To renew BLS certification in Utah, complete a current BLS Provider course accepted by the organization requiring your credential, complete the required hands-on skills evaluation, and receive a new BLS certification card. If you are renewing BLS for a Utah EMS license, the course must meet the requirements established by the Utah Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (BEMS).
Utah BEMS specifically requires applicants for EMS license renewal to verify completion of a BLS Provider CPR course. BEMS also maintains a list of approved BLS/CPR courses, and those courses must include an in-person skills evaluation completed by an instructor. For healthcare professionals who are not renewing a Utah EMS license, the BLS requirement can instead come from an employer, hospital, healthcare program, clinical site, or professional organization. Therefore, the correct renewal course depends on why you need BLS certification and which organization requires it.
In this guide, you will learn who needs to renew BLS certification in Utah, which courses Utah BEMS accepts for EMS licensing, how to complete the required skills evaluation, whether you can complete BLS training online, what happens when your certification expires, and how BLS renewal differs from Utah EMS license renewal.
BLS Certification Renewal Requirements in Utah
BLS renewal requirements depend on the purpose of your certification.
If you are renewing BLS for employment or a healthcare program, verify the credential and course format accepted by the organization requiring your certification.
If you are an EMT, AEMT, or paramedic renewing a Utah EMS license, Utah BEMS requires verification of a BLS Provider CPR course. BEMS also has additional requirements for AEMT and paramedic license renewal, including pediatric education for AEMTs and paramedics and ACLS for paramedics.
The important distinction is that BLS certification renewal and Utah EMS license renewal are separate processes. Renewing your BLS card does not by itself renew your Utah EMS license.
Who Needs to Renew BLS Certification in Utah?
BLS certification is primarily used by healthcare professionals, trained first responders, and people enrolled in healthcare education programs.
Professionals who commonly need current BLS certification include:
- Nurses
- Physicians
- EMTs
- Advanced EMTs
- Paramedics
- Dentists
- Dental hygienists
- Respiratory therapists
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Medical assistants
- Healthcare students
- Other patient-care professionals
The exact requirement depends on your workplace, clinical responsibilities, educational program, professional credential, or Utah licensing requirements.
For Utah EMS professionals, BLS is directly incorporated into the state EMS licensure process. BEMS requires verification of a BLS Provider CPR course for renewal at the applicable EMS license levels.
How to Renew BLS Certification in Utah
1. Check Your BLS Certification Expiration Date
Start by checking the expiration date on your current BLS certification card.
An AHA BLS Provider course completion card, for example, is valid for two years.
If your employer or school requires current BLS certification, do not wait until the last possible day to renew. You may need time to find an available course, complete the training, pass the skills evaluation, and submit the new certification card.
2. Determine Why You Need BLS Certification
Before registering for a renewal course, identify the organization requiring your BLS credential.
You may need BLS certification for:
- Healthcare employment
- Hospital credentialing
- Nursing school
- Clinical rotations
- Medical training
- EMS licensure
- Dental practice requirements
- Workplace requirements
- Professional certification
This matters because not every CPR or BLS course satisfies every organization’s requirements.
For example, a Utah paramedic renewing a Utah EMS license needs to follow the BEMS requirements, while a nurse may need to follow the credentialing policy of the hospital or healthcare employer.
3. Choose a BLS Course That Meets the Requirement
Choose a BLS course from a provider and certification organization accepted by the organization requesting your credential.
For Utah EMS licensing, BEMS currently lists several accepted BLS/CPR courses. These include:
- American Heart Association BLS Provider
- American Red Cross Basic Life Support
- American Safety & Health Institute BLS Provider
- National Safety Council BLS Healthcare and Professional Rescuer
- Military Training Network Healthcare Provider
- EMS Safety Services BLS for Healthcare Providers
- ProTrainings ProCPR with the required skills evaluation
- Other courses specifically listed by Utah BEMS
If your BLS certification is being used for Utah EMS licensure, check the current BEMS-approved course list before registering because the approved course list can change.
