ARC CPR/AED and AHA BLS

Otessa, BSN, RN · Oct 1, 2009

You may want to look at the AHA and ARC website. I know they look at each other's cards as equivalent when needing to renew-so you wouldn't have to take the full, first time ever class. If a job requires AHA Healthcare Provider-not sure if ARC professional rescuer is the same.

liebling5, MSN, RN · Oct 1, 2009

I am an AHA BLS Instructor. The ARC version is NOT the same, and is usually not accepted in most health-care facilities where I have given classes. The ARC and AHA used to be very similar and cross-certified, but not since 2005. Many nursing schools also require the AHA version because of the nearly-universal acceptance. Last I heard, the ARC cards are only good for one year, and the AHA ones are good for two years.

Another thing: do not get conned into an online version of BLS. You need to take a physical class to demonstrate skill. :coollook:

WildviewLPN84 · Oct 1, 2009

My ARC is good for two years however most of the jobs I'm looking at are asking for BLS certification. This is definitely frustrating as ARC or AHA was acceptable for my school and we weren't told employers would be looking for AHA. It also doesn't appear as though it's as easy to find an AHA course as it was to set up a class for ARC.

knitter523 · Oct 1, 2009

ARC certifications are for the general public and out of hospital providers (Fire, Police, Lifeguards, EMT's etc.) and AHA is for hospital based providers.

Both teach the same principles but are not granted reciprocity. Check with the hospital but I am sure you will need AHA.

chare · Oct 1, 2009

i recently graduated with my lpn and passed my boards in ohio last week. i took cpr/aed for the professional rescuer through the arc. can i put that i'm bls qualified on my resume ? isn't this considered the same as bls through the aha ?

the aha and arc renew statement of understanding. this statement became effective june 30, 2007 and remains in effect until june 30, 2011. in this revised statement of understanding between the aha and the arc, the "aha and arc agree to recognize the other's student level cpr, aed and first aid training programs as equivalent in content, as shown in the following table of courses" located on page 3. in this table arc cpr/aed for the professional rescuer is listed as equivalent to aha basic life support for healthcare providers.

rather than stating that you are "bls qualified", it might be more appropriate to list arc cpr/aed for the professional rescuer course completion in the certification/skills section of your resume.

i hope this information is helpful. :specs: