This is the question we get more than any other. Someone calls, says their employer told them to get CPR certified, and has no idea whether that means BLS Provider or Heartsaver. The two courses cover a lot of the same ground, so the confusion is fair.
Here is the short version, then the detail.
The short answer
BLS Provider is the healthcare version. If you work in a clinical setting or you are in a program that leads to one, this is almost always the one you need.
Heartsaver CPR AED is the version for everyone else. No medical background, no clinical role, no prerequisites.
Who takes BLS Provider
BLS is built for people who will respond as part of a team, with equipment, in a setting where help is already nearby. Nurses, medical assistants, techs, dental staff, therapists, and students in nursing, dental, EMT, and allied health programs typically need it.
The course covers team based resuscitation, ventilation using a barrier device, early AED use, and relief of choking. Because it assumes you will be working alongside other trained responders, it spends time on coordination that the Heartsaver course does not.
You do not have to work in healthcare to take BLS. Some employers outside clinical settings ask for it anyway. If your paperwork says BLS, take BLS.
Who takes Heartsaver CPR AED
Heartsaver is designed for the person who happens to be there when something goes wrong. Babysitters, day care staff, teachers, coaches, personal trainers, police officers, factory and warehouse teams, church volunteers, and parents who simply want to know what to do.
It covers CPR for adults, children, and infants, how to use an AED, and how to help someone who is choking. It is taught for a single rescuer acting alone, which is the situation most people will actually find themselves in.
How to check what you need
Look at the exact wording of the requirement. Employers and schools are usually specific, and the words they use tell you the answer:
- “BLS for Healthcare Providers” or “AHA BLS” means BLS Provider
- “CPR and AED” or “Heartsaver” means Heartsaver CPR AED
- “CPR and First Aid” means you need two certifications, not one
- “American Heart Association” matters. Some employers will not accept cards from other organizations, so check before you book anywhere
If the wording is vague or you are still unsure, call or text us at 815-690-0664 and read it to us. We will tell you which class to book, and if the honest answer is that you should go back and ask your employer, we will tell you that too. It takes a minute and it saves you from sitting through the wrong class.
What both classes have in common
Both are American Heart Association courses. Both are hands-on, meaning you practice on a manikin while an instructor watches and corrects you. Both end with a two year AHA certification card, issued at the end of class.
You can see current pricing and length for both on our class prices page, or book directly on the BLS Provider or Heartsaver CPR AED pages.
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