What happens if I let it lapse?

You retake the course. There is no penalty and it is not a different or longer class, so a lapsed card is an inconvenience rather than a problem.

Partly. Blended learning lets you do the coursework online and then complete an in person skills check, which Pam offers at $88. A fully online course with no hands on assessment is not accepted by most employers.

Does a Family and Friends class expire?

There is nothing to expire, because no card is issued. The skill still fades, so refreshing every couple of years is sensible.

How Long Does CPR Certification Last?

Q: How long does CPR certification last?

Two years from the date of the class, for American Heart Association and American Red Cross certification cards alike.

Two years. American Heart Association and American Red Cross certification cards, including Heartsaver and BLS, are valid for two years from the date of the class. After that you retake the course to stay current. A Family and Friends class does not expire, because it does not issue a card in the first place.

Why two years, and why that is longer than your skills last

The two year window is an administrative interval, not a measure of how long you stay competent. Research on skill retention consistently shows that CPR performance degrades well inside that window, particularly compression depth, which is the thing people were least confident about to begin with.

That is not an argument for panic, it is an argument for treating a refresher as maintenance. Families who did a class when their first baby arrived very often book another when the second one does, and the second class goes further because the basics are already in their hands.

A valid card is not the same as current technique

The 2025 guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics retired the two finger technique for infant compressions. If you were trained before that, your card may have a year left on it and your hand position may still be the old one. See what changed in 2025.

What if mine already expired?

Nothing dramatic happens. You take the course again. It is the same class at the same price, not a penalty version, and there is no grace period to negotiate. If a start date or a compliance deadline is bearing down on you, say so when you book and Pam will work to it.

Can renewal be done online?

Partly, and the distinction matters. Blended learning means you complete the knowledge portion online at your own pace and then meet an instructor in person for a hands on skills check. Pam offers that skills verification at $88, which suits people who cannot give up half a working day.

What does not work is a course that is entirely online with no in person assessment. Most employers, school districts and licensing boards will not accept a certification where nobody ever watched you perform compressions. If you are buying a course online, check that a skills check is included before you pay.

Renewing a group

Practices, clinics, daycares and schools usually find that cards drift out of sync, with staff expiring in ones and twos across the year. Bringing everyone onto one date through custom group training is cheaper and much easier to administer than chasing individuals. Groups of six or more get a discount on BLS.

Which course am I renewing?

If you are unsure whether your role needs Heartsaver or BLS, read which CPR certification you need before booking. Renewing into the wrong course is a common and expensive mistake.

Reading this is not the same as training

This page exists so the information is in your head before you need it. It is not a substitute for putting your hands on a manikin with an instructor watching. Skills fade, and the difference between knowing the steps and being able to do them under adrenaline is practice. If you are in Indianapolis, book a class. If you are not, find an AHA or Red Cross class near you.

Sources: American Red Cross; American Heart Association.

How long does CPR certification last?