Image Source – American Heart Associations Emails
The American Heart Association (AHA) is preparing for one of the most significant updates in resuscitation training and guidelines. On October 22, 2025, the new AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC will be officially released, marking an important milestone for healthcare providers, instructors, and training centers worldwide.
These changes will impact Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Heartsaver® First Aid CPR AED courses. With updated materials, new delivery formats, and revised instructor requirements, it’s essential to stay informed and prepared for the upcoming transition.
Healthcare professionals and instructors who use the Atlas portal will be able to access regular monthly updates through the Science and Guidelines page. This ensures that providers and educators remain aligned with the latest research, science, and clinical practices as published by the AHA.
The AHA has announced exciting launches alongside the new guidelines, including:
Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI®) program
International Version English (IVE) HeartCode® programs
Updates for BLS, ACLS, and PALS training modules
IVE Heartsaver® First Aid CPR AED programs
To support global learning, HeartCode® BLS will also be released in multiple languages, including German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish.
The release will include a wide range of digital and printed training resources to help providers and instructors transition smoothly. These include:
2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC (reprint and digital formats)
Highlights of the 2025 AHA Guidelines (available in 19 languages)
2025 Science In-Service eLearning course (for healthcare professionals not serving as AHA instructors)
Instructor Updates for BLS, ACLS, PALS, PEARS, and Heartsaver (mandatory eLearning for instructors)
Interim training materials for BLS, ACLS, PALS, PEARS, ACLS EP, and Heartsaver
Product and Course Orientations for instructors (optional eLearning)
Instructor Essentials courses for BLS, ACLS, PALS, and Heartsaver (to be released in early 2026 in English, with other languages to follow)
Updates for ACLS EP and PEARS will be announced at a later stage.
Once the guidelines are released, instructors and training centers will have 90 days to complete their required updates. By March 1, 2026, all instructors must finish their mandatory eLearning updates to continue teaching under the new standards.
The update course links for instructors will be made available after the launch. Training centers are encouraged to begin planning ahead to avoid last-minute compliance issues.
One of the biggest changes involves Basic Life Support (BLS) training. Starting October 22, 2025, International Training Centers (ITCs) will begin shifting from traditional instructor-led BLS classes to the HeartCode® BLS blended learning format.
This new model will include:
eLearning portion of BLS training
Access to the BLS Provider Manual eBook within the HeartCode® course
BLS Provider eCard included with the training
Importantly, ITCs will no longer purchase separate eBooks or eCards. Instead, instructors will simply mark candidates as “Skill Test Pass” or “Remediation/Fail.”
AHA has confirmed that 2020 eBooks and streaming videos will not automatically convert to the 2025 versions. This means that instructors and training centers must purchase new digital resources to align with the updated guidelines.
Key points to note:
2020 Heartsaver, BLS, PALS, and ACLS eBooks and videos will not transition to 2025 automatically.
Redeeming a 2020 eBook code after the 2025 release will still provide access to the 2020 content, not the new edition.
Between October 22, 2025, and March 1, 2026, both the 2020 and 2025 versions of training resources will be available during the transition phase.
While this decision may seem inconvenient for some training centers, it ensures that learners are trained with the most accurate and updated clinical guidelines.
The 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC will incorporate the latest evidence-based research to improve survival rates and outcomes in cardiac arrest and emergency care situations. These changes affect:
Healthcare professionals who provide critical life-saving care
Instructors and training centers who deliver certified courses
Students and first responders preparing for real-life emergencies
By updating course formats, eLearning modules, and global accessibility, the AHA is ensuring that training remains consistent, effective, and accessible worldwide.
The release of the 2025 AHA Guidelines is not just an update—it’s a major shift in how CPR, BLS, ACLS, and PALS training will be delivered globally. With the move towards blended learning models like HeartCode®, instructors and training centers must adapt quickly to stay compliant and provide high-quality training.
To prepare, instructors should:
Mark October 22, 2025 as the official release date.
Watch for update links and resources on the AHA Atlas portal.
Budget for new eBooks, streaming videos, and instructor update courses.
Complete mandatory eLearning updates by March 1, 2026.
By planning ahead, training centers and instructors can ensure a smooth transition to the 2025 guidelines and continue delivering life-saving education without interruption.
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The AHA strongly promotes knowledge and proficiency in all AHA courses and has developed instructional materials for this purpose. Use of these materials in an educational course does not represent course sponsorship by the AHA. Any fees charged for such a course, except for a portion of fees needed for AHA course materials, do not represent income to the AHA.
