What to Look Out for When Taking an Online BLS, ACLS, or PALS Course
Online CPR training can be a convenient option for healthcare professionals who need to renew their BLS, ACLS, or PALS certification. However, not every course advertised online is an American Heart Association (AHA) course—and completing an online course does not necessarily mean you have completed all the requirements for an AHA certification.
At Project Heartbeat, we regularly hear from students who have completed an online CPR course and then arrive for a skills verification appointment, only to discover that the course they took is not eligible for AHA skills verification. Knowing what to look for before enrolling can help you avoid this frustrating situation.
Is an Online AHA BLS, ACLS, or PALS Course Legitimate?
Yes—but there is an important distinction.
The American Heart Association offers HeartCode® BLS, HeartCode® ACLS, and HeartCode® PALS, which include an online learning component. These courses are designed to be completed in two parts:
- Online coursework (Part 1) – You complete the educational portion online.
- Hands-on skills practice and verification – You demonstrate the required skills during an in-person session with an AHA Training Center or approved provider.
Completing the online portion alone does not complete the full certification process.
This distinction is important because many websites advertise “online BLS,” “online ACLS,” or “online PALS certification” without clearly explaining whether their course is an official AHA course or whether it includes the required hands-on component.
Look for the American Heart Association Name
If you need an AHA certification, make sure the course you purchase is actually an AHA course.
The AHA’s HeartCode courses are official AHA programs. Other companies may offer CPR or life-support courses that use similar terminology, but that does not mean the resulting certificate is an AHA certification.
Before paying for an online course, look for:
- The American Heart Association name
- The appropriate HeartCode® course name
- Clear information about the required hands-on skills session
- Information about how and where you will complete your skills verification
If you are unsure whether a course is accepted by your employer, school, licensing organization, or clinical program, check with them before purchasing the course.
Be Careful With “100% Online” Certification Claims
One of the biggest red flags is a website advertising BLS, ACLS, or PALS certification as 100% online.
BLS, ACLS, and PALS involve hands-on skills that cannot be adequately demonstrated through an online course alone. An online learning component can teach important concepts and allow you to prepare for the skills portion, but the required hands-on skills must still be completed when the course requires them.
If a website promises that you can receive an AHA BLS, ACLS, or PALS certification entirely online with no hands-on skills verification, take a closer look at what certification you are actually receiving.
Not Every Online CPR Certificate Is an AHA Certificate
There are many online CPR training companies, and their courses may have legitimate educational value. However, a certificate from another organization is not automatically interchangeable with an AHA certification.
This can become a problem when an employer, nursing program, hospital, clinical site, or other organization specifically requires:
- AHA BLS
- AHA ACLS
- AHA PALS
- An AHA HeartCode course with completed skills verification
You may successfully complete an online course and receive a certificate, only to find out later that it does not meet the requirements of the organization requesting your certification.
Check the Requirements Before You Enroll
Before purchasing an online BLS, ACLS, or PALS course, take a few minutes to confirm exactly what your employer or school requires.
Ask:
What organization must issue my certification?
If the requirement specifically says American Heart Association, a certification from another organization may not be accepted.
Is an in-person skills verification required?
For applicable AHA HeartCode courses, you will need to complete the hands-on portion of the course.
Where will I complete my skills verification?
Make sure you know whether the provider offers an in-person skills session and whether it is compatible with the online course you purchased.
Does my employer or school accept this specific course?
When in doubt, ask before purchasing. A few minutes of verification can save you the cost and time of completing a course that does not meet your requirements.
Why This Matters at Project Heartbeat
Project Heartbeat provides AHA skills verification services for students who have completed eligible AHA HeartCode courses.
We regularly have students register for a skills verification appointment after completing an online CPR course, only to discover that the course they completed was not an official AHA HeartCode course and therefore cannot be used for the AHA skills verification process.
Unfortunately, completing the wrong course means the student may need to purchase and complete the correct course before they can finish their certification.
We know this is frustrating for students; it is frustrating for us, too.
The best way to avoid the problem is to verify the course requirements before you purchase an online CPR course.
The Bottom Line: Know What You’re Buying
Online CPR training can be a convenient way to complete the educational portion of your BLS, ACLS, or PALS course. Just make sure you understand exactly what is included.
If you need an AHA certification, look specifically for an official AHA course such as HeartCode BLS, HeartCode ACLS, or HeartCode PALS, and understand that the online portion is only part of the process.
Before you enroll, confirm:
- The course is an official AHA course if an AHA certification is required.
- You are purchasing the correct BLS, ACLS, or PALS course.
- You understand whether an in-person skills verification is required.
- Your employer, school, or clinical program accepts the specific certification.
- You know where and how you will complete the hands-on portion.
Taking a few extra minutes to verify these details can help you avoid paying for a course that ultimately won’t meet your requirements.
Need to complete your AHA skills verification? Project Heartbeat offers convenient AHA skills verification appointments at locations throughout California, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado. Check your online course requirements before scheduling to make sure you have completed an eligible AHA HeartCode course.
