A Basic Life Support (BLS) certification card serves as official proof of successful completion of standardized training in emergency cardiovascular care. This documentation is frequently required for employment in healthcare settings, educational institutions, and various other professions. If your card is lost or you need to verify your current status, modern certification systems offer several practical retrieval methods.
Locating Your Certification Through Online Portals
The most direct and fastest way to retrieve your certification is through the digital systems of the primary certifying organizations. Most modern BLS certifications are issued as electronic cards, or e-cards, which replace the traditional paper or plastic card.
American Heart Association (AHA) E-Card System
If your course was administered through the American Heart Association, access your record using their dedicated e-card portal. Students can search the database by entering their first name, last name, and the specific email address used during registration. Alternatively, a unique e-card code can be used as the sole search criterion for instant lookup. Upon successful retrieval, you must answer a security question established when the card was first claimed before viewing, downloading, or printing the digital certificate.
American Red Cross (ARC) Digital Certificates
The American Red Cross provides a digital certificate system accessible through their “Find My Certificate” webpage. Users have multiple options for searching the database: the unique certificate ID, the email address used for registration, or the student’s name combined with the approximate training date. This system allows for immediate access to a printable, shareable PDF of the certification. Each digital certificate contains a unique ID and a QR code, enabling employers to quickly confirm the validity of the training.
Retrieving Records from Training Centers
If you are unable to locate your certification through the main online portals, or if the course was taken a long time ago, contacting the original training center is the necessary next step. The training center, which is often a smaller, local provider affiliated with the larger organization, maintains the detailed records of course completion.
You should be prepared to provide specific information to facilitate their search:
- The full legal name used during the course.
- The approximate date and location of the training.
- Any email addresses used for registration.
- The name of the instructor (if remembered).
The training center can typically verify your successful completion and reissue the initial e-card email, which contains the claim link. If your certification was a requirement for a job or school program, contacting the employer or educational institution’s human resources department might also be beneficial, as they often keep copies of employee or student certifications on file. This method may take longer than the digital search due to administrative processing time.
Replacement Policies and Certification Validity
BLS certifications issued by major providers are valid for two years from the date of successful course completion. This two-year interval is established to ensure that providers remain current with the latest resuscitation science and guidelines. If a physical card is desired instead of a digital copy, the American Red Cross allows students to order a printed card, which typically involves a small fee for shipping and handling. The American Heart Association has largely transitioned to an e-card only system, which is intended to be printed by the user as needed. If a certification has already expired, an individual cannot simply request a replacement; a full renewal course is required to regain active status. Providers generally do not maintain records indefinitely, so attempting to retrieve a card that expired many years ago may be unsuccessful, necessitating a complete re-certification.