BLS Skills Only is the hands-on portion of an applicable American Heart Association BLS training pathway for someone who has already completed the appropriate HeartCode BLS online coursework.
If you have already finished HeartCode BLS and still need to complete your hands-on skills, BLS Skills Only may be the correct registration option.
If you have not completed the applicable HeartCode BLS online course, Skills Only is generally not the option you need. You would instead need a course option that includes both the online coursework and the hands-on skills portion.
The distinction is simple:
BLS Online + Skills = you still need the applicable online coursework AND the hands-on skills session.
BLS Skills Only = you already completed the applicable HeartCode BLS coursework and only need the corresponding hands-on skills session.
At Citywide CPR, applicable BLS Skills Only appointments are completed through a hands-on Self-Guided Skills Session at a CPR Verification Station.
What Does “BLS Skills Only” Actually Mean?
“Skills Only” means exactly what the name suggests: you are registering for the hands-on skills portion, not for a complete online-and-hands-on course package.
This option exists because many participants already have access to the online portion of BLS training.
For example, you may have completed HeartCode BLS through:
- Your employer
- A hospital or healthcare organization
- A nursing or healthcare program
- A school
- Another authorized training source
- A separately purchased HeartCode BLS course
Once that applicable online coursework is complete, you still need to complete the corresponding hands-on component when required by the course pathway.
That is where BLS Skills Only comes in.
Who Should Choose BLS Skills Only?
BLS Skills Only is intended for someone who can say:
“I already completed the applicable AHA HeartCode BLS online course. Now I need the hands-on skills portion.”
Typical Skills Only participants may include:
- A nurse whose employer assigned HeartCode BLS online
- A nursing student whose program provided the online coursework
- A medical professional who purchased HeartCode BLS separately
- An employee whose organization handles the online portion internally
- Someone who has an appropriate HeartCode BLS completion certificate but still needs to finish hands-on skills
If that describes your situation, a Skills Only appointment may be the next step.
Do I Need HeartCode BLS Before Booking Skills Only?
Yes, you should have completed the applicable HeartCode BLS online coursework before selecting BLS Skills Only.
Skills Only does not include the online course.
That means a previous BLS card alone is not the same thing as having completed the applicable HeartCode BLS online portion for your current training pathway.
Likewise, completing a different CPR course or an unrelated online CPR program does not automatically make you eligible for BLS Skills Only.
Before registering, confirm that you have the appropriate HeartCode BLS completion documentation.
Is a Current or Expired BLS Card Enough for Skills Only?
No.
This is one of the most common points of confusion.
Skills Only is based on whether you have completed the applicable online coursework, not simply whether you previously held BLS certification.
For example:
You may be renewing BLS and still need Online + Skills because you have not completed the applicable HeartCode BLS course.
Another participant may also be renewing BLS but already has HeartCode BLS completed, so Skills Only may be appropriate for that person.
The fact that both people are “renewing” does not mean they should register for the same option.
What Is the Difference Between BLS Online + Skills and BLS Skills Only?
This is the most important registration distinction to understand.
BLS Online + Skills
Choose Online + Skills when you still need:
- The applicable HeartCode BLS online coursework
- The corresponding hands-on BLS skills session
This option provides the components you still need to complete the applicable training pathway.
BLS Skills Only
Choose Skills Only when you already completed:
- The applicable HeartCode BLS online coursework
and still need:
- The corresponding hands-on BLS skills session
A quick way to decide is:
No HeartCode BLS completion yet? → Online + Skills
HeartCode BLS already completed? → Skills Only may be your next step
You can review Citywide CPR’s American Heart Association BLS Certification options before registering.
Is BLS Skills Only the Same as HeartCode BLS?
No.
They are different parts of the same broader training pathway.
HeartCode BLS is the online learning component.
BLS Skills Only is the corresponding hands-on skills component for participants who already completed the applicable online coursework.
Think of the process this way:
HeartCode BLS online coursework → BLS Skills Only appointment → hands-on skills completion
If your main question is specifically “I already completed HeartCode BLS—what do I do next?”, Citywide CPR also has a dedicated guide covering that situation in more detail.
