BLS Certification in Los Angeles

Most healthcare clinicians and first responders who care for patients need BLS certification. This includes nurses, doctors, EMTs, dental staff, medical assistants and other clinical team members.

Many Los Angeles employers and licensing boards also require you to keep your BLS certification current. Be sure to check regulations for your state and profession.

BLS courses in Los Angeles use team-based training to provide the knowledge and skills to quickly assess, recognize and care for  a cardiac arrest by provide high-quality CPR in single responder or multiple responder situations. Additional skills include the use of a BVM and an AED to optimize adult, child and infant outcomes. This course also covers other life-threatening emergencies including respiratory arrest, drowning, opioid overdose, myocardial infarction, life-threatening bleeding and obstructed airways. Participants are required to demonstrate skill competency during hands-on skills practice and testing scenarios to earn a BLS certificate valid for 2 years.

BLS certification can be completed in one day: instructor-led courses take approximately 4.5 hours, while blended learning options combine 1–2 hours of online coursework with a 2–3 hour in-person skills session. Recertification courses (instructor-led skills refresh followed by an in-person skills session) run about 2.5 hours. A Challenge course (in-person skills evaluation only) takes approximately 1 hour.

BLS certification in Los Angeles is valid for two years and is recognized nationally. Renewing your certification helps you stay updated with the latest guidelines.

At the Red Cross we make earning your BLS certification in Los Angeles simple.

In Person: Led by best-in-class instructors, our in-person courses combine engaging lectures and guided discussions with hands-on skills sessions. It is created for those who learn best in a traditional classroom setting. Our in-person classes prepare you for the written BLS exam, hands-on skills evaluation and team-based scenario assessment through guided instruction, practice and Q&A.

Blended Learning: Using a combination of self-paced, adaptive interactive online BLS instruction and in-person skills sessions, our blended learning program gives you the ability to train on your schedule, improve your clinical decision-making skills, learn the latest science-based protocols, then demonstrate your skills to a certified instructor.

Recertification: This training option allows you to refresh your memory, practice and test your skills with a Red Cross Instructor and stay up to date on the latest techniques. Designed for those whose credentials are still valid but near expiration, our abbreviated training course is designed to take less time and allows you to renew your certification for an additional two years.

Challenge: An accelerated, test-only option designed for experienced participants to prove their knowledge and skills without taking a formal class or didactic session. Participants bypass standard training and head straight to final testing components.

Self-Directed: Similar to a blended learning course, participants first participate in a self-paced, adaptive, interactive online BLS instruction and then complete their skills session using an innovative manikin and tablet combination at a chosen time and location.

While a BLS course and CPR course in Los Angeles both cover resuscitation, there are differences between the two:

Red Cross CPR/AED courses are the foundation of safety training and satisfy OSHA-mandated job requirements and most workplace safety requirements.

A Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) is a more comprehensive certification designed for healthcare clinicians and first responders. While standard CPR teaches laypersons how to sustain life until professionals arrive, BLS covers CPR plus team-based resuscitation and additional life-threatening emergency response. A two-year BLS certification meets competency verification, education, credentialing and privileging requirements for healthcare clinicians in pre-hospital, hospital and post-acute settings.

Basic Life Support (BLS) in Los Angeles is the foundation of resuscitation training for healthcare clinicians including nurses, physicians, emergency medical services (EMS) and other healthcare and public safety personnel.

The Advanced Life Support (ALS) program in Los Angeles builds directly upon BLS skills, focusing on advanced procedures, pharmacology and critical thinking to manage complex emergencies like cardiac arrest, acute coronary syndrome and stroke. Designed for advanced level clinicians, key skills include advanced airway management, IV access, administration of emergency medications, electrical therapies and EKG/ECG interpretation.