS

(Instructor-Led Training)

Learn BLS entirely in a live classroom with an AHA instructor. Great for hands-on learners or those who prefer direct coaching. Includes evaluation of CPR, AED use, and emergency response skills.

Available at:

  • Oakland Campus
  • Sacramento Campus

Suitable for:

  • First-time BLS students
  • Renewal students
  • Anyone needing instructor guidance

Pricing:

  • Initial: $85
  • Renewal: $80

HeartCode BLS Complete

(Online Course + Skills Check)

This option includes everything you need to earn BLS certification:

  • AHA HeartCode BLS Online Course (Part 1)
  • In-person Skills Check (Part 2)
    Complete the online modules at your own pace, then attend a short skills session at any of our 40+ locations.

Best for:

  • Busy schedules
  • Students who want one package with both parts included

Pricing:

  • HeartCode Complete: $80

HeartCode BLS Skills Only

(Skills Check Only — Online Course Not Included)

Choose this option ONLY if you already completed the AHA HeartCode BLS Online Course (Part 1) on the AHA website or through your employer.

  • In-person Skills Check (Part 2 only)
  • AHA BLS Provider eCard upon completion
    Available at any of our 40 skill verification stations
  • A copy of your completion certificate will be required during registration.

Pricing:

  • HeartCode Skills Only: $50

How HeartCode BLS Works (Online Course + Skills Check)

HeartCode BLS is the American Heart Association’s official blended learning format. It combines online adaptive learning with an in-person skills evaluation to complete your certification.

Part 1 — Online Course (HeartCode BLS)

Complete the AHA’s interactive online modules at your own pace.  The course includes CPR foundations, airway skills, infant CPR, AED operation, and team-based response. The program adapts to your performance, spending more time on topics where you need review.

Part 2 — In-Person Skills Check

After completing Part 1, attend a short hands-on session where you demonstrate compressions, ventilations, and team communication using a manikin with real-time feedback.

What to Expect at a Self-Guided Skills Session?

You will receive real-time CPR feedback during compressions and ventilations. This evaluation satisfies the AHA requirement for BLS certification.  We recommend watching this short video if you are unsure which pathway to choose. It shows what you will see at a self-guided HeartCode Skills session.

Why BLS Training Matters

Basic Life Support (BLS) skills empower healthcare professionals to respond quickly and confidently during life-threatening emergencies. High-quality CPR, early use of an AED, and effective teamwork are proven to double — and sometimes triple — survival rates in cardiac arrest.

BLS training goes beyond basic CPR. Students learn clinical assessment, airway management techniques, and team communication strategies used in real healthcare environments.

Whether completed through an In-Person class or one of our HeartCode BLS blended learning pathways, BLS certification provides the essential foundation for all advanced resuscitation training, including ACLS and PALS.

What You’ll Learn in BLS Training

Every Project Heartbeat BLS course follows the latest 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC. Training includes:

  • High-quality CPR for adults, children, and infants
  • Use of an AED, including troubleshooting and safety
  • Effective single-rescuer and team-based response
  • Recognition of respiratory and cardiac arrest
  • Advanced ventilation techniques with barrier devices
  • Relief of choking for adults, children, and infants
  • Scene safety and rapid assessment
  • Communication and teamwork during resuscitation
  • Written and hands-on skills evaluation

Every training pathway — In-Person, HeartCode Complete, or HeartCode Skills-Only — leads to the same AHA BLS Provider eCard, valid for two years.

Who Should Take BLS Certification?

BLS (Professional CPR) is required or strongly recommended for a wide range of medical and allied health professionals, including:

  • Registered Nurses (RNs) and Nursing Students
  • Medical Assistants (MAs)
  • Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs)
  • Paramedics
  • Physicians and Medical Residents
  • Respiratory Therapists
  • Physical & Occupational Therapists
  • Radiology / Imaging Technicians
  • Dental Professionals
  • Home Health Providers
  • Hospital Technicians and Support Staff

Also Beneficial For:

  • Educators and Coaches
  • Personal Trainers
  • Childcare Providers
  • Community Volunteers
  • Parents and Caregivers

Career Benefits:

  • Meet clinical, employment, or licensing requirements
  • Improve confidence when responding to emergencies
  • Strengthen your resume and clinical competence
  • Prepare for advanced certifications such as ACLS or PALS

Frequently Asked Questions

The CPR Verification Stations use high-fidelity manikins designed to simulate real human chest resistance and provide precise, sensor-based feedback. Because the system measures your performance objectively — not visually — CPR can feel more physically demanding than in a traditional class. This is normal and ensures you meet the AHA standard for real-world high-quality CPR.
For a deeper explanation, see our full guide on station manikins.

AHA BLS certification is valid for two years from the date of completion.
No. All formats lead to the same AHA BLS Provider eCard. The difference is in how the course is delivered, not the final certification.
Most students complete the online course in 1.5–2.5 hours, depending on experience.

CPR classes are designed for the general public. BLS certification is required for medical professionals and includes advanced team-based response skills.

Skills sessions typically take 30–60 minutes.
Yes. Project Heartbeat offers onsite training for groups of 8 or more throughout the Bay Area and Northern California.

Yes. All BLS Provider classes include complete CPR and AED training for adults, children, and infants according to AHA guidelines.

Learn More About BLS Certification

Benefits of Getting BLS Certification for Lay People

March 22nd, 2019|

Basic Life Support, or BLS, training shouldn’t just be dedicated to health care professionals. Many people in other professions, as well as non-working lay people, can benefit from a quick class during which they learn how to provide rescue care and use an AED until emergency personnel arrive on the scene. Are you one of them?

What’s the Difference Between ACLS and BLS Certification?

March 8th, 2019|

Are ACLS and BLS the same thing? The short answer is no; they differ quite a bit – specifically in the level of advancement. So, what is the difference between BLS and ACLS, and which do you need? Read on to find out.

Wanting to Become a Nurse? Know When to Become BLS Certified

February 22nd, 2019|

BLS certifications tell the world that you know how to perform CPR and perform basic life-saving techniques. If you’re planning to get into the health care field yourself, you may be wondering when you should get your certification. Is it best to get it long before you apply for your first job, or should you wait until you are accepted into a position?

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