Yes. You can complete American Heart Association BLS training for renewal through an applicable Self-Guided Learning pathway without sitting through a traditional instructor-led classroom course.
At Citywide CPR, eligible participants can complete the appropriate BLS learning requirements and then attend a Self-Guided Skills Session at a CPR Verification Station for the required hands-on portion.
During the skills session, you physically perform BLS skills on training manikins while the system provides audio and visual instructions and real-time feedback.
After you successfully complete all required course components, Citywide CPR provides your new American Heart Association BLS Provider eCard the same day.
For healthcare professionals trying to renew before an employer deadline, this provides a flexible way to maintain current BLS certification while still completing the required hands-on skills.
How Does Self-Guided BLS Renewal Work?
The exact steps depend on what you have already completed.
For many participants renewing BLS, the process looks like this:
Choose the appropriate BLS option → Complete any required online learning → Attend a Self-Guided Skills Session → Successfully complete the hands-on requirements → Receive your new AHA BLS Provider eCard
Instead of attending a scheduled group classroom, the applicable hands-on portion takes place individually at a Citywide CPR CPR Verification Station.
The station guides you through the required skills and provides feedback while you perform them.
If this is your first time using this type of equipment, our guide What Is a CPR Verification Station? explains how the technology-guided hands-on experience works in more detail.
Do I Have to Take the Entire BLS Course Again to Renew?
What you need to complete depends on the course pathway you are using and whether you have already completed applicable online coursework.
This is where the distinction between Online + Skills and Skills Only becomes important.
You should not automatically purchase a full Online + Skills course if you already have the appropriate online coursework completed. At the same time, you should not register for Skills Only unless you have completed the applicable online component needed for that option.
The goal is to select the training option that matches what you have already completed and what is still required.
What Is BLS Online + Skills?
BLS Online + Skills is appropriate when you need both the applicable online learning component and the hands-on skills portion.
With this option, you complete the required online education first.
Then you attend your scheduled Citywide CPR Self-Guided Skills Session and demonstrate the required hands-on BLS skills at the Verification Station.
The overall process is:
Online learning + hands-on Self-Guided Skills Session = completion of the applicable BLS pathway
This can be a convenient choice for someone whose BLS is approaching expiration and who has not already completed the required online course.
What Is BLS Skills Only?
Skills Only is designed for participants who have already completed the appropriate online learning and still need the corresponding hands-on skills session.
For example, your employer, school, or another organization may have already provided access to an appropriate HeartCode BLS online course.
If you have completed that online component, you may not need to purchase it again.
Instead, you may be able to register for the appropriate BLS Skills Only option and complete the required hands-on portion at a Citywide CPR Verification Station.
Before registering, confirm that the online course you completed corresponds with the skills session you need.
What If I Already Completed HeartCode BLS?
If you have already completed the appropriate HeartCode BLS online coursework, your next step may be the hands-on skills portion rather than starting the entire process over.
Save your course completion documentation and determine whether Skills Only is the correct Citywide CPR option.
You would then attend a Self-Guided Skills Session and complete the applicable hands-on requirements.
This distinction can save you from purchasing online coursework you have already completed.
However, completing HeartCode BLS online learning alone should not automatically be treated as completion of the entire BLS certification process when a corresponding hands-on skills session is still required.
Is a Self-Guided BLS Renewal Actually Hands-On?
Yes.
Self-Guided does not mean online-only.
During the applicable skills session, you physically perform BLS skills on training manikins.
The Verification Station technology guides you through the experience and evaluates applicable aspects of your performance.
That means BLS renewal through Self-Guided Learning still includes the practical component healthcare professionals expect from BLS training.
The difference is the delivery format:
Traditional BLS: an instructor guides a classroom or group through the hands-on portion.
Self-Guided BLS: the Verification Station technology guides you individually through the applicable hands-on skills.
What Happens at a CPR Verification Station During BLS Renewal?
When you arrive for your scheduled BLS appointment, you access the Verification Station and begin the applicable Self-Guided Skills Session.
