Before deciding to enroll in a CPR course, it’s important to know that you’re headed in the right direction.
With the stats for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest cases being as high as 300,000 Americans per year — along with the condition being the third-most common cause of death — it’s no surprise that the public is growing serious about being well-versed & trained in the basics of CPR.
Considering that, it isn’t necessary for one course’s training level to align with the professional requirements or personal goals of an individual. This is why different types of CPR certification are making waves all over America. Offered by prestigious training institutions — these courses are authorized by AHA, ARC, or HSI.
So, if you’re searching for what sets these certifications apart, you’re at the right place.
Dive into the details below.
What Are the Different Types of CPR Certification?
To save a child from drowning or resuscitate an individual who almost got flat-lined — it’s indeed a noble cause to be well-practiced in a life-saving skill. It doesn’t really matter if you’re working directly as a BLS Provider or a BLS CPR Instructor. The point remains the same, as you’re actively making an effort to save a life in dire situations.
If you want to take the impact into consideration, it’s there with both courses. However, it’s not possible for both courses to be right for you. As a matter of fact, there are six distinct types of courses you can pick from. These are:
- BLS Renewal
- BLS Skills Session
- CPR AED First Aid
- BLS Instructor
- Heartsaver Instructor
- BLS Provider
Naturally, with so many options around, you’d get curious as to which would be the best CPR certification program for you.
Would a BLS Skills Session suffice for you?
Or… would a CPR AED First Aid better suit your professional and personal goals?
These thoughts might come & go — but it’s important that you understand each & every course before making the choice for yourself.
So, without further ado, it’s better to learn what differentiates the following CPR courses from one another. Take a look at the table below to understand the different types of CPR certification.
Course Title |
The Purpose It Serves |
Who Is It For? |
|
| 1. |
BLS Renewal |
To maintain active certification by updating the 2026 guidelines & skills. | Existing healthcare providers whose certification has expired or is reaching its expiration date. |
| 2. |
BLS Skills Session |
Hands-on checkoff to demonstrate proficiency after online modules. | Those who prefer to learn theory online & need to complete practical, hands-on exams. |
| 3. |
CPR AED First Aid aka Heartsaver |
Teaches emergency response — with high-quality CPR, AED use, and basic first aid for choking/injuries. | Non-healthcare employees — such as coaches, teachers, security personnel, and general community members. |
| 4. |
BLS Instructor |
Trains individuals to teach Basic Life Support & manage courses. | Healthcare providers — such as nurses, paramedics — who wish to become certified educators. |
| 5. |
Heartsaver Instructor |
Qualifies instructors to teach Heartsaver level CPR/AED/First Aid courses. | Professionals authorized to teach CPR to non-healthcare, community staff. |
| 6. |
BLS Provider |
Teaches high-quality CPR, AED use, and advanced techniques to participants. | Healthcare professionals — such as nurses, doctors, dentists, paramedics, and nursing students. |
Depending on what prerequisites you’ve taken before, you can choose the course that best suits you. For example, if you’ve already taken the course of a BLS Provider before, then you’re likely to opt for a BLS Renewal course.
You see, this specific course saves you the need to spend the same amount of hours learning things you’re already well-versed in. Essentially, the Renewal course allows you to renew your credentials in a fairly short window of time.
To better understand the differences, carefully read the next section.
Why Different CPR Certifications Serve Different Purposes
One thing to know about different types of CPR certification is that they’re always tailored to specific roles. Whether it’s a layperson’s safety one needs to be sure of, or follow an advanced healthcare provider’s protocols — there are appropriate training levels for responding to different types of emergencies, for people with different types of backgrounds.
Some Courses Are for Healthcare Professionals…
Individuals who come from a healthcare background have the liberty to choose from a specialized range of CPR certification courses. These are, namely:
- BLS Renewal
- BLS Provider
- BLS Instructor
If you’re from the healthcare sector & already hold a BLS certification, then a BLS Renewal is the right choice for you.
- A BLS Renewal course is a short-term, rapid review course of high-quality CPR.
- It features the right training material for adults, children, and infants, along with AED usage and team dynamics.
