Both the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Red Cross offer BLS. Whether your program accepts both is up to your program and its clinical sites, so check before you pay for a class.
Programs differ
- AHA only: LSU Health New Orleans nursing requires AHA BLS Provider; Heartsaver or First Aid courses, including the Red Cross's, are not accepted. (source)
- AHA preferred, Red Cross BLS accepted: University of Pittsburgh nursing requires AHA BLS but will accept American Red Cross Basic Life Support. It won't accept AHA Heartsaver. (source)
- Either: Pittsburg State accepts the AHA Health Care Providers course or the Red Cross Rescuer course. (source)
Online-only CPR usually doesn't count
Every AHA BLS option ends with a hands-on skills session; HeartCode BLS is only the online portion. (source) Red Cross blended courses include a required in-person skills session. (source) Pitt and Pittsburg State both say online-only courses aren't accepted. (source)
How long the card lasts
- AHA: valid for two years, through the end of the month the card was issued. (source)
- Red Cross: certification lasts two years. (source)
In the Drug Free Schools portal, programs set CPR to stay valid through the end of the printed month, and students get email and text reminders before it expires. See student help.
Sources
- AHA course card information
- AHA BLS course options
- American Red Cross BLS renewal
- LSU Health New Orleans nursing AHA training
- University of Pittsburgh nursing CPR requirements
- Pittsburg State nursing CPR/AED training
General information from public federal documents and published school policies as of September 2026, not medical or legal advice. Your program and clinical sites set the rules that apply to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is Red Cross BLS accepted for nursing clinicals?
It depends on the program. LSU Health New Orleans accepts only AHA BLS Provider; Pitt and Pittsburg State accept Red Cross BLS or Rescuer courses.
Is online-only CPR accepted?
Usually not. AHA BLS requires a hands-on skills session, and programs like Pitt and Pittsburg State don't accept online-only courses.
When does an AHA BLS card expire?
Two years, through the end of the month it was issued.
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