The system guides you through the required activities while you perform the skills on the training equipment.
During the session, the technology provides audio and visual feedback based on your performance.
If an applicable skill needs improvement, the feedback helps you understand what needs to change so you can adjust as you work through the session.
You are not simply watching instructional content or answering questions on a computer.
You are actively demonstrating the required hands-on BLS skills.
For a more detailed walkthrough of the experience, read What Is a CPR Verification Station? What to Expect During Your Skills Session.
Does the Verification Station Give Me Feedback While I Practice?
Yes.
Real-time feedback is one of the defining features of the Self-Guided Skills experience.
The system evaluates applicable parts of your hands-on performance and provides audio and visual guidance as you progress.
This helps create an individualized learning experience rather than requiring every participant to move through skills at the pace of a group classroom.
The technology is there to guide you—not to remove the requirement to demonstrate the skill.
How Long Does a Self-Guided BLS Skills Session Take?
At Citywide CPR, a Self-Guided BLS Skills Session typically takes around 35 minutes to complete.
Actual time can vary depending on the participant and how the session progresses.
For someone renewing BLS, this can be particularly useful because the hands-on portion can fit more easily around a healthcare work schedule than a traditional group classroom session.
Remember that this timing refers to the Self-Guided Skills Session itself. If your course includes online learning, the online portion is completed separately.
Is Self-Guided BLS an American Heart Association Certification?
When you complete the appropriate American Heart Association BLS pathway through Citywide CPR and successfully meet all required course components, you receive an American Heart Association BLS Provider eCard.
The Self-Guided format describes how the applicable training and hands-on skills are delivered.
It does not mean you receive a separate “self-guided” certification card.
Healthcare professionals who successfully complete the applicable BLS requirements receive the corresponding AHA BLS Provider credential.
When Will I Receive My New BLS eCard?
Citywide CPR provides Same-Day AHA eCards after successful completion of all required course components.
That can be especially helpful if your renewal is connected to an approaching:
- Employer credentialing deadline
- Work requirement
- New-job start date
- Clinical deadline
- Certification expiration
You must still successfully complete all applicable requirements before the eCard can be issued.
Once completed, your new AHA BLS Provider eCard can be provided to your employer, school, or credentialing department as needed.
Can I Renew My BLS Before It Expires?
Yes—and completing your training before your current credential expires can help prevent unnecessary problems with employer credentialing.
Healthcare professionals should monitor their BLS expiration dates and schedule renewal with enough time to complete any required online learning and hands-on skills.
Waiting until the final day can create avoidable stress, especially when your employer requires a current credential to work.
If your expiration date is approaching, review the available American Heart Association BLS Certification options and choose the one that matches what you need to complete.
What If My BLS Certification Already Expired?
If your BLS has already expired, begin the appropriate certification process as soon as possible.
Do not assume that your employer automatically provides a grace period for an expired credential.
Whether you can continue working while your BLS is expired is determined by your employer or other credentialing organization.
Self-Guided Learning can provide a flexible pathway for completing applicable BLS training, but it does not change your employer’s policies regarding expired credentials.
Can I Use Self-Guided BLS Renewal for My Healthcare Job?
If your employer requires a current American Heart Association BLS Provider credential, the important question is whether the training pathway you choose produces that required credential.
After successful completion of the applicable American Heart Association BLS requirements through Citywide CPR, participants receive the corresponding AHA BLS Provider eCard.
Healthcare professionals should still follow any specific instructions provided by their employer.
If your employer lists a particular training organization, course, or credential requirement, verify that requirement before registering.
Is Self-Guided BLS Renewal Good for Healthcare Professionals With Busy Schedules?
Flexibility is one of the major reasons Self-Guided Learning can be attractive to healthcare professionals.
Instead of arranging your schedule around a traditional group classroom, you can complete applicable online learning separately and schedule an individual hands-on session at a Verification Station.
