How to Claim or View Your American Heart Association eCard for BLS, ACLS, PALS, CPR, and First Aid Certifications

The American Heart Association (AHA) issues digital certification cards known as eCards for students who successfully complete courses such as Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), CPR, and First Aid. These digital cards provide convenient online access to your certification credentials and can easily be shared with employers, schools, licensing agencies, and healthcare organizations.

Whether you completed an instructor-led course or participated in a Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) CPR Verification Station program, claiming and viewing your AHA eCard is a simple process. This guide explains everything you need to know about accessing your certification card quickly and efficiently.

What Is an AHA eCard?

An AHA eCard is the official digital certification card issued by the American Heart Association after successful completion of a course. Instead of receiving a traditional paper card, students receive an electronic version that can be viewed online, downloaded as a PDF, or printed for records.

AHA eCards are accepted nationwide and contain important information including:

• Student name
• Course completed
• Issue date
• Expiration date
• Training center information
• Instructor details
• Unique QR code and certificate ID for verification

These cards help employers and credentialing organizations verify certification authenticity instantly.

Courses That Use AHA eCards

The American Heart Association issues eCards for many training programs, including:

• BLS Provider
• BLS Renewal
• ACLS Provider
• ACLS Renewal
• PALS Provider
• PALS Renewal
• Heartsaver CPR AED
• Heartsaver First Aid
• Heartsaver CPR and First Aid
• Pediatric First Aid CPR AED
• RQI Provider certifications

If you completed one of these courses, your certification card is typically delivered electronically through the AHA eCards system.

How Instructor-Led Course eCards Work

For instructor-led classes, the training center or instructor submits course completion records to the American Heart Association after the class is completed. Once processed, students receive an email notification from the AHA eCards system with instructions to claim their certification card.

The email usually comes from:

ecards@heart.org

Students should check their inbox, spam folder, junk mail, or promotions tab if the message does not appear immediately.

Processing times can vary depending on the training center, but most eCards are issued within 24 hours after successful completion of the course.

How to Claim Your AHA eCard

Claiming your eCard only takes a few minutes. Follow these steps carefully.

Step 1: Locate the Claim Code Email

After your course is completed, you should receive an email containing:

• A claim code
• A direct link to the AHA eCards website
• Instructions for accessing your card

If you cannot find the email, contact your training provider to confirm that your course roster was submitted correctly.

Step 2: Visit the AHA eCards Website

Go to the official American Heart Association eCards portal:

https://ecards.heart.org/student/myecards

This website allows students to claim, view, and manage their certification cards.

Step 3: Enter Your Information

You can claim your card using either:

• Your claim code and email address
  or
• Your first name, last name, and email address

Be sure to enter the same email address used during course registration.

Step 4: Accept the Terms

The system will ask you to review and accept the terms and conditions before accessing your certification card.

Step 5: View and Download Your Card

Once verified, your eCard will appear on the screen. From there, you can:

• Download the card as a PDF
• Print a physical copy
• Email the card to an employer
• Save the certification to your phone or computer

Many employers accept either printed or digital versions of the AHA eCard.

How to View an Existing eCard

If you already claimed your eCard previously, you can still access it anytime through the AHA eCards portal.

Simply visit:

https://ecards.heart.org/student/myecards

Enter your:

• First name
• Last name
• Email address

The system will display all active AHA certifications associated with your email.

This feature is especially useful if you lose your original email or need another copy for employment verification.

Viewing RQI CPR Verification Station eCards

Healthcare professionals participating in the American Heart Association Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) program may receive certifications differently from traditional classroom students.

RQI programs use self-directed learning modules combined with hands-on skills testing through CPR Verification Stations.

Once all required quarterly modules and skills sessions are completed successfully, participants can access their provider eCard electronically.

How to Access an RQI eCard

Most RQI participants access their certification through the RQI platform assigned by their employer or institution.

Common steps include:

1. Log into your RQI account
2. Complete all required learning modules
3. Pass the CPR skills verification session
4. Navigate to the certification or transcript section
5. Download or print your current provider card

Depending on the employer’s setup, the eCard may also be available directly through the AHA eCards portal.

If you are unable to locate your RQI certification card, contact your hospital education department, RQI administrator, or training coordinator.

Common Reasons You Cannot Find Your eCard

Sometimes students experience issues locating or accessing their certification card. Common causes include:

Incorrect Email Address

If the instructor entered the wrong email during registration, the claim email may have been sent elsewhere.

Course Not Yet Submitted

Training centers must process and submit course completion information before cards are issued.

Spam or Junk Folder Filtering

Automated AHA emails occasionally get filtered into spam folders.

Name Mismatch

Using a different name format than what was entered during registration may prevent the system from locating your card.

Expired Certification

Expired certifications may no longer appear as active cards in some systems.

How Employers Verify an AHA eCard

American Heart Association eCards contain a QR code and unique identification number that employers can use to confirm certification validity.

Verification helps ensure:

• The card is authentic
• The certification is current
• The course was completed through an authorized AHA training center

Most hospitals, clinics, EMS agencies, dental offices, nursing schools, and healthcare employers accept AHA eCards as official proof of certification.

Tips for Managing Your Certification

To avoid future access issues, students should:

• Save a PDF copy immediately after claiming the card
• Email themselves a backup copy
• Store the certification on a mobile device
• Keep track of expiration dates
• Renew certifications before expiration

Most AHA certifications remain valid for two years from the issue date.

Final Thoughts

American Heart Association eCards make it easy to manage and access certifications for BLS, ACLS, PALS, CPR, First Aid, and RQI programs. Whether you completed a traditional instructor-led class or used an RQI CPR Verification Station, your certification can usually be claimed and viewed online within minutes.

Keeping your certification accessible ensures you are always prepared for employment verification, license renewals, and professional requirements. If you experience any issues accessing your card, your training center or RQI administrator can usually help resolve the problem quickly.