BLS, ACLS, PALS & NRP Classes

This is the most flexible AHA route for travelers. It’s the same card you get from a full classroom course.

1. Buy and finish the online part (HeartCode BLS, ACLS or PALS) from the AHA store or a training center. Do it on your own time.
2. Book a hands-on skills session with an AHA training center (any center on this page, or the AHA class finder). Bring your HeartCode completion certificate.
3. Pass the skills check with an AHA instructor. The training center then issues your AHA eCard.

• AHA says HeartCode BLS online takes about 1 to 2 hours, and the BLS skills session 60 minutes to 2 hours.
• ACLS skills sessions run about 7 to 8 hours, and PALS about 5.5 hours (AHA course pages).
• AHA store list prices for the online part (Oct 23, 2026): HeartCode BLS $38, HeartCode ACLS $178, HeartCode PALS $178. The skills session is a separate fee set by the training center. Some centers sell both together.

AHA: BLS course options →
AHA: ACLS course options →
AHA: PALS course options →

Every AHA BLS, ACLS and PALS card requires hands-on skills testing, either with an AHA instructor or at an AHA CPR Verification Station.

• “100% online, instant card” means it is not an AHA provider card, no matter how the site words it.
• Watch for “AHA guidelines”, “AHA compliant” or “nationally accepted”. Following the guidelines is not the same as an AHA card.
• A real AHA eCard is issued by an AHA training center and can be checked by your employer. You can look up your own eCards on the AHA eCards site.
• Not sure what your facility takes? Ask your recruiter or compliance team before you pay. Many hospitals list “AHA BLS” specifically.

AHA: BLS course options →
AHA: Find your eCards →

AHA also offers a self-guided route called HeartCode Complete. You do the online part, then practice and test your skills at an AHA CPR Verification Station that gives real-time feedback.

• Available for BLS, ACLS and PALS. You get the same 2-year eCard.
• Stations are often in hospitals and may be for staff only, so call before you go.

AHA: Find a CPR Verification Station →

NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) is run by the American Academy of Pediatrics. AHA training centers don’t issue NRP cards, so the AHA class finder won’t show NRP.

• Two levels: Essentials (textbook lessons 1–4) for anyone who cares for newborns, and Advanced (lessons 1–11) for people who attend births with known risk factors or go beyond assisted ventilation. Ask your facility which one you need.
• Two parts: the online learning assessment on the AAP’s PediaSkills platform, then an instructor-led event within 90 days. There is no online-only NRP card.
• Finding a class: once you start the online part you can search the master calendar of instructor-led events by location. Some events are for hospital staff only, so confirm with the instructor. If you can’t find one, email PediaSkills@rqipartners.com with your city and state.
• RQI for NRP is a hospital program: short quarterly sessions at a simulation station inside the hospital. It covers Essentials only, and you can’t buy it on your own.
• NRP eCards are valid 2 years and expire at the end of the month. There are no extensions.

AAP: Neonatal Resuscitation Program →
AAP: NRP provider FAQ →
AAP: RQI for NRP FAQ →

• AHA and NRP cards are valid 2 years. Renew a month or two early so a lapse never holds up a start date.
• Line up expiration dates. Many centers can run BLS, ACLS and PALS skills checks close together, so everything renews at once.
• Ask your agency if it pays or reimburses for certifications. Get it in writing before you book.
• Keep PDFs of every eCard in one folder on your phone. Compliance teams ask for them on day one.
• Some hospitals require their own in-house class even if your card is current. Ask during the interview.
• Need help with license and CE rules too? See licensing boards by state, CE requirements and the contract checklists.

• Every center links to its own class page, which lists BLS, ACLS or PALS classes. We opened each link on Oct 23, 2026. Most pages say AHA outright; still confirm the card is AHA when you book.
• We only list centers we could find on the web. We don’t take payment for placement, and we don’t make up listings. If a state looks thin, the AHA class finder has every center.
• A few listings are national chains that run AHA classes in many cities. An AHA card from them is the same card a hospital center issues.
• Hospital centers sometimes keep classes for their own staff. Call or email before you plan around one.
• Spot a closed center or a broken link? Tell us through the About page.