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Exam Review

Key Facts: AHA BLS Provider Exam

84%

Passing Score

AHA

100-120/min

Adult Compression Rate

2025 AHA Guidelines

2-2.4 in

Adult Compression Depth (5-6 cm)

2025 AHA Guidelines

30:2

Single-Rescuer Adult Ratio

2025 AHA Guidelines

15:2

Two-Rescuer Child/Infant Ratio

2025 AHA Guidelines

2 years

BLS Provider eCard Validity

AHA

100

Free Practice Questions

OpenExamPrep

The 2025 AHA BLS Provider course requires hands-on skill verification, passing the Adult CPR and AED Skills Test, passing the Infant CPR Skills Test, and scoring at least 84% on an open-resource knowledge exam. AHA does not publish a fixed knowledge-exam item count. The full instructor-led course takes approximately 4.5 hours including breaks and testing; HeartCode BLS combines online study with an instructor-led hands-on session, and HeartCode Complete uses an approved CPR Verification Station for the hands-on portion. This current study guide is accompanied by an independent 100-question practice bank; neither replaces official materials, hands-on training, or testing.

Sample AHA BLS Provider Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the AHA BLS Provider exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What is the recommended chest compression rate for high-quality CPR in an adult?
A.100 to 120 per minute
B.60 to 80 per minute
C.80 to 100 per minute
D.120 to 140 per minute
Explanation: AHA guidelines specify a compression rate of 100 to 120 per minute for adults. Rates slower than 100 reduce blood flow, while rates faster than 120 reduce compression depth and coronary perfusion.
2What is the recommended chest compression depth for an average adult?
A.At least 1 inch (2.5 cm)
B.At least 2 inches (5 cm) but not more than 2.4 inches (6 cm)
C.At least 3 inches (7.5 cm)
D.Exactly 1.5 inches (4 cm)
Explanation: For adults, compress at least 2 inches (5 cm) but avoid exceeding 2.4 inches (6 cm). Excessive depth can cause injury, while inadequate depth fails to circulate blood effectively.
3What compression-to-ventilation ratio should a single rescuer use for an adult in cardiac arrest?
A.15:2
B.5:1
C.30:2
D.10:2
Explanation: A single rescuer (and two rescuers) use a 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio for adults. This maximizes compression time while still providing ventilation.
4Why is allowing full chest recoil between compressions important?
A.It reduces rescuer fatigue only
B.It is only important for infants
C.It prevents rib fractures
D.It allows the heart to refill with blood, improving the next compression's output
Explanation: Full chest recoil lets the heart refill with venous blood between compressions, which increases cardiac output and coronary perfusion. Leaning on the chest impedes venous return and reduces effectiveness.
5What is the maximum recommended time to pause compressions for interventions such as rhythm analysis or ventilation?
A.Less than 10 seconds
B.Up to 30 seconds
C.Up to 1 minute
D.Pauses do not matter
Explanation: Interruptions in chest compressions should be limited to less than 10 seconds whenever possible. Prolonged pauses sharply reduce coronary perfusion pressure and lower survival.
6What chest compression fraction (CCF) should rescue teams target during resuscitation?
A.At least 20%
B.At least 60%, ideally 80% or higher
C.At least 40%
D.Exactly 50%
Explanation: Chest compression fraction is the proportion of resuscitation time spent doing compressions. Teams should aim for a CCF of at least 60%, with 80% or higher being ideal for the best outcomes.
7Where should you place your hands to perform chest compressions on an adult?
A.On the upper sternum near the clavicles
B.Over the xiphoid process
C.On the lower half of the sternum, in the center of the chest
D.On the left side of the chest over the heart
Explanation: Place the heel of one hand on the lower half of the sternum in the center of the chest, with the second hand on top. This position delivers force directly over the heart while avoiding the xiphoid and ribs.
8How often should rescuers switch the compressor role to maintain high-quality compressions?
A.Every 30 seconds
B.Only when the compressor is exhausted
C.Every 10 minutes
D.About every 2 minutes (or every 5 cycles of 30:2)
Explanation: Compressors should switch roughly every 2 minutes (about every 5 cycles of 30:2) to prevent fatigue-related decline in compression quality. The switch should take less than 10 seconds.
9What is the first action a lone rescuer should take upon finding an unresponsive adult who is not breathing normally in an out-of-hospital setting?
A.Activate emergency response and get an AED, then start CPR
B.Begin rescue breaths immediately
C.Check the pulse for 60 seconds
D.Perform abdominal thrusts
Explanation: For a witnessed adult collapse, the lone rescuer should activate the emergency response system and retrieve an AED (or send someone), then return to begin CPR. Early defibrillation is critical for adult cardiac arrest.
10How long should a healthcare provider take to check for a pulse and breathing simultaneously in an adult?
A.30 seconds
B.No more than 10 seconds
C.60 seconds
D.Until a pulse is clearly felt
Explanation: A healthcare provider should check for breathing and a carotid pulse simultaneously for no more than 10 seconds. If no definite pulse is felt within 10 seconds, begin CPR.

About the AHA BLS Provider Exam

The AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider course teaches healthcare professionals and trained responders to recognize life-threatening emergencies and heart attack symptoms, perform adult and pediatric CPR, provide effective breaths, use an AED, work in a team, and relieve foreign-body airway obstruction. Completion requires the published skills tests and at least 84% on the open-resource knowledge exam. This independent practice bank contains 100 selected-response study questions.

