Basic Life Support (BLS) Renewal & Recertification Online

Basic Life Support (BLS) Renewal & Recertification Overview

1. Who should take a BLS recertification class?

BLS recertification is the right course for anyone who already holds a BLS certification that is approaching or has recently reached its expiration date, and needs to renew rather than certify from scratch. This includes healthcare professionals, first responders, and workplace safety personnel whose roles require continuous, uninterrupted BLS certification to remain eligible for patient-facing or safety-critical duties. If you are certifying for the first time rather than renewing an existing credential, our standalone BLS Certification course is the correct starting point instead, since recertification assumes prior BLS training as its foundation.

2. How long is my BLS recertification valid?

BLS recertification through American CPR Care Association renews your certification for a full two-year period from the date you pass your renewal exam, the same validity window as initial certification. This two-year cycle exists because resuscitation guidelines and best practices are periodically updated, so regular renewal ensures certified professionals are working from current, evidence-based technique rather than an outdated standard. Tracking your renewal date and completing recertification before your certification actually expires helps you avoid any gap in active certification, which many employers and credentialing offices treat as equivalent to having no valid certification at all.

3. Can I complete BLS certification renewal online?

Yes, our entire BLS recertification course is completed online, with no in-person class or attendance requirement. When choosing an online BLS renewal provider, confirm the course is nationally accepted, follows current ECC guidelines, and includes CE credit hours that satisfy your employer or licensing board’s requirements, since not every online option carries the same weight. Our course is self-paced, includes updated guideline content and a refresher assessment, and provides an instant downloadable certificate immediately after you pass, with a physical wallet card mailed to your address afterward.

4. Is BLS renewal necessary if I already have ACLS or CPR?

Yes. BLS renewal remains necessary even if you hold ACLS or standard CPR certification, because BLS covers foundational life-saving skills, including scene assessment, chest compressions, and team-based resuscitation coordination, that are distinct from and complementary to the advanced skills taught in ACLS. Advanced certifications like ACLS build on top of BLS competency rather than replacing it, so allowing your BLS credential to lapse can affect your standing even if your ACLS certification remains current. Regular BLS renewal ensures your foundational resuscitation skills stay sharp and keeps you compliant with employer requirements that typically specify BLS separately from any advanced certification you hold.

5. What happens if my BLS certification has already expired?

If your BLS certification has expired rather than simply approaching expiration, you may need to complete the full BLS Certification course rather than this shorter recertification course, depending on how long it has been since expiration. Recertification is generally designed for renewing on or close to your expiration date, assuming recent, uninterrupted competency, while a longer lapse typically calls for a complete recertification cycle to ensure your skills and knowledge are fully current. If you are unsure which applies to your situation, checking with your employer or credentialing office before enrolling helps ensure you complete the correct course the first time.

6. How much does BLS recertification cost?

BLS recertification through American CPR Care Association is priced at $36.95, the same as initial BLS certification, and includes 6.0 CE credit hours, a renewed two-year certification, and unlimited exam retakes at no additional cost. This single price covers the complete refresher curriculum, an updated competency exam, and an instant digital certificate with a mailed wallet card afterward. Because the course is generally faster to complete than initial certification, most learners find the overall time investment for renewal considerably shorter than their original certification experience, even though the price remains the same.

When BLS Recertification Is Required vs. Standard CPR Renewal

BLS recertification and standard CPR renewal are not interchangeable, and using the wrong one can leave you without the specific credential your employer or licensing board expects. If your original certification was BLS, a broader credential covering team-based resuscitation and clinical airway management, you need BLS recertification specifically, not a general CPR renewal, since the renewal course must refresh the same scope of skills as your original certification.

Standard CPR renewal is the right path if your original certification was the standalone CPR/AED course rather than full BLS. If you are unsure which certification you originally held, check the credential type listed on your existing wallet card or certificate before renewing, since submitting the wrong renewal type can result in a certificate that does not match what your employer or program requires.

What Happens If Your BLS Certification Has Expired

If your BLS certification has already expired rather than being close to expiring, most employers and clinical credentialing offices treat you as effectively uncertified until you complete a new certification cycle. Depending on how long it has been expired, you may need to retake the full BLS certification course rather than the shorter recertification course, since recertification is generally designed for those renewing on or shortly after their expiration date, not for lapsed credentials.

If it has been longer than a few months since your certification expired, we recommend starting with the standard BLS Certification course rather than the recertification path on this page, to ensure you receive a fully current, complete certification rather than a refresher that assumes recent, uninterrupted competency.

BLS Recertification Cost and Timeline

BLS recertification through American CPR Care Association is priced at $36.95, the same price as full initial certification, and includes 6.0 CE credit hours, a renewed two-year certification period, and unlimited exam retakes. The recertification course itself is typically faster to complete than the original certification, since it focuses on reviewing updated guidelines and reassessing competency rather than repeating the entire curriculum from the beginning.

Renewing before your two-year window closes avoids the gap in active certification that many employers treat as equivalent to holding no certification at all. Visit our accreditation and CE credit page for details on how BLS CE hours fit alongside your other renewals.