Do I Need AHA or ARC Training
If you are a Healthcare Provider, enroll in BLS (Basic Life Support).
Do I need American Red Cross (ARC) or American Heart Association (AHA)
Click here to enroll in an American Heart Association BLS Course
Click here to enroll in an American Red Cross BLS Course
It is best to contact your school or employer to verify which Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification you need.
Below is information received from program directors and/or .gov websites:
- Both ARC and AHA certification is accepted by the CA Dental Board, CCSF EMT Program, UCSF Pharmacists, Bay Area Training Academy
- At this time most hospitals accept AHA. Only AHA Certification is accepted by College of San Mateo's EMT program, Nurses working in hospitals, UCSF Nursing Students, UCSF, Kaiser, John Muir, SF General Hospital, Laguna Honda, and almost all hospitals.
CPR/First Aid
CPR Training is generally what is taken if participants are not healthcare providers. If First Aid is required in addition to CPR, please ensure you enroll in a CPR with First Aid Course.
All participants working in a non-healthcare setting are advised to take Adult & Pediatric First Aid/CPR.
American Red Cross and American Heart Association are both accepted by EMSA and OSHA
Industry, workers, who need and can benefit from this training are:
- Fitness Instructors/Personal Trainers
- Construction Workers
- General Industry Workers
- Adult Caregivers, Home Health Caregivers, Child caregivers, Nannys, Babysitters
- Behavioral Therapist, Chiropractors, Speech Therapist
- United States Coast Guard
It is best to contact your school, employer or licensing board to verify which certification is best for you.
Are CEU's issued?
EMTs. Yes Please click corresponding Certification Provider below.
American Red Cross
American Heart Association
Nurses: No. CPR and BLS courses is listed as an unacceptable course for CEUs.
https://www.rn.ca.gov/licensees/ce-renewal.shtml
Dentists, Dental Hygenists, RDA's, etc. Yes
https://www.dbc.ca.gov/licensees/continuing_education.shtml
All other professions, please contact your accrediting body to see if they will accept/award CE credits for any ARC or AHA course you complete successfully.
Please feel free to contact us by email, should you have any further questions.
About Us
American Red Cross Authorized Instructors
We offer American Red Cross and American Heart Association training for medical providers, fitness instructors, babysitters, lifeguards, and more. Our courses are designed for all experience levels and provide nationally recognized certifications, hands-on practice, and real-world skills to help participants respond confidently and effectively in emergency situations.
Lifeguard Training for teens to young adults
CPR and lifeguard training for all ages provides participants with the skills and confidence to respond to emergencies in and around the water and in everyday life. The training covers age-appropriate CPR techniques for infants, children, and adults, along with rescue breathing, AED use, first aid, and water rescue skills. Designed for teens through adults, these programs emphasize safety, prevention, and quick decision-making to help protect lives in pools, beaches, and community settings.
Basic Life Support (BLS)
Basic Life Support (BLS) training teaches individuals how to recognize and respond to life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest, choking, and respiratory failure. The training focuses on essential skills including high-quality CPR, use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), rescue breathing, and effective teamwork during emergencies. BLS emphasizes quick assessment, early intervention, and safety to improve survival outcomes until advanced medical care arrives.