AHA BLS CPR Certification Classes
in Chicago Illinois

CPR Certification Chicago is an Official American Heart Association Training Site offering AHA Basic Life Support CPR Certification every week at our Chicago location. Whether you need your first BLS card for a new job, a clinical rotation, or a job or program requirement, you will usually receive your BLS Card on the same day as class.

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Official American Heart Association BLS CPR Training Site

CPR Certification Chicago is an Official American Heart Association Training Site serving students, employers, and community groups across Chicagoland. Students come from Chicago, Evanston, Oak Park, Skokie, and nearby communities for hands-on BLS CPR classes, and businesses throughout the region can schedule onsite group CPR training at their own location.

Official AHA BLS CPR Training Site

Who Takes AHA BLS CPR Classes in Chicago

Students, healthcare workers, school staff, hospitality teams, office employees, fitness professionals, and community members across Chicago take AHA BLS CPR classes for professional and personal reasons. Between Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, University of Illinois Chicago, City Colleges of Chicago, and local employers, many people need one class covering adult, child, and infant CPR, AED use, and choking relief in a single session.

Everyone in The Community

You do not need to work in healthcare to take this class. The AHA BLS course is widely used in healthcare but still accessible to anyone who wants to learn high-quality CPR. Parents, caregivers, coaches, teachers, office workers, and community members all take this class.

Nurses, CNAs and Clinical Staff

The Illinois Board of Nursing often requires current CPR training, and AHA BLS is widely used by licensed nurses across Illinois. Rush University Medical Center, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and other healthcare employers commonly use a valid BLS card for credentialing and onboarding. CNAs, medical assistants, patient care technicians, and surgical techs often book this class for the same reason.

Dental Professionals

The Illinois Board of Dentistry requires current CPR certification for active dental licensees practicing in Illinois. That includes dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants. Our AHA BLS certification usually meets that board requirement, and we can also provide onsite BLS CPR certification for dental offices that want to certify together.

EMTs, Paramedics and First Responders

AHA BLS is commonly required before Illinois EMT and paramedic students move into more advanced training and clinical settings. This class covers the hands-on skills those students need to practice early, including 2-rescuer CPR, bag valve mask ventilation, AED use, and team communication during resuscitation.

Nursing and Allied Health Students

Many nursing programs, dental hygiene programs, respiratory therapy programs, and other allied health programs in the Chicago area require AHA BLS before clinicals begin. UIC, City Colleges of Chicago, and other Cook County programs recognize it for clinical and program requirements, so students should book before the semester deadline gets close.

Teachers, Coaches and School Staff

Illinois law requires CPR and AED coverage in school athletics settings, and AHA BLS is often used by teachers, coaches, and school staff who need current CPR training. Chicago Public Schools and private schools across the greater Chicago area also use AHA BLS for those requirements. The class covers adult, child, and infant CPR, AED use, and choking relief in one session.

Personal Trainers and Fitness Pros

Fitness certification bodies and many gyms ask personal trainers to keep current CPR training as part of their professional readiness. The AHA BLS card is widely recognized across the fitness industry and commonly used for that purpose.

Security, Hospitality & Corporate Teams

Chicago’s hospitality and visitor economy brings together hotel teams, event staff, security personnel, and corporate office groups who often need current CPR training for workplace readiness. That makes AHA BLS a strong option for teams working across hotels, convention spaces, lakefront venues, and large event sites.

Childcare Providers and Daycares

Illinois childcare licensing requires CPR coverage in licensed facilities, and AHA BLS is often used by directors and staff who need current CPR training. For childcare teams, that means one class covering infant, child, and adult CPR, AED use, and choking relief for the emergencies they are most likely to face.

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How AHA BLS CPR Certification Works in Chicago

Choose a Class Date

All available class dates and times are shown in the booking calendar above. Pick the class time that works best for your schedule and book directly from the calendar. CPR Classes run on weeknights and weekend mornings at our Chicago location.

Train Hands-On With an Instructor

On the day of class, your certified AHA instructor takes you through the full Basic Life Support curriculum. You practice hands-on chest compressions, rescue breaths, AED use, bag valve mask ventilation, choking relief, and 2-rescuer CPR scenarios with professional training equipment.

Complete the Exam and Skills Check

At the end of class, you complete a multiple choice exam and a hands-on skills assessment. Your instructor works with you throughout class so the skills check matches what you practiced during training.

Receive Your BLS Card

After successful completion, students usually receive their BLS Card on the same day as class. Digital cards are issued after successful completion of class.

Upcoming BLS Class Dates and Times

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CPR certification training with mannequins in Chicago, Illinois. Learn life-saving skills in a hands-.
Group CPR training session in Chicago with certification course.

What’s Included in Your Chicago AHA BLS CPR Class

Professional Training Equipment

Every AHA BLS class includes a certified AHA instructor, adult, child, and infant manikins with real-time feedback, AED trainer devices, bag valve masks, and the hands-on equipment used throughout class. You do not need to bring anything except yourself.

Small Class Size and Coaching

Class sizes are kept small so every student gets individual attention and correction from the instructor throughout the session.

Skills Check on Site

The skills assessment is completed on site at the end of class. Students demonstrate adult, child, and infant CPR, correct AED use, bag valve mask ventilation, and choking relief with the instructor observing and coaching as needed.

Two-Year BLS Card

After successful completion of both the written exam and hands-on skills check, students usually receive their BLS Card on the same day as class. Your BLS Card is valid for 2 years from the date of issue. It is generally accepted nationwide by most employers, state licensing boards, the Joint Commission, and OSHA.

