If you’re planning to enter a career as a nurse, nurse practitioner, or other similar roles in a healthcare setting, then keeping your skills sharp is a vital professional duty of yours. Alongside basic first aid, this can include what we call Basic Life Support (or BLS) skills. These include skills like CPR, defibrillator use, and how to act in emergency situations.

These life-saving skills are not only vital to learn for those just starting their careers, but those who want to continue working in the healthcare environment, as well. Refresher BLS courses are typically required every few years, with the exact requirements depending on where you are based. However, regardless of where you are, it is vital that this training is provided by the right professionals.

BLS courses need to be able to help you quickly and effectively learn the skills necessary to keep your skills relevant and up-to-date. If you’re a busy professional, you may need to make sure that they can easily fit into your tight schedule, as well. Here, we’ll look at some of the best and most popular BLS course providers and what sets each apart.

  1. Safety Training Seminars – Accredited, Affordable, And Effective

One of the easier schools to recommend, Safety Training Seminars is a woman-owned hybrid training provider with 70 locations in Northern and Central California. All of their courses are American Heart Association-approved and include BLS, as well as ACL, general CPR, and first-aid courses. With both individual and on-worksite training, it speaks to a wide range of needs.

Flexibility and ease-of-access are a priority for STS and, as such, it offers courses every day of the week, including weekends, with many days having options for evening courses, as well. It offers same-day certification, providing a card on the day that their course is completed.

In order to help learners make the best use of their services, STS also offers everyday customer service, including phone calls and emails, answering queries even on weekends.

Pros

  • Affordable pricing
  • Same-day certification available
  • Courses are available every day, including weekends and evenings
  • AHA-accredited courses
  • Licensed to train in every state

Cons

  • In-person learning is not strictly for beginners
  • Regionally available in CA
  • Advanced courses can cost slightly more
  1. Health & Safety Institute – A Great Option For Corporate Environments

A wide provider of a range of health and safety services, including EHS software, safety training, and more, the Healthy & Safety Institute also provides a BLS program that follows the 2020 AHA/ILCOR Guidelines.

Designed for health professionals, public safety workers, and others in similar fields, this company offers options for the classroom, blended learning (with both online and in-person skills training), and remote skills verification.

The HSI prioritizes high-quality CPR, teamwork, AED use, and two-rescuer CPR training, with intensive group sessions and corporate environment lessons. However, their training is not as specifically suited to individual professionals.

Pros

  • Lessons reflect AHA/ICLOR standards
  • Multiple delivery formats
  • Available nationwide
  • Scalable for businesses
  • In-office corporate training available

Cons

  • Not as well suited for individuals
  • Video-heavy learning reduces interaction
  • Corporate style may feel impersonal
  1. ProTrainings – Accessible, Self-Paced Video learning

A dedicated provider of both fully online and blended BLS courses that are aligned with AHA/ICLOR standards, ProTrainings offers instant PDF certificates as well as mailing printed wallet cards in 5-7 days after course completion.

Their curriculum covers a wide range of BLS skills training, including adult, child, and infant CPR, AED use, bag-valve-mask techniques, and more, all of which can be accessed through video modules.

The on-demand video format makes it easier for learners to pause and go over content again, which makes it more accessible for those with diverse learning needs like ADHD.

Pros

  • Flexible, self-paced learning
  • Instant PDF and mailed wallet card certification
  • Accepted by a wide range of employers
  • Interactive online video modules
  • Sends reminders for skill refresher requirements

Cons

  • Some have noted tech glitches
  • An in-person skills check is required for compliance
  • Slightly pricier than other online providers
  1. In-Pulse CPR – High-Quality, In-Person Courses

A provider of American Heart Association-compliant BLS training, In-Pulse CPR is largely dedicated to in-person and instructor-led training, offering some of the best hands-on learning experiences. They work with healthcare professionals and first responders, largely, but also offer courses for anyone seeking first aid skills.

In-Pulse CPR stands out for personalized, detailed courses led by experienced instructors with real-world medical knowledge, which can make them more effective for beginners, but also make them pricier than some competitors.

Aside from AHA curriculum-based training, In-Pulse also offers training for corporate clients and groups with customized on-site training courses, but they are only available in certain states.

Pros

  • AHA-compliant training
  • Experienced trainers with medical backgrounds
  • Hands-on practice focus
  • Personal touch to lessons
  • Corporate and group training options

Cons

  • Mostly available on weekends only
  • On-site group classes require a minimum attendees
  • No online prep courses

Columbia Safety CPR – Dedicated, Small Group Courses

An AHA-compliant provider, Columbia Safety CPR offers Basic Life Support classes designed predominantly for healthcare, care home and emergency workers. With both in-person and blended learning formats available, they are located in  Pasco, WA.

With thorough, instructor-led training that combines online theory with in-person skill validation, they offer small student-to-instructor ratios, which can be effective for new learners seeking direct feedback. 

While they don’t have online-only certifications, they do use a blended format that can accommodate healthcare professionals with relatively busy schedules. They also ffer standard first aid training for all workplaces and professionals.

Pros

  • In-person learning with small class sizes
  • AHA-complaint learning
  • Blended learning options are available
  • Reasonable priced
  • Focused on healthcare professionals

Cons

  • Predominantly based in the Pacific Northwest
  • Few weekend or evening learning options are available.
  • Limited online learning options

Final Thoughts

Regardless of which you choose, it’s important to ensure that you get the BLS training that helps you be a more proactive and practical source of help in your healthcare workplace. It’s just as important to ensure that you stay compliant with the demands of the job as well, to avoid any unnecessary breaks in your career.