American Heart Association (AHA) course completion cards are valid for two (2) years from the date of issue. To maintain your certification, you must successfully complete a renewal course prior to the expiration date.

Yes. If you need to reschedule, please refer to your original confirmation email and select the “Opt Out” option to remove yourself from the class roster. You may also contact us directly at 216-765-2848 for assistance with withdrawing or rescheduling. We recommend making any changes as early as possible to ensure availability in a future course.

Course materials are not included in the registration fee. In accordance with AHA guidelines, students are required to obtain the appropriate, current AHA course materials prior to attending class. This helps ensure you are fully prepared and able to successfully complete the course.

No. Our courses are open to the public. We welcome both University Hospitals employees and community members to participate in AHA training programs.

Upon successful completion of the course, your AHA eCard will typically be issued via email within a few days. Please ensure your email address is accurate at registration. You must claim your eCard once you receive the email, or it may expire and appear as though you never completed the course. If you do not see the email, please check your spam or junk folder, as it is sometimes filtered there.

Students should bring a valid photo ID and their current AHA course materials (if required). We recommend wearing comfortable clothing, as many courses include hands-on skills practice such as CPR and AED use.

In accordance with American Heart Association guidelines, students who arrive late may not be permitted to participate or complete the course. Full attendance is required to receive a certification card.

CPR and BLS (Basic Life Support) are closely related, although both teach CPR and AED use. The main difference is the level of training and intended audience.

CPR courses, often called Heartsaver, are designed for the general public and non-medical professionals, such as teachers, coaches, and childcare providers. These courses cover basic lifesaving skills, including CPR, AED use, and how to respond to choking emergencies.

BLS (Basic Life Support) is a more advanced level of CPR training intended for healthcare professionals, such as nurses, EMTs, and other clinical staff. It focuses on high-quality CPR, team-based resuscitation, and includes additional skills like bag-mask ventilation and care for adults, children, and infants.

If a job or program requires BLS certification, a standard CPR (Heartsaver) course will not meet the requirement. However, BLS certification typically fulfills CPR requirements since it includes all core CPR skills.

All certification cards are issued electronically by the American Heart Association (AHA), and paper cards are no longer provided. Each student must have a valid, unique email address in order to receive and claim their eCard.

After successfully completing your course, you will receive an email with instructions to claim your certification card. Be sure to check your inbox as well as your junk or spam folder, as these emails can sometimes be filtered.

It is important to claim your eCard promptly. If it is not claimed, it will expire and it will be as if the course was never completed.