4. Complete the BLS Renewal Training
Complete the cognitive and practical components required by your selected BLS course.
BLS training focuses on professional resuscitation skills, including:
- High-quality CPR
- Adult CPR
- Child CPR
- Infant CPR
- Rescue breathing
- AED use
- Two-rescuer CPR
- Choking relief
- Team dynamics
- Recognition of cardiac arrest
- Coordinated resuscitation
The American Heart Association currently offers BLS through classroom and blended-learning formats. Its blended option combines online BLS education with a hands-on skills session.
5. Complete the Required BLS Skills Evaluation
A BLS renewal is not simply an online knowledge test.
You must demonstrate the required BLS skills according to the course you take.
For Utah EMS licensing, this distinction is particularly important. Utah BEMS states that its approved CPR, pediatric, and ACLS courses must include an in-person skills evaluation completed by an instructor.
Therefore, an online-only BLS course without the required hands-on skills evaluation does not satisfy the BEMS requirement for EMS professional licensing.
During a skills evaluation, you may demonstrate skills such as:
- Adult CPR
- Child CPR
- Infant CPR
- Chest compressions
- Rescue breathing
- AED operation
- Two-rescuer CPR
- Team-based resuscitation
6. Successfully Complete the Course
After completing the required training and skills evaluation, you must satisfy the course’s completion requirements.
Once successful, you receive your new BLS certification card or electronic course completion card.
For example, the AHA BLS Provider course issues a BLS Course Completion eCard that is valid for two years.
7. Submit Your New BLS Credential
Once you receive your new BLS certification, submit it to the organization that requires it.
Depending on your situation, that could be:
- Your hospital
- Healthcare employer
- Nursing school
- Clinical program
- Dental practice
- EMS agency
- Utah BEMS
- Another credentialing organization
Keep a copy of your current BLS card for your records.
Note: If you need additional help renewing your BLS Certification in Utah, then call our support. Call (888) 618-0911. We will guide you step by step on renewing your BLS Certification easily that is relevant to you.
BLS Renewal for Utah EMS Professionals
Utah EMS professionals have requirements that are different from those of someone who only needs BLS for an employer.
Utah BEMS requires applicants renewing an EMS license to verify completion of a BLS Provider CPR course. The renewal application is completed through the Utah EMS licensing system.
EMT BLS Renewal in Utah
EMTs renewing a Utah EMS license must verify completion of a BLS Provider CPR course as part of the state renewal process.
The BLS credential is one component of EMS license renewal, not a replacement for the entire Utah EMS renewal process.
AEMT BLS Renewal in Utah
AEMTs also need to verify a BLS Provider CPR course when renewing their Utah EMS license.
Utah BEMS additionally requires AEMT applicants to verify approved pediatric education such as PEPP, PALS, EPC, or an equivalent qualification.
Paramedic BLS Renewal in Utah
Paramedics renewing a Utah EMS license must verify their BLS Provider CPR course and also meet additional requirements.
Utah BEMS specifically requires paramedic renewal applicants to verify ACLS as well as the applicable pediatric education requirement.
Therefore, renewing BLS does not complete all of the requirements for renewing a Utah paramedic license.
What BLS Courses Does Utah BEMS Accept?
Utah BEMS maintains an approved list of CPR, BLS, pediatric, and ACLS courses that meet its requirements for EMS professional licensing and license renewal.
The current BLS/CPR list includes courses from organizations such as the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, American Safety & Health Institute, National Safety Council, Military Training Network, ProTrainings, and other approved providers.
For someone renewing BLS specifically for Utah EMS licensure, choosing a course from the current BEMS-approved list is important.
Do not assume that every course advertised as “BLS certification” automatically meets Utah BEMS requirements.
Does Utah BEMS Require an In-Person BLS Skills Evaluation?
Yes. Utah BEMS states that approved CPR, pediatric, and ACLS courses must include an in-person skills evaluation completed by an instructor. This is particularly important when comparing online and blended BLS courses.
