If your CPR or BLS card has lapsed, or is about to, you need one answer fast: can you do a short renewal, or must you retake the full course? This guide walks you through how to renew an expired CPR card, from reading your old card to storing the new one. By the end you will know which class to book and will hold a valid card.

Before you start, find your old card, or at least the provider name and the approximate date you trained. Also find out what your employer or licensing board requires. Step 3 covers this in detail, but having a contact in HR or at the board ready will save time.

Step 1: Check Your Card and Confirm the Expiration Date

Start with the card itself, whether it is a printed wallet card or an eCard in your email. Look for two dates: the issue date and the expiration date. Most CPR and BLS cards are valid for two years from the issue date, but do not rely on that rule. Read what is printed on yours.

A common mistake is assuming a card is good through the end of the month or year. If the card says a specific date, that is the date it ends. Some cards print only a month and year, and the issuer's rules determine whether that means the first or last day of that month, so check how your issuer defines it.

Next, identify the issuing organization. The two most common are the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Red Cross, though other providers exist. Renewal rules, class names, and eligibility differ between them, so this detail shapes every later step.

If you cannot find your card, you have two options:

  • Contact the training provider or instructor who taught your original class. They usually keep a roster and can resend your card or confirm your dates.
  • Use the issuer's eCard lookup on its website. AHA and Red Cross both offer a way to retrieve a digital card, typically by entering your name and email or a card code.

Write down the course name, issuing organization, and expiration date. You will need all three when you talk to your employer and the training center.

Step 2: Find Out Whether a Grace Period Applies

Many people believe a 30-day grace period exists after a CPR card expires. In general, it does not. As of 2026, a card past its printed expiration date is typically considered expired. Some employers, instructors, or training centers set their own policies, which is why you may hear conflicting answers from coworkers. Treat any grace period as local policy, not a universal rule.

What does exist is flexibility in which class you can take. Some instructors allow someone with a recently expired card into a shorter renewal or update class, as long as the lapse is brief. Others require anyone with an expired card to take the full course. The cutoff, if there is one, is set by the issuing organization's policy and the training center, not by a single national standard.

Before you book anything, contact the training center directly and ask these questions:

  1. My card expired on this date. Am I eligible for a renewal or update class?
  2. If not, which course do I need to take instead?
  3. Does the class carry the issuing organization's current curriculum and card?

Also check the issuer's current renewal policy on its website, since policies can change. If your employer sets its own rule, such as requiring continuous certification with no gaps, that rule can override what the training center would otherwise allow. Get the answer in writing if the certification is tied to your job.

Step 3: Confirm Which Certification Your Job or License Requires

Not every CPR card satisfies every requirement. The right class depends on your role, so confirm this before you choose a format or date.

There are two broad categories. CPR/AED courses are designed for the general public and for workplaces such as schools, gyms, and childcare settings. BLS (Basic Life Support) for Healthcare Providers is a more advanced course that nurses, EMTs, and other clinical staff usually need. BLS covers team-based resuscitation, advanced airway basics, and high-quality CPR in more depth. A standard CPR/AED card generally will not meet a healthcare employer's BLS requirement.

Ask your employer, your HR department, or your state licensing board for these details:

  • The exact course name required (for example, BLS Provider versus Heartsaver CPR/AED)
  • Which issuing organizations they accept
  • Whether an in-person, hands-on skills session is mandatory
  • Whether they require additional components such as First Aid or pediatric content

Be careful with online-only courses. Many healthcare employers and licensing boards reject certifications that have no hands-on skills check with an instructor. Some online-only providers advertise nationwide acceptance, but acceptance is decided by your employer or board, not by the provider. Confirm first and avoid paying for a card that gets turned down.

Here is an example of how requirements change the class you book. Imagine a childcare provider whose state licensing rules call for pediatric CPR and First Aid. A general adult CPR/AED renewal would not be enough. She would need a pediatric-focused course that includes First Aid, and that changes both the class and the time she needs to set aside.

Step 4: Choose a Renewal Format That Fits Your Schedule

Once you know the required course, pick the format. There are three common ones:

  • Fully in-person class: Everything happens in one session with an instructor, including lecture, practice, skills testing, and any written exam. This suits people who prefer to learn with others and ask questions as they go.
  • Blended learning: You complete the coursework online at your own pace, then attend a shorter hands-on skills session. This reduces time in a classroom while keeping the instructor-verified skills check that employers expect.
  • Skills-only check: If you have already finished the online portion, you attend only the hands-on session to demonstrate your skills. Confirm that the training center accepts your online completion before you book.

