BLS Renewal & Recertification

Renewing your Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is called BLS recertification. BLS recertification courses are designed to help you refresh your skills, review key concepts and extend your certification for two years.

These courses are intended for individuals whose BLS certification is still current or will expire within 30 days. By completing BLS recertification, you can avoid a lapse in certification and meet job or state/local compliance requirements.

BLS training has been taken by millions of individuals across thousands of healthcare organizations, EMS agencies and the Military Training Network. This evidence-based course includes updated materials, current scientific guidelines, practical teaching tools and opportunities for Continuing Education (CE) credit.

How BLS Recertification Works

To renew your BLS certification, register for a Red Cross BLS recertification course. To get the most value from your class, you should hold an American Red Cross Basic Life Support certification that is current or expired by no more than 30 days.

To see BLS certification or recertification courses available near you, browse our Find a Class page. You can also view available BLS blended courses to explore blended learning options that include the online course and required in-person skills session.

Personalized Approach: You can reduce training time and improve skill mastery by taking the online pre-assessment test. The curriculum is then personalized to your knowledge and level of skill which optimizes your learning and shortens overall course time.

Certification Made Simple. Fast. Easy. Digital.

With BLS recertification classes online and in person, the Red Cross makes maintaining your certification fast, simple and easy. And with Red Cross Digital Certificates you'll get anytime, anywhere access to your certificates; plus the ability to print, share, and download them wherever and whenever you like. Digital certificates can be viewed, printed or shared online and can be accessed anytime through your Red Cross Account. Each certificate includes a unique ID and a QR code which meets employment requirements and allows employers to easily confirm your certificate is valid. Class participants and employers can visit https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/digital-certificate and enter the ID found on the digital certificate (or scan the QR code with a standard QR reader using a smart device) to access a copy of the valid certificate with student training information.

Click here for instructions on accessing your BLS certificate.