How to Add BLS and CPR Certifications on a Resume

If you’ve earned your BLS or CPR certification, you’ve proven that you can stay calm and step in when someone’s worst moment becomes your responsibility. For many employers, it’s one of the clearest signals that you’re ready to protect the people in your care.

BLS and CPR certifications benefit a wide range of professionals: nurses and nursing students, EMTs and paramedics, CNAs and medical assistants, home health aides, childcare providers, teachers, coaches, fitness professionals, lifeguards, and anyone working in environments where safety and quick thinking are essential.

Listing these certifications on your professional resume is simple. You just need to place them where recruiters naturally look, such as your certifications section, education, skills, or even your professional summary, and format them clearly with the certification name, issuing organization, and date earned.

Understanding BLS and CPR Certifications

What is BLS certification?

Basic Life Support (BLS) certification trains you to respond to life-threatening emergencies using technical skills like CPR, AED operation, rescue breathing, and coordinated team-based response. It’s the standard credential for clinical and healthcare environments, including hospitals, EMS teams, clinics, and long-term care settings.

What is CPR certification?

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) certification covers the essential skills needed to keep blood and oxygen flowing during cardiac arrest. It includes chest compressions, rescue breaths, and basic AED use. CPR training is widely required not only in healthcare but also in childcare, education, fitness, hospitality, public safety, and other roles where staff interact closely with the public.

Although people often use the terms interchangeably, BLS and CPR are not the same. CPR provides the most fundamental skills needed to respond to a cardiac emergency, while BLS teaches more advanced techniques.

When to Include a BLS and CPR Certification on Your Resume

For job descriptions that say “BLS required” or “Current CPR certification required,” place it where the hiring manager will see it immediately. If you’re applying to any of the following, your certification should appear high on your resume:

• Nursing and nursing support roles
• Emergency medical services
• Hospital and clinic positions
• Home health and long-term care roles
• First responder and public safety positions

Even if it’s not mandatory, BLS or CPR boosts your resume when applying for a job where safety and public interaction are part of the job. In these cases, a quick mention in your certifications or skills section is enough to strengthen your application. These roles include:

• Teachers, coaches, and childcare providers
• Lifeguards and fitness instructors
• Hospitality and recreation staff
• Corporate safety officers or staff responsible for emergency response

If the role has no safety component, listing BLS or CPR may not be relevant and could actually distract from your core expertise.

Essential Information to Include

• Certification Name: Use the full name followed by the acronym so both ATS systems and hiring managers recognize it.
• Issuing Organization: Name the certification program to show it’s credible.
• Issue Date: Include the month and year you earned it.
• Expiration Date: Most certifications last two years, so employers need to see they’re current.
• Certification Number: You can add the certificate or credential number if your provider offers one, but it’s not required.

Where to Place BLS and CPR on a Resume

The right placement depends on how relevant the certification is to the role and how many credentials you hold. Here’s how to choose the best placement for your situation.

Option 1: Dedicated Certifications Section

Showcase it this way if you have multiple certifications and want them to stand out.

Example:

Certifications

• Basic Life Support (BLS) – Advanced Medical Certification, Expires June 2026
• CPR Certification – Advanced Medical Certification, Expires June 2026

Option 2: Skills Section

Use this placement when you only have one or two certifications and prefer a streamlined resume layout.

Here’s an example of how to list these qualifications:

Skills 

• Basic Life Support (BLS) Certified
• CPR Certified

Option 3: Professional Summary/Objective

Use this placement at the top of your resume when the certification is required for the job and needs to be seen immediately.

Example:

Professional Summary
Certified Medical Assistant with 4+ years of patient care experience and current BLS and CPR certifications.

Option 4: Education Section

Use this placement when the certification was part of your training program, or you’re a recent graduate.

Example:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Glendale University
• Additional Training: CPR & Basic Life Support (BLS)

Option 5: Work Experience Section

Use this placement when you used your BLS or CPR skills directly in the role.