Is BLS Skills Only Actually Hands-On?
Yes. BLS Skills Only is a hands-on skills session.
It is not another online lesson.
During the appointment, you physically perform applicable BLS skills using training manikins and the Verification Station equipment.
The system guides you through the applicable activities and provides performance feedback while you complete the skills.
So if you are searching for a BLS hands-on skills session, HeartCode BLS skills session, or what some people may refer to as the “BLS Part 2” portion, Skills Only may be the option you are looking for—provided you have already completed the appropriate online coursework.
What Happens During a BLS Skills Only Session?
At Citywide CPR, the hands-on portion is completed as a Self-Guided Skills Session at a CPR Verification Station.
During the session, you interact directly with the training equipment and perform the applicable BLS skills.
The station provides instructions along with audio and visual feedback as you progress.
The process is individualized rather than structured as a traditional group classroom.
You are not simply proving that you finished the online course.
You are demonstrating the required hands-on skills.
What Is a Self-Guided Skills Session?
A Self-Guided Skills Session is a hands-on training experience in which technology guides the participant through applicable skills instead of relying on continuous instructor-led group instruction.
The participant still performs the skills physically.
The “self-guided” part refers to how the session is guided, not to the removal of hands-on practice.
Citywide CPR’s Self-Guided CPR Training resource explains the broader learning format and how applicable BLS, ACLS, and PALS training can use this approach.
What Is a CPR Verification Station?
A CPR Verification Station is the training setup used for applicable Self-Guided Skills Sessions.
It combines training manikins with technology that provides guidance and performance feedback while the participant completes the required skills.
For a BLS Skills Only participant, this is where the hands-on portion of the training takes place.
If you have never used one before, read What Is a CPR Verification Station? What to Expect During Your Skills Session for a more detailed explanation rather than trying to learn the entire Verification Station process from this article.
Does the CPR Verification Station Give Me Feedback?
Yes.
During applicable skills, the system provides audio and visual feedback based on your performance.
That feedback helps you understand whether adjustments are needed while you work through the session.
The purpose is not to eliminate practical skills training. It is to use technology to guide and evaluate the hands-on experience.
Do I Need to Bring My HeartCode BLS Completion Certificate?
You should keep your applicable HeartCode BLS completion documentation available.
Because Skills Only is designed for participants who have already completed the appropriate online coursework, your completion documentation helps establish that you are ready for the hands-on portion.
Do not rely only on an older BLS Provider eCard as proof that the applicable HeartCode online course has been completed.
How Long Is a BLS Skills Only Session?
At Citywide CPR, a Self-Guided BLS Skills Session typically takes around 35 minutes, although individual completion times can vary.
Because a Skills Only participant has already completed the applicable online learning, this appointment focuses specifically on the hands-on component.
The online course itself is not repeated during the Skills Only appointment.
What Happens After I Complete the BLS Skills Session?
Once you have successfully completed the applicable online coursework and all required hands-on skills, the applicable BLS course pathway can be completed.
Citywide CPR provides Same-Day AHA eCards after successful completion of all required course components.
Your AHA BLS Provider eCard can then be used for applicable employment, school, clinical, or credentialing requirements.
If your main concern is specifically how quickly an eCard can be issued, Citywide CPR already has a dedicated article covering same-day BLS eCards, so that topic does not need to be duplicated here.
Can I Use BLS Skills Only for BLS Renewal?
Skills Only can be appropriate during a renewal cycle if you have already completed the applicable HeartCode BLS online coursework.
Being due for renewal by itself does not make someone a Skills Only participant.
That distinction matters:
Renewing + HeartCode completed = Skills Only may be appropriate
Renewing + HeartCode not completed = Online + Skills may be appropriate
For a complete explanation of renewal requirements, refer to Citywide CPR’s dedicated BLS renewal resources rather than treating Skills Only as a synonym for renewal.
What If My BLS Certification Has Already Expired?
