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How to renew your BLS card

Last updated: · Last verified: · Changelog · Trust editorial

BLS provider cards last two years and expire at the end of the issuing month. Renew before expiration with a classroom course or HeartCode BLS plus an in-person skills session — there is no grace period and no legitimate online-only card. AHA is the hospital default, and the training center sets the fee.

Renewal checklist
One-page printable summary — save as PDF from the print dialog.
How to renew your BLS card
American Heart Association · gettrustapp.com/renew/national/bls
BLS provider cards last two years and expire at the end of the issuing month. Renew before expiration with a classroom course or HeartCode BLS plus an in-person skills session — there is no grace period and no legitimate online-only card. AHA is the hospital default, and the training center sets the fee.
At a glance
Cycle
2 years — valid through the end of the issuing month
Formats
Classroom renewal (~4 hours) or HeartCode BLS online + in-person skills
Cost
Not a board fee — the training center sets the price
Issuers
AHA (hospital default) or American Red Cross — your employer's list wins
Grace period
None. Expired means the full course
Find a class
atlas.heart.org
Claim eCards
ecards.heart.org
Steps
  1. Read the expiration month on the card
    AHA cards are valid through the end of the month printed on them — not the day you took the class. Check your eCard or your Trust card.
  2. Confirm which issuer your employer accepts
    AHA is the hospital default; American Red Cross BLS is accepted by many employers but not all. The employer list wins, and a Red Cross card may not satisfy the prerequisite for an AHA ACLS or PALS renewal course.
  3. Book a class before the card expires
    Use atlas.heart.org to find an AHA training center. Choose a classroom renewal (about 4 hours) or HeartCode BLS — online cognitive work plus an in-person skills session.
  4. Complete the hands-on skills check
    There is no legitimate 100% online BLS card. HeartCode still requires a skills session with an instructor or a voice-assisted manikin station.
  5. Claim your eCard
    Claim it at ecards.heart.org within days of the course. An unclaimed eCard cannot be verified by an employer.
  6. Save the PDF to Trust
    Download the eCard PDF and store it on-device so the next badge check or travel-assignment packet takes two taps.
Add this credential to Trust
https://gettrustapp.com/add?v=1&type=bls&name=BLS+renewal&board=American+Heart+Association&guide=https%3A%2F%2Fgettrustapp.com%2Frenew%2Fnational%2Fbls
Trust · Reviewed July 2026 · Verify current requirements at the board's official portal before renewing.
At a glance
Cycle
2 years — valid through the end of the issuing month
Formats
Classroom renewal (~4 hours) or HeartCode BLS online + in-person skills
Cost
Not a board fee — the training center sets the price
Issuers
AHA (hospital default) or American Red Cross — your employer's list wins
Grace period
None. Expired means the full course
Find a class
atlas.heart.org
Claim eCards
ecards.heart.org
Add to Trust
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Requirements

A BLS provider card is valid for two years and expires at the end of the month printed on it. That month-end detail is where people lose a card they thought they had two more weeks of.

Classroom or HeartCode. A classroom renewal runs about four hours. HeartCode BLS splits the cognitive portion online but still requires an in-person skills session. There is no valid online-only pathway.

Issuer matters. AHA is the default in most hospitals. The American Red Cross issues an equivalent BLS credential that many employers accept — but not all, and an AHA training center may not accept a Red Cross card as the prerequisite for an AHA ACLS or PALS Update Course. Confirm before you book.

Claim the eCard. An AHA eCard has to be claimed by you before anyone can verify it. Employers look it up on ecards.heart.org, so an unclaimed card is functionally no card.

How to renew, step by step

  1. 01
    Read the expiration month on the card
    AHA cards are valid through the end of the month printed on them — not the day you took the class. Check your eCard or your Trust card.
  2. 02
    Confirm which issuer your employer accepts
    AHA is the hospital default; American Red Cross BLS is accepted by many employers but not all. The employer list wins, and a Red Cross card may not satisfy the prerequisite for an AHA ACLS or PALS renewal course.
  3. 03
    Book a class before the card expires
    Use atlas.heart.org to find an AHA training center. Choose a classroom renewal (about 4 hours) or HeartCode BLS — online cognitive work plus an in-person skills session.
  4. 04
    Complete the hands-on skills check
    There is no legitimate 100% online BLS card. HeartCode still requires a skills session with an instructor or a voice-assisted manikin station.
  5. 05
    Claim your eCard
    Claim it at ecards.heart.org within days of the course. An unclaimed eCard cannot be verified by an employer.
  6. 06
    Save the PDF to Trust
    Download the eCard PDF and store it on-device so the next badge check or travel-assignment packet takes two taps.

If you're late

There is no grace period. An expired card means the full provider course rather than a renewal course, at a higher price and a longer day.

The bigger cost is the cascade: a lapsed BLS commonly blocks ACLS and PALS Update Course eligibility, so one missed month-end can turn into three full courses and a scheduling problem in any role where those cards are a condition of working.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a grace period after my BLS expires?
No. The old AHA 30-day grace practice was discontinued. Once the issuing month ends, the card is expired and you take a full course.
Can I get a BLS card entirely online?
No legitimate one. Any provider selling an instant online-only BLS card is not issuing an AHA or Red Cross provider card, and hospitals reject them. HeartCode is online plus a required skills session.
What does BLS renewal cost?
There is no board fee — the training center sets the price, and it varies widely by region and format. Ask the center you book with rather than trusting a national figure.
Does BLS count toward my RN continuing education?
It depends on your board. California's BRN excludes BLS/CPR from CE credit; other states may allow it if the provider issues contact hours. Check your state guide.
Do EMS providers still need a BLS card for NREMT recertification?
No. NREMT Motion 24-04 removed the BLS CPR card requirement for recertification, so the National Registry no longer asks for one. Employers, state EMS offices, and hospitals frequently still require a current card, so most medics keep it anyway. See the NREMT paramedic recertification guide for the current checklist.
Why does a lapsed BLS card matter so much?
Because it cascades. Most training centers expect a current BLS card at ACLS and PALS check-in, and a lapsed BLS typically blocks Update Course eligibility — one missed month-end becomes three full courses.

Changelog

Every revision to this guide, newest first. Last updated .

  1. Reviewed and verified requirements, fees, and deadlines against American Heart Association sources.

Trust tracks this renewal for you.

BLS quietly gates ACLS, PALS, NREMT, and most employer privileging. Trust reminds you 90 days out — the actual booking window — and keeps the eCard PDF on-device for the next badge check.

Add to Trust
Text it to myself

On your iPhone. We never see it.

Or get Trust on the App Store

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