Completing BLS coursework online does not necessarily mean that you have completed the full BLS certification requirement for Utah EMS licensing.
A blended course can combine:
Online BLS coursework + In-person skills evaluation
This format allows you to complete the cognitive portion online while still completing the practical component required for the credential.
Can You Renew BLS Certification Online in Utah?
You can complete the educational portion of some BLS courses online, but an online-only course may not satisfy the BLS requirement for Utah EMS licensing.
The American Heart Association offers a blended BLS option that combines HeartCode BLS with a hands-on skills session.
For Utah EMS professionals, the hands-on portion is especially important because BEMS requires an in-person instructor skills evaluation for approved CPR courses.
If your employer requires BLS certification rather than Utah EMS licensure, confirm the employer’s specific requirements before choosing an online or blended format.
Is BLS Certification the Same as CPR Certification in Utah?
No. BLS certification and general CPR certification are different credentials, although BLS includes CPR skills.
BLS is designed for healthcare professionals, trained first responders, and people enrolled in healthcare training programs. The AHA BLS Provider course covers professional-level resuscitation skills and results in a BLS Course Completion eCard.
General CPR certification can be appropriate for people who need CPR and AED training for workplace, school, childcare, fitness, or other settings.
If a Utah hospital, healthcare employer, clinical program, or EMS licensing authority specifically requires BLS Provider certification, a general CPR certificate should not automatically be treated as an equivalent credential.
Can You Renew BLS Before It Expires?
Yes. You can plan your BLS renewal before your current certification expires.
Renewing before expiration gives you time to:
- Find an appropriate course
- Complete online coursework if applicable
- Attend the skills session
- Complete the skills evaluation
- Receive your new certification card
- Submit the credential to your employer or licensing organization
For healthcare professionals whose employment depends on current BLS credentials, avoiding a lapse can prevent credentialing problems.
What Happens If Your BLS Certification Expires?
An expired BLS certification should not be presented as a current credential.
If your BLS certification has expired, determine what your employer, school, or licensing organization requires before registering for a course.
For Utah EMS professionals, BEMS has a separate reinstatement process for individuals whose Utah EMS license has expired. The reinstatement requirements include verification of a BLS Provider CPR course, with additional requirements applying to AEMTs and paramedics.
This is another reason to distinguish BLS certification expiration from Utah EMS license expiration. They are not the same credential.
How Long Is BLS Certification Valid in Utah?
The validity period depends on the certification organization.
For the American Heart Association, the BLS Provider Course Completion eCard is valid for two years.
Your employer or licensing organization may also establish a credentialing deadline that requires you to maintain current certification throughout your employment or clinical placement.
Always check the expiration date on your current BLS card and the requirements of the organization requesting the credential.
Where Can You Renew BLS Certification in Utah?
You can renew BLS certification through an appropriate training provider offering a course accepted for your intended purpose.
Utah BEMS maintains an approved list for EMS professional licensing, so EMTs, AEMTs, and paramedics should verify that their selected course meets BEMS requirements before enrolling.
For healthcare professionals outside the Utah EMS licensing system, confirm whether your employer, hospital, school, or professional program requires a specific organization such as the American Heart Association.
Renew Your BLS Certification in Utah
Renewing BLS certification in Utah requires completing a current BLS Provider course that meets the requirements of the organization requiring your credential, including any required hands-on skills evaluation. For EMTs, AEMTs, and paramedics renewing Utah EMS licenses, the course must meet Utah BEMS requirements, while other healthcare professionals should follow their employer, school, hospital, or professional organization’s requirements. Choose the appropriate course before enrolling, complete all required training and skills evaluation, and submit your new BLS credential before your current certification expires.
Once you know which BLS course you need, the next step is finding a convenient training option that meets your requirements. At Utah CPR Classes, you can complete American Heart Association BLS certification and renewal classes, along with ACLS and PALS certification classes. Get your certification the same day through a convenient training process designed to meet workplace requirements, with AHA credentials accepted nationwide. Join a class today and renew your BLS certification faster.
