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How do I get BLS Certification Online?

Kathleen Strecker
Kathleen Strecker

Basic life support (BLS) certification is available through many websites, and it generally is inexpensive. Course content can range from basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills to comprehensive BLS, including adult and pediatric CPR, automatic external defibrillator (AED) training and instruction in bloodborne pathogens and first aid. To get BLS certification online, it is best to research the organizations providing the online training and choose one that is reputable or accredited and will provide you with certification that will be recognized or accepted by most employers and other organizations.

BLS certification is required for healthcare providers such as physicians, nurses, paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and it is open to anyone who desires training in emergency care or pre-hospital care. Other professions, such as lifeguards, police officers and teachers, might require CPR or first aid certification or AED training. BLS certification online courses are designed to provide all of the cognitive content that is found in a traditional classroom program.

There are three main types of BLS certification online courses. In one type, applicants take a free CPR course over a website and then take a free exam. After passing the exam, applicants pay for a certificate that they can print out.

CPR is a basic part of BLS certification.
CPR is a basic part of BLS certification.

Another type of BLS certification online course charges a fee for an online course. Once applicants pass the online exam, they can print out a certificate. A third type charges a fee for an online course. Once the applicants pass an online exam, they receive a printable certificate which allows them to schedule a hands-on skills evaluation with a certified instructor.

BLS students will be tested on their ability to use automated external defibrillators.
BLS students will be tested on their ability to use automated external defibrillators.

There are benefits of using an online course for BLS training. Courses are easy to sign up for and easy to use. The online course and optional skills evaluation take the place of a four- to eight-hour class. Users can take the course at their own pace, according to their own schedule, and online course providers often help users locate a local skills testing center.

First responders often perform BLS while still on the scene of an accident.
First responders often perform BLS while still on the scene of an accident.

The drawbacks of getting BLS certification online include the wide variance in training methods and quality from one online provider to another. Certificates issued by some online BLS training sites might not be accepted by some employers, and users might elect to skim through the training. Some sites might allow them to re-take the tests as many times as they wish until they pass.

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    • CPR is a basic part of BLS certification.
      By: Miriam Dörr
      CPR is a basic part of BLS certification.
    • BLS students will be tested on their ability to use automated external defibrillators.
      By: Renewer
      BLS students will be tested on their ability to use automated external defibrillators.
    • First responders often perform BLS while still on the scene of an accident.
      By: corepics
      First responders often perform BLS while still on the scene of an accident.