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What the AHA BLS CPR Course Covers

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Adults, Children and Infants

AHA BLS covers high-performance adult CPR, child CPR, and infant CPR technique for all age groups. You practice proper hand placement, compression depth of at least 2 inches for adults and approximately 2 inches for children, rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute, full chest recoil between compressions, and minimizing interruptions to blood flow during resuscitation. Infant-specific technique using the two-finger compression method is practiced separately with the correct depth of approximately 1.5 inches.

Automated External Defibrillator Use

Hands-on AED training uses trainer devices that simulate real cardiac arrest response. You practice recognizing a shockable cardiac rhythm, correct pad placement for adult and pediatric patients, operating through the full shock cycle, and immediately resuming high-quality chest compressions following defibrillation. AED use is a core component of the AHA BLS certification and is required in the skills assessment.

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Two women practicing CPR on a baby mannequin during training.
Man and woman practicing CPR on a mannequin during class.

Bag Valve Mask Ventilation

The AHA BLS course includes bag valve mask ventilation technique covering proper mask seal, correct ventilation rate, tidal volume, and coordination with chest compressions in both 1-rescuer and 2-rescuer scenarios. This skill is specific to the BLS Healthcare Provider certification and is required in clinical and pre-hospital settings across Illinois.

2-Rescuer CPR and Team Dynamics

AHA BLS places significant emphasis on team-based cardiac arrest response. The course covers 2-rescuer CPR scenarios including compressor and ventilator roles, smooth role transitions without interrupting compressions, clear verbal communication during resuscitation, and maintaining high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation during team handoffs.

Foreign Body Airway Obstruction Relief

Choking relief for adults, children, and infants is a required component of AHA BLS. The course covers back blows and abdominal thrusts for responsive choking victims, infant-specific back blow and chest thrust technique, and the transition to CPR when a choking victim becomes unresponsive. Age-specific differences are practiced hands-on.

Recognizing Cardiac Arrest and Respiratory Emergencies

AHA BLS training covers recognition of cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, and the difference between the two. You learn how to assess an unresponsive victim, activate the emergency response system, and initiate the appropriate response based on whether the patient has a pulse, is breathing, or both.

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Frequently Asked Questions About AHA BLS CPR Classes in Chicago

AHA BLS stands for American Heart Association Basic Life Support. It is one of the most widely accepted CPR credentials in the United States and is required by many Illinois employers in healthcare, education, fitness, and other fields. The course covers high-quality CPR for adults, children, and infants, AED use, bag valve mask ventilation, and choking relief.

If your employer, school, or licensing board requires CPR training, AHA BLS is often the credential they are looking for. It is widely used for healthcare employment, school programs, and many licensing-related requirements. You may also want to read about BLS Renewal or CPR and First Aid options. If you are unsure whether BLS is the right course for your situation, call us before booking and we will confirm.

No prior training or experience is required. The AHA BLS course is designed for both first-time students and experienced healthcare professionals. Anyone 16 years of age or older can take the class.

Approximately 4 to 4.5 hours including hands-on practice, the multiple choice exam, and the skills assessment. Plan for a half day.

Nothing. All course materials, manikins, AED trainers, and equipment are provided. Just show up at your scheduled time.

Students usually receive their BLS Card on the same day as class after successful completion. Digital AHA eCards are issued after successful completion of class.

No. The American Heart Association requires a hands-on skills assessment as a mandatory component of BLS certification. Online-only courses cannot fulfill that requirement. Many Illinois hospitals, licensing programs, and employers require an in-person AHA BLS card issued by an authorized training site. Online-only certificates are not the same credential and are routinely rejected during credentialing and onboarding.

Two years from the date of issue. The AHA recommends renewing before your card expires so you do not risk a gap in compliance with your employer or licensing board.

AHA BLS certification issued by an authorized training site is widely recognized in healthcare and is often used when CPR requirements are tied to the Illinois Board of Nursing, the Illinois Board of Dentistry, Joint Commission standards, or OSHA-related expectations. If your employer, board, or program has a specific CPR policy, confirm the exact requirement before enrolling.

Yes. AHA BLS is a commonly required certification for nursing programs, dental hygiene programs, respiratory therapy programs, and other allied health programs across Cook County and Illinois. Check with your program coordinator to confirm your start date so you book in time.

We run weeknight classes and weekend morning classes at our Chicago location. All available sessions are shown in the booking calendar at the top of this page. Pick a date and time that works and book directly.

Yes. Groups of 5 or more can schedule onsite training at your location. We bring all equipment and conduct the full AHA BLS certification class at your facility. Call us to discuss scheduling and get a quote.

Our instructors work with every student individually throughout class. If you need additional coaching on a technique, they address it before the skills check. You can reattempt the assessment until you demonstrate competency. If you need more practice time beyond the class, you can attend a subsequent session at no additional charge.

Yes. AHA BLS CPR certification is commonly used when employers require OSHA-aligned CPR training. If your workplace has a specific policy, confirm the exact requirement before enrolling.

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What Customers Say About Our CPR Certification Classes

  • Marquita was my instructor today. I loved her enthusiasm about teaching CPR. She answered every question and then some. Wonderful class. She made my nerves go away.
    Bridgette Ross
  • This instructor Gabriel was great. Patient, professional, and made learning CPR comfortable. I enjoyed the smaller class setting and the hands-on training.
    Rhodope Walker
  • Mr. Brian is a great teacher. The class was very informative and the hands-on part was not overwhelming. He gave everyone time to be confident in learning this life-saving skill.
    H C
  • Brian was an amazing instructor. He was so welcoming and knowledgeable about the course. I had the best experience and feel very confident in my basic life support skills.
    Samantha Villarino