The key decision is renewal versus initial course. A renewal or update class is shorter than the initial course, but eligibility often requires a current card or one that expired very recently. Confirm that you qualify before enrolling, because showing up for a renewal class you are ineligible for can cost you the fee and the time.

If your card has been expired for a long time, plan on the full initial certification course. It takes longer, but it covers everything from the beginning, and it is the safer choice if you feel rusty on the skills anyway.

Midwest CPR Center offers CPR, First Aid, AED, and BLS courses, so you can match the class to the requirement you identified in Step 3. If you are unsure which one fits, ask before you register.

Step 5: Register and Prepare for Class

Book through an authorized training center, and confirm that the course is issued under the curriculum of the organization your employer or board accepts. If the listing does not name the issuing organization, ask. A class that is not issued under the right curriculum will not produce the card you need.

On the day of class, bring:

  • A photo ID
  • Your old card, if you have it, or the details from Step 1
  • Comfortable clothes you can kneel in, since compression practice happens on the floor

A little review beforehand makes the class easier. Refresh these key points:

  • Adult compressions: a rate of 100 to 120 per minute, at a depth of at least 2 inches (about 5 cm), allowing full chest recoil between compressions. These figures come from American Heart Association guidelines. AHA released its most recent guidelines update in 2025, so check that your instructor's materials reflect the current version.
  • The sequence for each age group: adults, children, and infants differ in hand placement, compression depth, and the ratio of compressions to breaths when two rescuers are present.
  • AED pad placement: pads go on bare, dry skin, with one on the upper right chest and one on the lower left side. Children and infants may need smaller pads or a pediatric setting.

You do not need to memorize everything, since your instructor will walk through it. Still, arriving familiar with the steps lets you spend class time refining technique rather than learning from scratch.

Step 6: Complete the Class, Skills Test, and Written Exam

Expect a hands-on class. You will practice compressions and breaths on manikins, use an AED trainer, and rehearse choking relief for adults, children, and infants. In BLS courses, you will also work through team-based scenarios, taking turns as compressor, airway provider, and team leader.

Instructors assess your skills in real time, so use practice time well. Ask for feedback on compression depth and recoil, which are the two points people most often get wrong. Many training manikins have feedback devices that show rate and depth, and watching them helps you correct yourself before the formal test.

Some courses also include a written exam. The passing score is set by the issuing organization, so verify the current threshold with your provider rather than relying on a number you heard elsewhere. If the exam is open-resource or covered during class, pay attention to the points your instructor emphasizes.

If you do not pass a skills station, do not panic. Ask your instructor about the retesting policy and whether remediation is available on the same day. Many training centers let you practice the weak area and try again before you leave, but policies differ, so ask at the start of class rather than after.

When you pass all components, the instructor will tell you how and when your card will be issued.

Step 7: Save Your New Card and Set a Renewal Reminder

Most providers now issue eCards by email, often within a day or so of passing. Watch for the message, including your spam folder, and claim your card promptly. Some eCard links require you to set up an account or confirm your details within a certain time, so do not let the email sit.

Once you have it, check that the course name and expiration date are correct, then send a copy to your employer or licensing board. If anything is wrong, contact the training center right away, since corrections are easiest soon after class.

Protect yourself against another lapse with a few simple habits:

  • Enter the new expiration date in your calendar, with reminders at 90 days and 30 days before it arrives.
  • Save a PDF of the card in cloud storage, and keep a printout somewhere safe.
  • Book your next renewal class early, since classes can fill up, especially near common deadlines.

Having the card stored in more than one place means you will not need to request a replacement the next time an employer asks for proof.

Keeping Your CPR Certification Current From Here

Check that your new card shows the correct course name and expiration date, send a copy to your employer, and schedule your next renewal before it lapses. Renewing on time keeps you eligible for the shorter class and saves you from repeating this process.

Don't wait until an emergency happens. Equip yourself and your team with life-saving skills today. Schedule your CPR certification class now and gain the confidence to respond when every second counts.