- It saves you the hassle of completing foundational BLS training and assesses you according to the most recent AHA framework.
On the other hand, if you take a look at the BLS Provider course, you’ll find that it features the foundational training essential for any BLS CPR provider.
- It covers 1-rescuer and 2-rescuer CPR, AED, high-quality CPR, and choking protocols for victims of all ages.
- As for who this course is ideal for, the right answer lies with professional healthcare providers, such as doctors, nurses, EMTs, dental professionals, and medical students.
Taking this up a notch, you have a BLS Instructor course.
- It gives individuals with a healthcare background the authority to train others in accordance with AHA guidelines.
… While Some Are Best-Suited for Laypeople
There are several types of CPR certification that are best suited for individuals from a non-medical background. Taking that into consideration, it’s obvious that every individual has a certain role to fulfill in the community. Now, this is precisely the reason why there’s a wider variety of CPR certification programs for laypeople.
These are:
- BLS Skills Session
- CPR AED First Aid
- Heartsaver Instructor
You see, when people from different walks of life are able to gain training in essential lifesaving skills — they’re able to increase the literacy rate of individuals well-versed in CPR training.
Taking a BLS Skills Session, for example, is an excellent option for individuals with busy professional lives. Using a blended learning approach with online theory & in-person practical skills, individuals get to learn about compression depth/rate, along with AED application.
On the other side, teachers, coaches, daycare employees, security guards, and the general public can benefit from a CPR AED First AID course, which focuses on basic emergency management for non-medical professionals.
Lastly, a closely related yet different course of a Heartsaver Instructor works best for laypeople wanting to teach CPR to the community, workplace employees, or fellow laypeople.
How to Choose the Best CPR Certification Program for Yourself
Having gone through a detailed overview of each of the courses, you must have formed a vague idea about the direction you need to pursue. Still, a little surety never hurts. To choose the best program for CPR certification, you’ll need to follow a few easy steps — and in no time, you’ll have your answer.
- Step # 1: Identify your current & prospective roles in the community.
- Step # 2: Assess whether you’d rather be a learner, a teacher, or an active lifesaver.
- Step # 3: Determine the status of your current certification (if any).
- Step # 4: Choose your learning method (online or on-site).
- Step # 5: Re-read the guide to all types of CPR courses offered (as mentioned above).
… and that’s it. Finding the right course for yourself isn’t as difficult as it seems. You only need the right knowledge to make the right choice.
Get Certified With the Right Training Provider
It’s one thing to learn about the different types of CPR certification — it’s another to choose the right one for yourself. But when you have training support as strong as a CPR Training Clinic, the journey gets easier for learners & teachers alike.
CPR experts at our training center are proud to have trained over 100,000 Americans, having gained an assurance score as high as 90%. So, if you’ve read, assessed, and settled your mind on the right course for yourself — what are you waiting for?
Get in touch with us today!
FAQs
1. What are the different types of CPR certifications?
There are several types of CPR certifications — primarily depending on the learner’s educational background & the purpose of learning CPR. These are:
- BLS Renewal
- BLS Skills Session
- CPR AED First Aid
- BLS Instructor
- Heartsaver Instructor
- BLS Provider
2. How often should I renew my CPR certification?
Most CPR and BLS certifications are required to be renewed every two years to maintain an active status & ensure compliance with the latest emergency cardiovascular care (ECC) guidelines.
3. Do all types of CPR certification programs serve the same purpose?
No, all CPR certifications do not serve the same purpose. Some courses are for individuals with a healthcare background, whereas the others are for laypeople. Further distinction can be made with the role of the individual & the depth of training.
4. What is the best CPR certification program?
The best CPR certification program is the one that suits your background, goals, and needs the best. If you’re having difficulty making the choice for yourself, feel free to chat with our representatives & they’ll help nudge you in the right direction.
5. Can non-medical individuals take CPR training?
Yes, it’s possible for non-medical individuals to take CPR training — primarily because the courses are designed to be accessible to the general public. The most common courses for laypeople are:
- BLS Skills Session
- CPR AED First Aid
- Heartsaver Instructor