Example:

Emergency Department Technician – Mercy Hospital

• Performed CPR and assisted with AED use during rapid response events

Formatting Examples by Job Type

Sometimes the easiest way to format your resume is to see how it looks in real-life examples. Here are clear templates for different industries.

Health Care Professionals

Professional Summary

Compassionate Registered Nurse with 5+ years of acute care experience. Current BLS and ACLS certifications; skilled in rapid assessment, patient triage, and emergency response.

Certifications

• Basic Life Support (BLS) -- Advanced Medical Certification, Expires May 2026
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) -- Advanced Medical Certification, Expires May 2026
• CPR Certification -- Advanced Medical Certification, Expires May 2026

Teachers and Childcare Workers

Skills

• CPR Certified
• First Aid Certified
• Classroom Safety & Supervision
• Behavior Management

Certifications
CPR Certification -- Advanced Medical Certification, Expires April 2026

Fitness and Recreation

Certifications
Basic Life Support (BLS) -- Advanced Medical Certification, Expires August 2026
CPR & AED Certification -- Advanced Medical Certification, Expires August 2026

Work Experience
Head Lifeguard -- Blue Wave Aquatics

• Utilized CPR certification to respond to in-pool emergencies and support guest safety
• Conducted daily safety checks and supervised a team of 10 lifeguards

Security and Safety Roles

Professional Summary

Detail-oriented Security Officer with 6+ years of experience in public safety and emergency response. Current CPR and First Aid certification; trained in de-escalation and incident reporting.

Skills

• CPR Certified
• Emergency Response Preparedness
• Conflict Resolution

Proper Formatting Guidelines

To make your BLS and CPR certifications easy for hiring managers to spot, follow these simple formatting rules:

• Use consistent font, spacing, and layout across your document
• Bold the certification name so it stands out in a quick scan.
• Use bullet points to keep your certifications clean and readable.
• Avoid clutter or overly stylized formats.
• Spell out the certification the first time, followed by the acronym (e.g., Basic Life Support (BLS)).

Sample Resume Sections

1. Single Certification

Certifications

• Basic Life Support (BLS) – Advanced Medical Certification, Expires May 2026

2. Single Certification With Credential Number

Certifications

• Basic Life Support (BLS) – Advanced Medical Certification, Credential ID: #00000000, Expires May 2026

3. Multiple Certifications

Certifications

• Basic Life Support (BLS) – Advanced Medical Certification, Expires June 2026
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) – Advanced Medical Certification, Expires June 2026
• CPR Certification – American Red Cross, Expires June 2026

4. Certifications Listed Under Skills

Skills

• Basic Life Support Certified
• CPR Certified
• Patient Assessment
• Emergency Response

5. Certifications Integrated Into Education Section

Education
Associate Degree in Nursing -- Lakeview College

Additional Training:

• Basic Life Support (BLS) – Advanced Medical Certification, Expires April 2026
• CPR Certification – Advanced Medical Certification, Expires April 2026

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Listing

Even strong resumes can lose credibility if certifications are listed incorrectly. Avoid these common pitfalls:

• Listing expired certifications
• Omitting expiration dates
• Using incorrect issuing organization names
• Placing certifications next to your name
• Including certifications for irrelevant roles
• Poor formatting or inconsistent style

How to List In-Progress or Expired Certifications

If you're actively completing a BLS or CPR course, you can include it on your resume as long as you’re clear that it’s not finished yet.

Example:
Basic Life Support (BLS) -- In Progress, Expected March 2026

Also, never list an expired certification as active. If it expired very recently and you’re already scheduled to renew, you may briefly note the update.

Example:
Basic Life Support (BLS) -- Expired Feb 2025, Renewal Scheduled

If it has been expired for a while, leave it off entirely.

BLS and CPR credentials typically renew every two years. Update your resume as soon as renewal is complete to prevent outdated or missing expiration dates from appearing before potential employers.

