AHA vs Red Cross CPR certification
Both are widely accepted, but not interchangeably. What differs between American Heart Association and American Red Cross certification, and how to tell which one you need.
This guide has not yet been reviewed by a certified instructor. It is written from published course materials — confirm requirements with your employer or school.
The American Heart Association and the American Red Cross both issue CPR certification that is widely recognized across the United States. The practical question is not which is "better" — it is which one the organization asking for your card will accept.
The short answer
- Both teach to the same underlying resuscitation science, which comes from the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation consensus.
- Both issue cards that are typically valid for two years.
- Healthcare settings more often specify the AHA, particularly for BLS, ACLS and PALS.
- Workplace, school, childcare and community requirements are more often satisfied by either, and the Red Cross is common in those settings.
If your employer or program names one, book that one. If they say "AHA or equivalent", Red Cross is usually accepted — but confirm, because "or equivalent" is decided by the person receiving your card, not by us.
How the course names line up
| Purpose | AHA course | Red Cross equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare provider CPR | BLS Provider | BLS for Healthcare Providers |
| Layperson CPR/AED | Heartsaver CPR/AED | Adult and Pediatric CPR/AED |
| CPR with first aid | Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED | Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED |
| Advanced cardiac care | ACLS | Advanced Life Support |
| Pediatric advanced care | PALS | Pediatric Advanced Life Support |
The names differ more than the content does. When a requirement is written in AHA vocabulary, that is often habit rather than an explicit exclusion of the Red Cross — but it can also be a hard rule, especially in hospitals.
Where the difference actually matters
Hospitals and clinical placements. These are the most likely to require the AHA specifically, and the least likely to make an exception. Nursing and allied-health programs frequently name the AHA in their handbooks.
Advanced courses. ACLS and PALS requirements in clinical employment are commonly written around the AHA versions.
Workplaces, schools and childcare. Requirements here usually come from OSHA guidance or state licensing rules, which tend to describe the content of the training rather than name an issuing organization. Either is typically fine.
What does not differ
- Neither organization "accredits" training centers. They authorize them to teach their courses. A class is taught by an AHA-authorized provider or a Red Cross training provider; certification is issued upon successful completion.
- Both require hands-on skills for the certifications employers usually ask for. A fully online course with no skills check is frequently rejected regardless of whose name is on it.
- Both expire, typically after two years.
How to decide in one step
Ask whoever is requesting the card: "Do you accept American Red Cross, or does it have to be American Heart Association?" That single question resolves it, and it is far cheaper to ask than to discover the answer after paying for the wrong class.
Booking a class
CPR Class Finder lists classes from both AHA-authorized and Red Cross training providers. You can filter classes by issuing organization when you search, compare dates and prices, and book online.