An expired card does not change the basic Skills Only distinction.
The key question remains whether you have completed the applicable HeartCode BLS online coursework for the training pathway you are currently completing.
If your primary concern is what to do after a BLS credential has expired, Citywide CPR has a dedicated article addressing expired BLS certification.
This page is specifically about determining whether Skills Only is the correct registration option.
Where Can I Complete a BLS Skills Only Session Near Me?
Citywide CPR offers CPR Verification Stations at locations nationwide.
If you have already completed the appropriate HeartCode BLS online coursework and are searching for:
- BLS Skills Only near me
- BLS skills session near me
- HeartCode BLS skills session
- BLS hands-on skills
- Where can I complete BLS skills?
the next step is to find a convenient Verification Station and select the appropriate BLS Skills Only appointment.
Find a Citywide CPR Verification Station near you:
https://www.citywidecpr.com/locate-us/
You can also review Citywide CPR’s BLS Certification options before registering if you are not certain whether you need Online + Skills or Skills Only.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does BLS Skills Only mean?
BLS Skills Only is the hands-on portion of an applicable American Heart Association BLS training pathway for someone who has already completed the appropriate HeartCode BLS online coursework.
Who should choose BLS Skills Only?
Choose Skills Only if you already completed the applicable HeartCode BLS online course and still need the corresponding hands-on skills session.
Do I need HeartCode BLS before booking Skills Only?
Yes. Skills Only is intended for participants who have already completed the applicable HeartCode BLS online coursework.
Is my old BLS card enough to register for Skills Only?
No. A previous BLS Provider card alone is not the same as completing the applicable HeartCode BLS online course for your current training pathway.
What is the difference between BLS Online + Skills and Skills Only?
Online + Skills is for participants who still need both the applicable online coursework and hands-on session. Skills Only is for participants who already completed HeartCode BLS and need only the corresponding hands-on skills portion.
Is BLS Skills Only a hands-on session?
Yes. Skills Only is specifically the hands-on component. Participants physically perform applicable BLS skills using training manikins and Verification Station equipment.
Is BLS Skills Only the same as HeartCode BLS?
No. HeartCode BLS is the online learning portion. Skills Only is the corresponding hands-on session for eligible participants who have already completed that online coursework.
What happens during a BLS skills session?
You perform applicable BLS skills on training manikins while the CPR Verification Station provides instructions and performance feedback.
What is a Self-Guided Skills Session?
A Self-Guided Skills Session is a hands-on training experience in which technology guides the participant through applicable skills rather than continuous instructor-led group instruction.
What is a CPR Verification Station?
A CPR Verification Station combines training manikins and feedback technology to guide and evaluate applicable hands-on skills during a Self-Guided Skills Session.
Does BLS Skills Only give me my certification?
Skills Only completes the hands-on portion for an eligible participant who has already completed the applicable online coursework. After successful completion of all required course components, Citywide CPR provides the corresponding AHA eCard.
How long does BLS Skills Only take?
At Citywide CPR, a Self-Guided BLS Skills Session typically takes around 35 minutes, although individual completion times can vary.
Can I use Skills Only if I am renewing BLS?
Yes, if you have already completed the applicable HeartCode BLS online coursework. Renewal status alone does not make someone eligible for Skills Only.
Where can I complete BLS Skills Only near me?
Citywide CPR offers Verification Stations at locations nationwide. Confirm that your HeartCode BLS coursework is complete, then use the Citywide CPR location finder to select a convenient hands-on appointment.
Already Completed HeartCode BLS and Need Your Hands-On Skills?
If you have finished the applicable American Heart Association HeartCode BLS coursework and still need the required hands-on portion, BLS Skills Only may be the right next step.
Review the available:
American Heart Association BLS Certification Options
https://www.citywidecpr.com/bls-certification/
Want to understand how Citywide CPR’s technology-guided hands-on sessions work?
Self-Guided CPR Training
https://www.citywidecpr.com/self-guided-cpr-training/
Ready to schedule the hands-on portion?
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 Same-Day AHA eCards.