Question 1

How much do AHA certification classes cost in Central Florida?

Accepted Answer

At Cardiac Edge, BLS is $75 initial and $65 renewal. ACLS and PALS are each $199 initial and $149 renewal. Heartsaver CPR AED is $75 and $65, and Heartsaver CPR AED First Aid is $85 and $75. HeartCode skills sessions run $65 to $85. Every price includes your hands-on evaluation and same-day certification.

Question 2

Which AHA class do I need — BLS, ACLS, PALS, or Heartsaver?

Accepted Answer

Healthcare providers and nursing or medical students need BLS. Providers who manage adult emergencies add ACLS; those treating infants and children add PALS. Workplaces, teachers, coaches, childcare, and the general public need Heartsaver. If you're unsure, call (407) 809-7870 and we'll point you to the right course in one minute.

Question 3

Will I really get my AHA card the same day?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your official American Heart Association certification is issued the day of your class or skills session — there is no waiting period. You can present it to your employer, school, or program immediately, and they can verify it at the AHA's verification portal the same day.

Question 4

Are online-only CPR certifications accepted by employers in Florida?

Accepted Answer

No. Florida healthcare employers and nursing programs require a certification that includes an in-person, hands-on skills evaluation — which is why no legitimate online-only AHA certification exists. Online-only cards are routinely rejected, and providers end up paying twice. Every Cardiac Edge course includes the hands-on component and issues genuine same-day AHA certification.

Question 5

What is the difference between an initial and a renewal class?

Accepted Answer

A renewal is for providers who hold an American Heart Association certification of the same course type that has not expired. An initial class is for first-time students or anyone whose AHA certification has expired. Online-only or non-AHA cards never qualify for a renewal — they require the initial course.

Question 6

Do you offer any discounts on AHA classes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Active military and returning students receive 15% off any AHA certification class or skills session at Cardiac Edge. Group and on-site training for practices, facilities, and schools is quoted by team size — larger groups receive better per-student rates.

Question 7

Are there group rates for offices, practices, and facilities?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We quote group and on-site AHA training by team size, and we bring everything — instructor, manikins, AEDs, and same-day certification — to your location anywhere in our eight-county Central Florida service area. Request a quote on our Train at Your Location page or call (407) 809-7870.

Question 8

Do I need the AHA provider manual for class?

Accepted Answer

The American Heart Association requires students to have access to the current provider manual for their course. When you register, we'll point you to the correct 2025-guidelines edition for your class so you arrive prepared.

Question 9

Can I just walk in, or do I need to register first?

Accepted Answer

Please register first — online through our class calendar or by phone. AHA classes are kept small so every student gets full hands-on time with the manikins and equipment, so seats are confirmed in advance. Off-site group classes are scheduled directly around your facility's availability.

Question 10

What's the difference between BLS and Heartsaver?

Accepted Answer

BLS is the provider-level course required for healthcare professionals and clinical students — it covers high-quality CPR, bag-mask ventilation, and team resuscitation. Heartsaver is for workplaces and the public, covering CPR, AED use, and optionally first aid. If you work in or are studying healthcare, you need BLS.

Question 11

Do nursing students need BLS before clinicals?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Nursing programs across Central Florida — including UCF, Valencia, Seminole State, and AdventHealth University pathways — require current AHA BLS for Healthcare Providers certification before students begin clinical rotations. We certify nursing students year-round with same-day certification, and returning students get 15% off renewals.

Question 12

Which course do childcare workers need in Florida?

Accepted Answer

Florida childcare providers meet the DCF requirement with Heartsaver Pediatric-inclusive CPR AED and First Aid training. Our Heartsaver CPR AED First Aid course covers adult, child, and infant CPR plus first aid, with your AHA certification issued the same day — and we can train your whole center on-site.

Question 13

Can someone outside healthcare take a BLS class?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Anyone who wants provider-level resuscitation training can take BLS — it's common for caregivers, fitness professionals, and students preparing for healthcare programs. If you only need workplace or general-readiness certification, Heartsaver covers that at the same hands-on standard.

Question 14

How long does a BLS class take?

Accepted Answer

An initial BLS class typically runs about four hours, and a BLS renewal about two and a half. Both include the full hands-on skills evaluation, and your official AHA certification is issued before you leave.

Question 15

How long are ACLS and PALS classes?

Accepted Answer

With the 2025 blended format, you complete the cognitive portion online on your own schedule, then spend roughly five hands-on hours in class for scenarios, airways, rhythms, and the megacode. Renewals move faster for current providers. Either way, your certification is issued the same day.

Question 16

How long is my AHA certification valid?

Accepted Answer

All American Heart Association provider certifications — BLS, ACLS, PALS, and Heartsaver — are valid for two years. Your new card is issued the day of class and runs two years from that date, which is why most Central Florida providers schedule their renewal in the final 60 to 90 days.

Question 17

My AHA card just expired — can I still take a renewal?

Accepted Answer

No — once an American Heart Association certification has expired, AHA rules require the initial course. The good news: our initial classes run constantly at both locations and on-site, you'll get the full hands-on refresher, and your new certification is issued the same day.

Question 18

I have an online certification — can I use it to take a renewal class?

Accepted Answer

No. A renewal requires an unexpired American Heart Association certification of the same course type. Online-only or non-AHA cards — including cards that say they "follow AHA guidelines" — do not qualify. You'd take the initial AHA course, and you'll leave with the genuine card your employer actually accepts.

Question 19

How can I verify an AHA certification is real?

Accepted Answer

Every genuine American Heart Association certification can be verified at the AHA's official portal, ecards.heart.org, by you or your employer. If a certification can't be verified there, it is not an AHA card. Also check the card face: real AHA cards display only the American Heart Association name and the course — never the training company's own branding.

Question 20

What is an AHA HeartCode skills session?

Accepted Answer

HeartCode is the AHA's blended format: you complete the cognitive portion online (Part 1), then finish with an in-person, hands-on skills session (Parts 2 and 3) with an AHA instructor. Pass the skills session and your certification is issued the same day — most sessions take well under an hour.

Question 21

I did the HeartCode online course somewhere else — can I do just the skills session with you?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Bring your valid HeartCode Part 1 completion certificate for BLS, ACLS, PALS, or Heartsaver and we'll run your hands-on skills session at our Orlando or Celebration location — or at yours. Skills sessions are $65 to $85 depending on the course, with your certification issued on the spot.

Question 22

Do you really come to our location for AHA classes?

Accepted Answer

Yes — off-site delivery is what we're built for. We bring the complete AHA course to your practice, facility, school, or group anywhere across Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Volusia, Brevard, Polk, and Sumter County, any day of the week, including evenings and weekends, with same-day cards for your whole team.

American Heart Association Certification

AHA BLS · ACLS · PALS · Heartsaver Certification Classes

Choose Your AHA Class

BLS

ACLS

PALS

Heartsaver

American Heart Association HeartCode Skills Sessions

AHA HeartCode BLS Skills Session

AHA HeartCode ACLS Skills Session

AHA HeartCode PALS Skills Session

AHA HeartCode Heartsaver Skills Session

Get AHA Certified at Our Location

Get AHA Certified at Your Location

The Central Florida Difference

Official AHA Training Site

Same-Day Certification

Experienced Instructors

We Come to You

What Students Say About Our Classes & Skills Sessions

Frequently Asked Questions

Areas We Serve