Most people asking how long a CPR class takes are really asking something narrower. Can this fit on a lunch break. Do I have to burn a vacation day. Will I still make my shift at three. The answer depends on which course your paperwork is actually asking for, and the spread is wider than most people expect, from under an hour to most of an afternoon.
Here is the real length of every class, what makes one shorter than another, and how to get it done on a weekday near Volo, Johnsburg, and Spring Grove.
Every Class and How Long It Runs
- BLS Renewal, 45 to 60 minutes, $79. The shortest class on the schedule. It requires a HeartCode Part 1 online completion certificate before you arrive.
- BLS Provider, 90 minutes, $85. The American Heart Association Basic Life Support course, and the one named in most clinical and healthcare requirements. Nothing is required from you beforehand.
- Heartsaver First Aid, 1 to 2 hours, $95. First aid on its own, for employers who ask for first aid specifically.
- Heartsaver CPR AED, 2 to 3 hours, $95. The longest of the standard classes. This is the non healthcare course, for workplaces, coaches, and anyone whose paperwork just says CPR certified.
- Onsite group training, quoted per group. Length depends on the course and the size of the crew, and the training comes to you.
Every one of those ends the same way. You get a two year AHA card issued at the end of class, in your hand before you leave. There is no second appointment and no waiting for something to show up in the mail. Lengths and prices for all of it are listed together on the class prices page.
Why the Renewal Class Is Half the Length
BLS Renewal runs 45 to 60 minutes because the coursework is already behind you. You complete HeartCode Part 1 online on your own time, then come in for the part that cannot be done through a screen. That is the whole reason the in person block is short.
This is also where the shortest class stops being the fastest option. If you have not finished HeartCode Part 1 and do not have the completion certificate, the 45 minute class is not the one you can book yet. BLS Provider at 90 minutes asks nothing of you in advance, so from a standing start it is often the quicker route to a card. Both courses are described on the BLS page.
Build In the Few Minutes That Are Not the Class
The times above are class time. A couple of small things sit on either side of it, and they are worth knowing so your estimate holds up.
- If you are renewing, bring your current card or a photo of it on your phone.
- If you are booking BLS Renewal, bring the HeartCode Part 1 completion certificate.
- Payment is by cash, check, or credit card.
- Your card is issued at the end of class, so plan to stay through the end rather than slipping out early.
None of that adds much time. It is the difference between a class that runs the length it is supposed to and a trip that has to be made twice.
Fitting a Class Into a Weekday Near Volo, Johnsburg, and Spring Grove
Classes run seven days a week, roughly 9:00am to 6:30pm, with weekend classes on request. There is no waiting list. You pick a time and that time is yours, which is the part that makes a 90 minute class genuinely a 90 minute commitment instead of a morning spent waiting on a slot.
Classes are held at 28959 Pilgrims Pass, Lakemoor, IL 60051. That is a short drive from Volo, Johnsburg, and Spring Grove, and also from McHenry, Wauconda, Island Lake, Round Lake, Fox Lake, Grayslake, Crystal Lake, and Woodstock. For most people in those towns, a BLS Renewal plus the drive both ways still comes in well under half a day.
Classes are taught by Ray Mamerow, a certified American Heart Association instructor with more than 30 years in healthcare who has been teaching CPR since 2010. Links4Life holds a 5.0 star rating across 49 Google reviews. There is more on the about page, and students describe how their own classes went on the testimonials page.
One Block of Time for a Whole Crew
If you are the person responsible for getting a team certified, the length question changes shape. Sending eight people out one at a time costs eight separate absences. Onsite group training comes to you anywhere in northern Illinois at group rates quoted per group, so the whole crew is trained in a single block and everyone leaves with a card the same day.
Start a quote on the onsite group training page, or send a headcount and a rough date and get a number back.
When the Deadline Is Tomorrow
Sometimes the question is not how long the class takes but how soon it can happen. Emergency scheduling is $150 and is often available the same day or the next day. It exists for the situation where a requirement turned up with no notice and the date is not moving.
Pick a Time That Actually Works
Book at calendly.com/links4life. If you are not sure which course your employer or program is asking for, and therefore not sure whether you are planning for 45 minutes or three hours, text a photo of the requirement or your old card to 815-690-0664 and get it settled before you book. You can also reach out from the contact page, or compare the Heartsaver CPR AED and Heartsaver First Aid courses first.
Whichever one you book, you walk out of it with a two year card.
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