Additional Related Certifications

BLS and CPR often go hand-in-hand with other emergency-response credentials. If you hold multiple certifications, grouping them together can make your resume easier to read and highlight your full range of lifesaving skills.

ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)

A more advanced certification for healthcare professionals who manage cardiac emergencies, including nurses, paramedics, and hospital-based clinicians.

PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)

Specialized training for responding to medical emergencies involving infants and children.

First Aid

Covers essential skills like wound care, bleeding control, and injury management. Useful in education, childcare, fitness, and community-facing roles.

AED training

Focuses on correctly operating an automated external defibrillator. Sometimes included in CPR courses, but you can list it separately if earned individually.

If you hold several related certifications, list them together under one header to create a clean, organized section. That can look like this:

Certifications

• Basic Life Support (BLS) -- Advanced Medical Certification, Expires 2026
• CPR Certification -- American Red Cross, Expires 2026
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) --Advanced Medical Certification
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) --Advanced Medical Certification
• First Aid Certification -- Advanced Medical Certification

Industry-Specific Considerations

Different fields place different levels of importance on BLS and CPR certifications. Tailoring how you present these credentials helps ensure your resume meets industry expectations.

Health Care Field Requirements

Hospitals, clinics, EMS agencies, and long-term care facilities almost always require BLS and often CPR, ACLS, or PALS as well. For these, you should list certifications prominently and make sure expiration dates are current.

Education Sector Expectations

Teachers, coaches, school nurses, early childhood staff, and after-school program leaders are often encouraged (if not required) to maintain CPR and First Aid. Adding these to your resume can be more flexible, but it’s a good idea to include them.

Hospitality Industry

Hotels, resorts, cruise lines, security teams, and event venues appreciate candidates trained in CPR and AED use. While not always mandatory, listing your certification can give you a competitive edge.

Fitness and Wellness Centers

Personal trainers, yoga instructors, swim coaches, lifeguards, and gym staff usually need CPR, BLS, and AED training. Certifications should appear near the top of the document since they’re often required for employment or insurance compliance.

Optimizing for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Most employers use Applicant Tracking Systems to scan resumes before a human ever sees them. The more ATS-friendly your resume is, the higher your chances of making it to a real hiring manager. To ensure your BLS and CPR certifications are picked up correctly, you can:

Use Keywords from the Job Description

ATS matches your resume to the posting based on exact keywords. If the job description mentions “Basic Life Support (BLS)” or “CPR certification,” use those exact terms in your resume.

Use Clear, Standard Heading Names

ATS reads common section headers best, including:

• Certifications
• Licenses & Certifications
• Skills
• Education

Format for Machine Readability

• Use simple fonts (Arial, Calibri, Helvetica).
• Avoid tables, text boxes, columns, icons, or graphics.
• Spell out certifications before using acronyms.
• Keep dates in a clear format: June 2026 or 06/2026.
• Place certifications in a text-based section, not an image or PDF scan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I put BLS/CPR certification on my resume?

Yes, if it's required or relevant to the job.

Where do I put CPR certification on a resume?

Usually in the certifications section, but it can also go in skills, summary, or education.

How do I list BLS certification on a resume?

Include the full name, acronym, issuing organization, and expiration date.

What information should I include with my certification?

Certification name, provider, issue date, expiration date, and certification number.

Should I list expired certifications?

No. Only list active certifications on your resume.

Can I list certifications in progress?

Yes, just label them clearly as “In Progress” with an expected completion date.

Do I need to include the certification number?

This is optional, but you can add it if the employer requests it.

How often should I update my resume with new certifications?

Update immediately after completing or renewing any certification.

Highlighting Your Life-Saving Skills

Placing your BLS and CPR certifications correctly helps employers quickly see that you’re trained and ready to help in high-stakes situations. Take a moment to review your resume, update expiration dates, and format your certifications clearly so potential employers don’t miss your great qualifications.