How are BLS, CPR and CPRFAAED courses different?

Written by William Entriken

BLS, CPR/AED, and CPR/first aid/AED certifications teach overlapping life-saving skills but are designed for different audiences and workplaces.

Which course should you take?

• Choose CPRFAAED if you work in childcare, schools, coaching, or a non-medical workplace that asks for CPR, AED, and first aid.
• Choose BLS if you are a healthcare provider or student who needs a healthcare-provider card and team-based resuscitation skills.
• Choose CPRAED if you need a shorter CPR + AED option without first aid content (when accepted by your employer).

flowchart TD
  A[Which certification do you need?] --> B{Where will you use the training?}
  B -->|Hospital or healthcare job| C[BLS certification]
  B -->|School, workplace, childcare| D[CPR, first aid, AED certification]
  B -->|Not sure| E{Does the requirement mention first aid?}
  E -->|Yes| D
  E -->|No| F[CPR, AED certification]
  C --> G[Healthcare team response training]

Definitions used

The terms on this page follow nationally recognized training frameworks:

• BLS teaches immediate, foundational resuscitation skills: high-quality CPR, ventilations, and early AED use, with an emphasis on team dynamics in clinical settings. See the AHA BLS course description.
• CPR refers to the core skill of chest compressions and rescue breaths used to maintain circulation during cardiac arrest.
• AED is a portable device that analyzes heart rhythm and delivers a shock to restore normal rhythm when needed.
• First aid covers basic medical care for injuries, illnesses, choking, burns, and allergic reactions.

In most training systems, BLS focuses on high-quality CPR, ventilation skills, and early AED use in prehospital and in-facility settings. First aid is usually a separate course. Our catalog bundles these skills differently depending on the product you choose.

Three courses

We offer three courses that cover overlapping skills at different levels. These courses exist because different jobs require different levels of emergency response training. Healthcare providers work in teams and use specialized equipment, while workplace responders or teachers are usually individual rescuers who need simpler protocols.

Basic life support (BLS)

For healthcare providers

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation & automated external defibrillator (CPRAED)

CPR + AED without first aid

Adult, child, & infant CPR, first aid & AED (CPRFAAED)

For childcare, schools, and non-medical professionals

How the skills build on each other

flowchart BT
  A[CPR skills] --> B[BLS for healthcare providers]
  A --> C[CPR and AED training]
  C --> D[CPR, first aid, AED training]
  B --> E[Advanced cardiovascular life support]

Course comparison

Full syllabi:

• BLS syllabus — for healthcare providers
• CPRAED syllabus — CPR + AED without first aid
• CPRFAAED syllabus — for childcare, schools, and non-medical professionals

Which one should I enroll in?

• If you work in a child care facility, school, or are a non-medical professional, you want the CPRFAAED course. This course is designed for teachers, coaches, camp counselors, and others who need OSHA-compliant training.
• If you work in any medical setting (hospital, clinic, nursing home, EMS, etc.), you want the BLS course. This includes doctors, nurses, EMTs, paramedics, and other healthcare professionals.
• For healthcare providers who want a fully online course without first aid, you want the CPRAED course. This is also for healthcare professionals but focuses on CPR and AED without the first aid component.

Or if you are enrolling a group of people, please use our group customer page.

What employers typically require

• Hospitals, clinics, and EMS agencies almost always require BLS certification for all patient-facing staff.
• Dental offices and pharmacies often accept either BLS or CPRAED depending on state regulations.
• Schools, daycares, and camps typically require OSHA-compliant CPR/first aid/AED training, which is covered by CPRFAAED.
• Corporate offices and general workplaces with OSHA requirements for designated first aid responders should use CPRFAAED.

If you are unsure, ask your employer or school for the exact card name they accept.

Renewal

Most CPR, BLS, and ACLS certifications are valid for two years from the date of issue, though exact requirements depend on the training organization and employer policies. We recommend starting your renewal course about 30 days before your expiration date to ensure continuous certification.

Conformance and approvals

Our courses have different accreditations, outlined here:

And those are American Medical Association (AMA), American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), American Dental Association (ADA) and Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE).

Our specific state/province, local, and federal approvals are extensive. See our accreditations page and click through to your state/province.

eCards

All options provide a verifiable eCard with an issue date and renew-by date (two years from issue).

Basic life support (BLS)

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation & automated external defibrillator (CPRAED)

Adult, child, & infant CPR, first aid & AED (CPRFAAED)

Each card shows your name, issue date, renew-by date, and a unique eCard code that anyone can use to verify your certification online.

Frequently asked questions

• I’m a healthcare provider. Which course should I take? If you work in any medical setting, take the BLS course. If you want a shorter course without first aid, take the CPRAED course. Both are designed for healthcare providers.
• I work in childcare/education/non-medical field. Which course should I take? You should take the CPRFAAED course, which is specifically designed for non-medical professionals and includes OSHA-compliant training.
• Which course does my employer accept? Our courses carry accreditation from the AMA, ANCC, ACPE, ADA, and IPCE (varies by course). Check our accreditations page to verify acceptance in your state, or ask your employer for the exact card name they require.
• Do I need both CPR and BLS certification? No. BLS certification includes CPR training. If your employer requires BLS, you do not need a separate CPR certification.
• Why do some of the cards say CPR-C and others don’t? Both our BLS and CPRAED courses are designed for the CPR-C competency (healthcare provider). The CPRFAAED course is designed for the CPR-A competency (lay rescuer).
• Is skills testing included? Our CPRFAAED course includes skills testing in the product price. The BLS and CPRAED courses include a skills test form that you can download and have completed by a certified instructor at your facility. We also offer skills testing services for an additional fee—contact us if you need help finding an instructor.
• How long does each course take? BLS is 8 hours, CPRAED is 3 hours, and CPRFAAED varies by state approval, typically shorter for online formats.
• Is BLS harder than CPR certification? BLS covers CPR and AED use but also includes additional clinical skills such as team-based resuscitation, airway management with a bag-valve mask, and coordinated response in healthcare settings. Because of this additional content, BLS training is generally more comprehensive than basic CPR/AED courses.
• Why do the cards look different from each other? The color, wording, and logos on each card are driven by feedback from state governments during course approval. For example, OSHA expects the ANSI standardized “safety orange” color (ANSI Z535.1–1998) on workplace cards, while hospitals expect “AHA blue.” All our courses are OSHA compliant regardless of card color. See all our government approvals here.

References

• American Heart Association. Basic Life Support (BLS) training. Course description and objectives.
• American Heart Association. 2020 Guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care. 2020.
• American Heart Association. Highlights of the 2020 American Heart Association guidelines for CPR and emergency cardiovascular care. 2020.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Best practices guide: fundamentals of a workplace first-aid program. OSHA 3317-06N, 2006.