Announcement
October 22, 2025
Timeline
Required Updates
Required Updates
Required Updates
Transition
Transition
Transition
Products
Transition
Transition
Announcement
Dear AHA Training Network:
This year marks an important milestone as we release the official 2025 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC). For decades, the AHA has led the development of these evidence-based guidelines, which are updated and translated into actionable recommendations and form the foundation of all AHA first aid, CPR, and ECC courses globally.
The AHA is the first and only US training organization directly involved in the creation of adult resuscitation science and education, leading the development of the official resuscitation guidelines used by all other US training providers. AHA also partners with the American Academy of Pediatrics to jointly create the pediatric and neonatal resuscitation guidelines.
The recommendations in the Guidelines reflect alignment with the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation consensus on science and evidence evaluation. AHA also conducts our own evidence evaluations and develops resuscitation care guidelines.
With over 400,000 AHA Instructors across more than 3,500 AHA Training Centers in 92 countries, we’re the world’s largest and most experienced provider of resuscitation training. Our mission to save lives through first aid, CPR, and ECC training is not possible without the important work you do each day. We thank you for your dedication, expertise, and passion.
Sincerely,
American Heart Association
Timeline
The 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC are scheduled to be released October 22, 2025.
AHA is simultaneously launching new, updated courses and materials for:
- Basic Life Support (BLS),
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS),
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and
- Heartsaver® First Aid CPR AED.
ACLS EP and PEARS courses will be updated to reflect the latest science in the Guidelines and released at a future date.
Instructor Essentials courses for Heartsaver®, BLS, ACLS, and PALS are expected to be released in early 2026.
The following materials will be available October 22 following the release of the Guidelines:
- 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC (Printed & Digital Options);
- Highlights of the 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC;
- BLS, Heartsaver®, ACLS, PALS, & PEARS® Instructor Updates (required eLearning for Instructors); and
2025 AHA Guidelines Science In-Service (an eLearning course for healthcare professionals who are not AHA Instructors).
Required Instructor Updates
Once the 2025 Guidelines are released for BLS, Heartsaver®, ACLS, PALS, and PEARS® (October 22, 2025), every AHA Instructor is required to complete the "2025 Instructor Update" course for each discipline he or she teaches.
What is the "2025 Instructor Update"?
- Provides an overview of new science and key changes for each discipline (i.e. BLS, Heartsaver®, ACLS, etc);
- Required eLearning course for Instructors;
- Must be completed by 11:59 pm on January 31, 2026;
- APHE TC is required to maintain records of each Instructor's completion certificates of Instructor Updates;
- Continuing Education credits will be offered;
- There is no cost to complete each "2025 Instructor Update"
NEW in 2025!
APHE TC can now assign and email the appropriate "2025 Instructor Update" course(s) direct to you!
- In late October, you will receive an email with links to the courses that you are required to complete.
- APHE TC will be able to view your course status and download your completion certificate.
"2025 Instructor Update" Requirements
- BLS Instructors will complete BLS & Heartsaver® Updates;
- Heartsaver® Instructors will complete Heartsaver® Updates;
- ACLS Instructors will complete ACLS Updates;
- PALS Instructors will complete PALS & PEARS®Updates;
- ACLS EP Instructors will complete ACLS EP Updates; and
- PEARS® Instructors will complete PEARS® Updates;
Even if you have purchased the materials, you cannot teach until you have completed the "2025 Instructor Update."
Transition
There will be a 90-day transition timeline during which AHA Instructors will need to take an Instructor Update course for each discipline they teach.
Beginning on February 1, 2026, ALL INSTRUCTORS must use the new, updated 2025 Guidelines course materials to teach the updated courses.
Any instructor can start teaching AHA classes using the 2025 Guidelines after October 22, 2025 and need not wait until February 1, 2026. However, in order to start teaching any course using the 2025 Guidelines, each Instructor is REQUIRED to:
- Complete the "2025 Instructor Update" for that discipline,
AND
- Purchase the 2025 Guidelines products for that discipline.
Many 2020 Guidelines products for BLS, ACLS, PALS, and Heartsaver® will NOT transition to 2025 Guidelines and must be replaced with 2025 Guidelines products prior to teaching the new AHA Guidelines and before February 1, 2026:
- Course Videos (streaming, USB, & DVD)
- Instructor Manuals (printed & eBooks)
- Provider Manuals (printed & eBooks)
Products
AHA 2025 Guidelines products must be used on February 1, 2026. Through our partnership with The Emergency Store, you can preorder 2025 Guidelines products now. Due to the expected volume of preorders, 2025 Guidelines products will ship in order of when the order was received.
Prior to February 1, 2026, ALL INSTRUCTORS will be required to provide proof of purchase of 2025 Guidelines products. Instructors who do not provide proof will not be permitted to teach AHA classes on or after February 1, 2026.
Follow the link below to The Emergency Store's AHA 2025 Guidelines preorder page.
You may also follow the individual page links (BLS, ACLS, etc) found in APHE's Instructor Resources.