That can make renewal easier to coordinate around:
- Hospital shifts
- Clinic schedules
- Patient appointments
- Clinical rotations
- School
- On-call schedules
- Approaching certification deadlines
You still complete the required hands-on skills, but the training format can make the process easier to fit into a demanding schedule.
Where Can I Find a Self-Guided BLS Renewal Near Me?
Citywide CPR offers CPR Verification Stations at locations nationwide.
If you’re searching for:
BLS renewal near me
Self-Guided BLS near me
AHA BLS renewal near me
or
CPR Verification Station near me
start by determining whether you need Online + Skills or Skills Only.
Then use the Citywide CPR location finder to find a convenient Verification Station and available appointment options.
Find a Citywide CPR Verification Station near you:
https://www.citywidecpr.com/locate-us/
You can also learn more about the overall training model through Citywide CPR’s Self-Guided CPR Training resource.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I renew my BLS certification with Self-Guided Learning?
Yes. Eligible participants can complete the appropriate American Heart Association BLS training pathway using online learning when applicable and a hands-on Self-Guided Skills Session at a CPR Verification Station.
How does Self-Guided BLS renewal work?
Depending on your course option, you complete the applicable online learning and then attend a Self-Guided Skills Session to demonstrate required hands-on BLS skills. After successful completion of all required components, Citywide CPR provides your AHA BLS Provider eCard.
Do I have to take the entire BLS course again to renew?
Not necessarily in the sense of purchasing the same components twice. If you have already completed the appropriate online learning, a Skills Only option may be appropriate. Otherwise, Online + Skills may provide both components you need.
What is the difference between Online + Skills and Skills Only?
Online + Skills includes the applicable online learning and hands-on skills components. Skills Only is intended for participants who have already completed the appropriate online coursework and still need the corresponding hands-on skills session.
What if I already completed HeartCode BLS?
If you completed the appropriate HeartCode BLS online course, you may only need the corresponding hands-on skills portion. Confirm that your course completion matches the Skills Only option before registering.
Is Self-Guided BLS renewal hands-on?
Yes. Participants physically perform applicable BLS skills on training manikins during the Self-Guided Skills Session.
What is a CPR Verification Station?
A CPR Verification Station uses training manikins and technology to guide participants through applicable hands-on skills and provide performance feedback during a Self-Guided Skills Session.
Does the Verification Station give real-time feedback?
Yes. The technology provides audio and visual feedback during applicable BLS skills so participants can adjust their performance as they progress through the session.
How long does a Self-Guided BLS Skills Session take?
At Citywide CPR, a Self-Guided BLS Skills Session typically takes around 35 minutes, although individual completion times can vary.
When do I receive my new AHA BLS Provider eCard?
Citywide CPR provides Same-Day AHA eCards after successful completion of all required course components.
Can I use Self-Guided BLS renewal for my healthcare job?
If your employer requires the AHA BLS Provider credential produced by the applicable course pathway, Self-Guided Learning can provide a flexible way to complete the required training. Always follow your employer’s specific credential requirements.
What happens if my BLS already expired?
Begin the appropriate BLS training process promptly. Your employer determines whether an expired credential affects your ability to work; do not assume there is an automatic grace period.
Where can I renew BLS through Self-Guided Learning near me?
Citywide CPR offers Verification Stations at locations nationwide. Use the Citywide CPR location finder to identify a convenient location and review the appropriate BLS course options.
Ready to Renew Your American Heart Association BLS Certification?
Citywide CPR makes it easier for healthcare professionals to complete BLS training through flexible Self-Guided Learning options.
Start by reviewing:
American Heart Association BLS Certification
https://www.citywidecpr.com/bls-certification/
Want to understand more about the Self-Guided training format?
Self-Guided CPR Training
https://www.citywidecpr.com/self-guided-cpr-training/
Already know which course option you need?
Find a Citywide CPR Verification Station Near You
https://www.citywidecpr.com/locate-us/
After successful completion of all required course components, Citywide CPR provides your AHA BLS Provider eCard the same day.