I Need BLS for Clinicals—What Do I Need to Do?

Healthcare student completing American Heart Association BLS skills before clinical rotations at a Citywide CPR Verification Station.

If your school told you that you need BLS for clinicals, the first thing to do is confirm the exact certification requirement. Many nursing, medical, and allied-health programs require students to have a current American Heart Association BLS Provider credential before beginning clinical rotations. Do not assume that any CPR certification will satisfy that requirement. … Read more

Can I Renew PALS With Self-Guided Learning?

Healthcare professional completing a PALS Self-Guided Skills Session at a CPR Verification Station.

Yes. American Heart Association PALS can be completed for renewal through Self-Guided Learning, combining self-paced online learning with a hands-on Self-Guided Skills Session at a CPR Verification Station. The American Heart Association calls this Self-Guided PALS pathway HeartCode Complete PALS. It combines comprehensive online learning with hands-on skills practice and testing at a CPR Verification … Read more

Can I Renew ACLS With Self-Guided Learning?

Healthcare professional completing an ACLS Self-Guided Skills Session at a CPR Verification Station.

Yes. Eligible healthcare professionals can complete American Heart Association ACLS training for renewal through an applicable Self-Guided Learning pathway instead of attending a traditional instructor-led classroom course. At Citywide CPR, applicable ACLS training can include required online learning followed by a Self-Guided Skills Session at a CPR Verification Station. During the hands-on portion, you complete … Read more

Can I Renew My BLS Certification With Self-Guided Learning?

Healthcare professional performing CPR on an adult manikin during a Self-Guided BLS Skills Session at a CPR Verification Station.

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 … Read more

What Is a CPR Verification Station? What to Expect During Your Skills Session

Healthcare professional performing CPR on an adult manikin at a CPR Verification Station with a training screen visible

A CPR Verification Station is a technology-guided training setup used to complete applicable hands-on CPR and resuscitation skills without participating in a traditional instructor-led group classroom. At Citywide CPR, Verification Stations are used for Self-Guided Skills Sessions. Participants work directly with training manikins and the station technology while the system provides instructions, audio and visual … Read more

What Is Self-Guided CPR Training? How American Heart Association Self-Guided Learning Works

Healthcare professional performing CPR on an adult manikin during a Self-Guided Skills Session at a CPR Verification Station.

If you’ve been searching for CPR or BLS certification and encountered terms such as Self-Guided Learning, Self-Guided Skills Session, or CPR Verification Station, you may be wondering what they actually mean. Self-Guided CPR Training is a learning format that uses technology to guide participants through applicable hands-on CPR and resuscitation skills rather than relying on … Read more

What CPR Certification Do Nurses Need? BLS, ACLS & PALS Explained

Nurse completing hands-on CPR skills during an American Heart Association training session at Citywide CPR.

What CPR certification do nurses need? For many nursing positions, the starting requirement is American Heart Association BLS Certification, but some nurses may also need ACLS, PALS, or both depending on their employer, department, patient population, and clinical responsibilities. There is no single certification combination that applies to every nurse. A nurse working in an … Read more

Do Medical Assistants Need BLS Certification? What to Know Before You Register

Healthcare professional performing CPR on an adult manikin during an American Heart Association BLS skills session.

If you’re a medical assistant and your employer says you need CPR certification, do not register for just any CPR course until you confirm the exact requirement. Many healthcare employers require medical assistants to maintain American Heart Association BLS Certification, particularly when they provide direct patient care. However, requirements vary by employer, facility, and job … Read more

I Already Completed HeartCode BLS—What Do I Do Next?

Healthcare professional completing an American Heart Association BLS skills session after finishing HeartCode BLS online coursework.

Already completed HeartCode BLS and wondering what to do next? Your next step is generally to complete the corresponding hands-on BLS skills session required for your certification. If you already have the appropriate HeartCode BLS course completion documentation, you may not need to purchase another complete Online + Skills course. Instead, you can look for … Read more

Need BLS Certification ASAP? Here’s the Fastest Way to Complete It

Healthcare professional completing an American Heart Association BLS skills session at a Citywide CPR Verification Station.

Need BLS Certification ASAP? The fastest legitimate path is to first confirm that you need American Heart Association BLS, choose the correct course option, complete any required online coursework immediately, and schedule the earliest convenient hands-on skills appointment. Citywide CPR is an American Heart Association Training Center with Verification Stations at locations nationwide. Instead of … Read more