Is BLS the Same as CPR?
Yes! BLS is CPR certification for healthcare professionals.
One of the most common questions we hear is:
“If I take the BLS course, will I get my CPR certification?” YES!
If you work in healthcare or are starting your clinincal rotation, the BLS Provider course is the CPR certification you will typically need.
BLS stands for Basic Life Support. It includes CPR for adults, children, and infants, along with AED use, choking response, rescue breathing, and other skills healthcare professionals need during a cardiac or respiratory emergency.
So why isn't the class just called CPR?
Because healthcare professionals need to know more than how to perform chest compressions.
BLS teaches you how to identify an emergency, begin high-quality CPR, provide effective breaths, use an AED, assist with ventilation using a bag-mask device, respond to choking, and work as team with other healthcare providers.
Think of it this way:
CPR is a major part of BLS.
BLS is CPR plus the additional skills expected of a healthcare professional.
Who Needs BLS CPR Certification?
If your school, clinical program, employer, hospital, dental office, medical practice, or healthcare facility tells you that you need CPR certification for healthcare providers, they are commonly referring to a BLS Provider certification.
BLS is commonly required for:
Nursing students and nurses
Respiratory therapists
Physical therapists and physical therapy students
Occupational therapists
Speech-language pathology professionals and students
Radiology and imaging professionals
Sonographers
Medical assistants
Nursing assistants
Dental hygienists
Dentists
Physicians
EMTs and other healthcare professionals
If your requirement says “BLS,” “BLS Provider,” “CPR for Healthcare Providers,” or “AHA BLS,” this is the type of course you are looking for.
Is BLS Different From a Regular CPR Class?
Yes.
A community CPR course is generally designed for people who do not work in healthcare.
A BLS Provider course is designed specifically for healthcare professionals and students entering healthcare and clinical environments.
Both courses teach lifesaving CPR skills, but BLS uses healthcare terminology and includes skills and scenarios that are more relevant to clinical care.
Why Take BLS in a Classroom?
CPR rarely happens exactly like a textbook scenario.
Someone may vomit during CPR. An airway may become difficult to manage. A second rescuer may arrive. Equipment may become available. A person's condition may suddenly change.
Those are the questions students ask us in class.
For example, a student recently asked:
“What happens if the person vomits while I'm doing CPR?”
That is an excellent question — and it is exactly why hands-on in-person training matters.
During an in-person BLS class, you can stop, ask questions, practice the skill, understand why you are doing it, and learn how to adjust when a real emergency does not happen exactly as expected.
Watching an online module can teach information.
Practicing with an instructor helps you learn how to respond.
Our BLS Classes Are In Person
At Active Assist HCS, our BLS Provider classes are taught in person with hands-on practice.
You will practice CPR for:
Adults • Children • Infants
You will also practice:
AED Use • Choking Response • Rescue Breathing • Bag-Mask Ventilation • Team-Based CPR
Our goal is not simply to help you complete a certification requirement.
We want you to understand what to do when someone actually needs your help.
Frequently Asked Question
“When I take the BLS course, will I get my CPR certification?”
Yes. If you need CPR certification for a healthcare or clinical setting, the BLS Provider course is the CPR certification you will typically need.
Instead of receiving a card that simply says “CPR,” you receive your BLS Provider certification, showing that you completed CPR and Basic Life Support training designed for healthcare professionals.
Need BLS for School, Clinicals, or Work?
Take your in-person BLS Provider course in Turnersville, New Jersey with hands-on instruction and an opportunity to ask questions throughout the class.
Register for an upcoming BLS class today.
