Price and class details checked .

When does my CPR card expire?

AHA CPR cards (BLS, ACLS, PALS and Heartsaver) are valid for two years through the end of the month they were issued, so a card issued on October 5, 2026 is good through October 31, 2028. Red Cross certificates last two years from the class completion date. We found no grace period from either group.

Written by Justin Alcalde, AHA and American Red Cross instructor, CPR West Covina

Check your card

Tap your cardValid forExpires onRenew with us
2 yearsEnd of the issue month, 2 years laterBLS Renewal, $89
2 yearsEnd of the issue month, 2 years laterSkills session, $79
2 yearsEnd of the issue month, 2 years laterACLS Renewal, $125
2 yearsEnd of the issue month, 2 years laterPALS Renewal, $125
2 yearsEnd of the issue month, 2 years laterHeartsaver class, $79
2 yearsEnd of the issue month, 2 years laterHeartsaver class, $98
2 years2 years after the class dateRed Cross class, $79.99
2 years2 years after the class dateRed Cross class, $69

AHA BLS Provider

Valid for 2 years. Expires: end of the issue month, 2 years later. Enter the issue date printed on your card. Every row fills in at once.

Renew with usAHA BLS Renewal, $89.
See the BLS Renewal class →

Your employer or licensing board decides which card they accept. Dates are from the AHA and the Red Cross, checked October 19, 2026.

Questions people ask

How long is a CPR card valid?

AHA cards (BLS Provider, ACLS, PALS and Heartsaver) and Red Cross certificates are both valid for two years. The AHA counts through the end of the month the card was issued. The Red Cross counts from the course completion date. If you are not sure which card your job calls for, see which CPR class do I need.

Does an AHA card expire at the end of the month?

Yes. The AHA says its cards are valid for two years through the end of the month the card was issued. A class on October 5, 2026 gives a card good through October 31, 2028. Your eCard prints this as a Renew By month and year, here 10/2028.

Is there a grace period after my CPR card expires?

We found none. No AHA page we read lists one. The AHA announced a temporary extension in 2020 during COVID-19, which is not a current rule. The Red Cross says that once more than two years have passed since your class, you take another class. Some employers set their own rules, so ask yours.

What if my CPR card has already expired?

The AHA says to contact a Training Center about your renewal options, and the pages we read do not say whether an expired card can still use a renewal class. The Red Cross says that after more than two years you take another class. Ask your employer whether they accept the card in the meantime, and call us at (626) 605-2067 to ask which of our classes fits.

If I renew early, do I lose the months I have left?

Neither the AHA nor the Red Cross page we read says that time left on the old card is added to the new one. A new AHA card runs two years from its own issue month, and a new Red Cross certificate runs two years from its class date. Plan on a fresh two years starting the day of your class.

How do I find the date on my card?

An AHA eCard shows the issue date and a Renew By month and year. You can look it up at heart.org/cpr/mycards with the eCard code. Red Cross certificates can be found at redcross.org/take-a-class/digital-certificate with your email, your name and class date, or the certificate ID. To keep your dates in one place, the certification tracker in our SOS First Aid app (a Pro feature) stores BLS, ACLS and PALS cards with their issue and expiration dates.

Questions about your card? Call us at (626) 605-2067.

Sources

This page is general guidance, not legal advice. The date printed on your card or certificate is the one that counts, and your employer, school or licensing board decides what it accepts, so confirm with them before you book.