AHA Training Memo Basic Life Support 2025 Guidelines

AHA Training Memo Basic Life Support 2025 Guidelines

Date of release October 22, 2025

Purpose To provide direction and information on updates to the American Heart Association’s
Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider Course as well as training options for health care
professionals who need to complete BLS training. Instructors should provide the “2025
Interim Training Materials: BLS Provider Manual Changes” document (available on
Atlas.Heart.org) to students using 2020 course materials from October 22, 2025,
through February 28, 2026. Instructors should use the “2025 Interim Training Materials:
BLS Lesson Plan Changes” document (available on Atlas.Heart.org) when using the
2020 Instructor materials from October 22, 2025, through February 28, 2026.

General
information
The BLS Provider Course has been updated to meet the recommendations in the 2025
American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and
Emergency Cardiovascular Care. The American Heart Association has developed new
BLS course materials that will aid in providing quality and consistency in all BLS
courses.

Course information for Training Centers and instructors

• Effective March 1, 2026, only new course materials can be used for conducting all
BLS courses.
• The BLS Provider Course can be taught by current BLS Instructors. Instructors must
complete the 2025 BLS Instructor Update Course available on elearning.heart.org
before teaching with new course materials. BLS Instructors who also teach
Heartsaver are encouraged, but not required, to complete the 2025 Heartsaver
Instructor Update Course available on elearning.heart.org before teaching new
course materials.
• Training Centers and instructors may continue to use previous stock of 2020
products with the interim materials posted on Atlas through February 28, 2026.
• Appropriate course completion cards must be issued for the course materials
being used. If the 2020 BLS materials are used without the interim materials, the
old card must be issued. If the interim materials or 2025 BLS materials are used,
the new card must be issued.
• Training Center Coordinators can obtain updated exams for 2025 Guidelines
courses through ShopCPR.Heart.org or Atlas.
• Instructors are strongly encouraged to complete the 2025 BLS Product and Course
Orientation available on elearning.heart.org. The BLS Product and Course
Orientation was created to aid instructors in understanding the new course design
and teaching strategies.
• All BLS Instructors must have a current copy of the BLS Instructor Manual for the
course being taught.