Exams and Testing

Written Exams

Written exams are required for BLS courses. Exams are not required for blended learning courses. Only American Heart Association–approved exams may be used; current versions are A and B. All instructors must use exams that reflect the 2025 guidelines. Instructors may not create or use their own exams or answer sheets.

Students must score at least 84% to pass. Students who do not achieve a passing score may take the alternate exam version. Those who fail a second time must enroll in a new course and may not be issued an eCard.

Exams can be requested from the training site at info@blstrainingcenters.com. All exam materials must be stored securely, with access limited to authorized instructors for that discipline.

Open Resource Exams

Written exams are open-resource. Students may use their provider manual, reference cards, and any notes taken during the class. However, students may not communicate with other students or the instructor during the exam.

Skills Evaluation

Skills evaluations are required for all BLS and HeartSaver courses. Instructors must use only the American Heart Association skills evaluation checklists.

During skills evaluations, students should perform each skill without prompting. Instructors should wait until the skill is completed before providing feedback on any missed steps. Whenever possible, evaluations should be conducted privately.

Students who do not pass the skills evaluation must receive remediation and then retest, completing the entire skill again. Instructors should consult the instructor manual and use professional judgment to determine the need for additional remediation or testing.

For additional information instructors may reference the “Testing” section of their instructor manual.