Product Overview
American Heart Association BLS Basic Life Support For Healthcare Providers HeartCode BLS in Person Skills Checkoffs at First In Last Out Medical Response 3322 Coors Blvd NW Suite 4 Albuquerque, NM 87120.
This is the most expensive way to get certified. The online course is $38 and the in person portion is $50. It's cheaper to just come to class. Renewal is three hours and Initial is 4-5 and the total cost is $50. Includes tax, certification card and your e-book!
An AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) in-person skills checkoff (sometimes called the “skills session” or “skills check-off”) is the hands-on, instructor-led component during which students demonstrate their practical BLS (CPR / AED / choking) skills under observation. It is required to complete a full BLS certification or renewal if the didactic/online portion has already been completed (e.g., in a blended-learning or HeartCode format).
Here’s what it involves, what’s expected, and how it fits into the course:
Purpose & Role
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The skills checkoff is solely focused on psychomotor skills (doing, not just knowing). It ensures that learners can correctly perform BLS techniques (compressions, ventilations, AED use, choking relief) per the AHA’s current guidelines.
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It verifies that participants meet the performance criteria necessary for patient safety—i.e., quality and accuracy, not just theory.
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For blended (HeartCode® BLS) or “online + hands-on” BLS courses, this is the in-person final step after completing the online didactic portion. cpr.heart.org
What Skills Are Tested / Demonstrated
During the checkoff, participants must perform various BLS skills according to the AHA rubric. Typical elements include:
| Skill | What You Must Demonstrate |
|---|---|
| High-quality CPR (Adult, Child, Infant) | Proper hand placement, correct rate & depth, full chest recoil, minimal interruptions |
| Ventilations / Rescue Breaths | Use of barrier device (pocket mask, face shield) or bag–mask ventilation with adequate tidal volume, correct timing |
| AED / Defibrillator Use | Power on/off, pad placement, “clear” before shock, safe shock delivery, resume compressions immediately |
| Choking / Foreign-Body Airway Obstruction Relief | Techniques for conscious and unconscious victims (adult, child, infant) |
| Team / Multi-rescuer Coordination | In scenarios with more than one rescuer, demonstrating role clarity, communication, smooth transitions, etc. |
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The performance is usually evaluated with a step-by-step checklist where each required action must be correctly and confidently performed.
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If any key step is missed, the instructor may require remediation and retesting until standards are met.
Format & Timing
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The skills checkoff usually takes 60 to 120 minutes (or sometimes less, depending on facility & number of students). cpr.heart.org+1
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Participants are scheduled for a hands-on session (often in a classroom, skills lab, or training center) with manikins, AED training units, and airway equipment.
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In many centers, the checkoff is done after (or following) the online/cognitive portion has been completed. For example, for HeartCode® BLS, you complete the online portion first, then attend the in-person skills session. cpr.heart.org
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Some training centers offer “skills-only” sessions (also called “BLS Provider Skills Check Only”) for students who have already completed the knowledge/online part but still need to validate their hands-on skills. cprcertifiedtrainer.com
Passing, Certification & Outcomes
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Participants must pass the skills checkoff (i.e., meet all the required steps) to be awarded the BLS Provider Course Completion Card (or eCard), valid for two years. CPR Training School+3cpr.heart.org+3cpr.heart.org+3
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If a participant fails to perform any required skill adequately, remediation is given and the learner may repeat that portion or the entire checkoff until they meet the standard.
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Once the hands-on portion is passed (or skills checkoff is successfully completed), combined with completion of any cognitive/online portion, the course is considered fulfilled and certification is granted.