Exam sponsor: American Heart Association (AHA). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Open-resource knowledge exam requiring at least 84%, plus Adult CPR and AED and Infant CPR skills tests; this independent practice bank contains 100 selected-response study questions

Time Limit

Knowledge-exam time limit not published; full instructor-led course is approximately 4.5 hours including breaks, practice, and testing

Passing Score

84%

Exam / Certification Fees

No national fee published; price is set by the selected AHA Training Center or course provider

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

Official weight not published

Adult High-Quality CPR

Compression rate 100-120/min, depth 2-2.4 in, 30:2 ratio, full recoil, minimal interruptions, and chest compression fraction

Official weight not published

Child & Infant CPR

One- vs two-rescuer ratios, one-third-depth compressions, child hand techniques, 2025 infant heel-of-one-hand and two-thumb-encircling techniques, and pediatric bradycardia

Official weight not published

AED Use

Pad placement, shockable vs non-shockable rhythms, and special cases (pregnancy, ICD, wet/hairy chest, pediatric attenuator)

Official weight not published

Airway & Ventilation

Head-tilt/chin-lift, jaw-thrust, bag-mask, rescue breaths, ventilation rates, and opioid emergency with naloxone

Official weight not published

Choking Relief

Adult/child cycles of back blows and abdominal thrusts, infant back blows and heel-of-one-hand chest thrusts, and the chest-thrust alternative for late pregnancy or when the abdomen cannot be encircled

Official weight not published

Unified Chain of Survival & Team Dynamics

The 2025 unified six-link Chain of Survival, closed-loop communication, role rotation, leadership, and debriefing

Official weight not published

Pregnancy, Drowning & Completion

Single-rescuer decisions, CPR in pregnancy with manual left uterine displacement, the Drowning Chain of Survival, and published course completion requirements

Official weight not published

Heart Attack Recognition & Response

Possible heart attack symptoms, immediate emergency activation, monitoring, and readiness for CPR and AED use if the person deteriorates into cardiac arrest

Preparing for the AHA BLS Provider Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 84%
  • Assessment: Open-resource knowledge exam requiring at least 84%, plus Adult CPR and AED and Infant CPR skills tests; this independent practice bank contains 100 selected-response study questions
  • Time limit: Knowledge-exam time limit not published; full instructor-led course is approximately 4.5 hours including breaks, practice, and testing
  • Exam / certification fees: No national fee published; price is set by the selected AHA Training Center or course provider Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

AHA BLS Provider: Suggested Study Strategy

1Memorize the core numbers cold: adult compression rate 100-120/min, depth at least 2 in (5 cm) while avoiding depths over 2.4 in (6 cm), and a 30:2 ratio before an advanced airway
2Learn the pediatric differences as a set: 15:2 for 2 healthcare rescuers, depth of at least one-third the chest diameter, and heel-of-one-hand or two-thumb-encircling infant compressions
3Know the 2025 updates: a unified Chain of Survival, elimination of two-finger infant CPR, immediate pediatric AED use, and cycles of back blows plus thrusts for severe choking
4Know the current heart attack objective: recognize chest discomfort and other possible symptoms, activate emergency medical services immediately, monitor, and be ready to begin CPR and use an AED if cardiac arrest develops
5Master AED special cases: remove an interfering medication patch with gloved hands, avoid placing a pad directly over an implanted device, dry the chest pad sites, manage hair that prevents adhesion, use pediatric attenuation when available and indicated by the device, and still use the AED in pregnancy
6Use the 100 independent questions as supplemental retrieval practice, review every miss against this current guide and official AHA materials, and confirm that you can consistently score above 84% before taking the course exam

Frequently Asked Questions

What score do I need to pass the AHA BLS written exam?

You need at least 84% on the AHA BLS Provider knowledge exam. The current AHA course FAQ says the exam is open-resource and also requires learners to pass the Adult CPR and AED Skills Test and the Infant CPR Skills Test; it does not publish a fixed item count.

How many questions are on the official AHA BLS exam?

The AHA does not publish a fixed BLS Provider knowledge-exam item count in its current public course information or instructor-led course FAQ. The 100 questions on OpenExamPrep are an independent practice inventory, not the official exam length.

Is the AHA BLS knowledge exam open book?

Yes. The current AHA BLS Provider instructor-led course FAQ says students may use course materials, notes, the ECC handbook, guidelines, and posters during the knowledge exam, but may not discuss answers with other students or the instructor. Hands-on skills testing is also required.

Which exam topics do these independent study resources cover?

This current study guide covers adult, child, and infant high-quality CPR; effective breaths; AED use; team response; choking relief; opioid emergencies; heart attack recognition; CPR in pregnancy; and drowning, including the 2025 infant-compression and choking updates. The separate 100-question bank is independent supplemental practice and does not replace current AHA materials or hands-on practice.

Who needs AHA BLS certification?

The AHA designs BLS Provider for healthcare professionals, trained first responders, and healthcare-program students. Employer and school requirements vary, so learners should confirm whether a particular AHA course format and current eCard are required.

Is this free AHA BLS prep as good as a paid course?

The 100 questions provide free independent knowledge practice with explanations and optional AI tutor support. They do not replace the required AHA course, official materials, hands-on practice, or skills testing.