BLS Final Exam | 2026/2027 — Basic Life Support Certification AHA ECC Guidelines 2026/2027
BLS FINAL EXAM | 2026/2027 ACTUAL EXAM
25 Verified Questions and Correct Answers
Basic Life Support Certification — Final Assessment
Aligned with American Heart Association (AHA) BLS Course Curriculum, AHA BLS Provider Manual, and Emergency
Cardiovascular Care (ECC) Guidelines (2026/2027 Edition)
Examination Overview: This final assessment consists of 25 multiple-choice questions distributed across four core
domains of Basic Life Support. The exam evaluates cognitive competency at three levels: 30% recall of foundational
knowledge, 40% application of BLS algorithms in simulated clinical scenarios, and 30% analysis of complex
resuscitation situations including rhythm recognition, medication dosing considerations, and clinical decision-making.
Each question presents four options (A–D) with exactly one verified correct answer and a rationale citing AHA BLS
guidelines.
Structure: Section 1 — Adult BLS & CPR (10 questions) | Section 2 — Pediatric BLS & CPR (5 questions) | Section 3
— AED Use & Team Dynamics (5 questions) | Section 4 — Choking & Airway Management (5 questions).
Section 1: Adult BLS & CPR (Q1–Q10)
Q1: A 56-year-old man collapses in a shopping mall. A bystander confirms unresponsiveness and alerts
a nearby off-duty nurse. The nurse verifies no breathing and no pulse. According to the adult Chain of
Survival, what is the MOST critical immediate next step after early recognition and activation of the
emergency response system?
A. Await the arrival of advanced life support providers before any intervention.
B. Begin high-quality CPR, starting with chest compressions. [CORRECT]
C. Retrieve and apply an AED before initiating any compressions.
D. Perform rescue breathing only for 2 minutes before compressions.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The adult Chain of Survival consists of early recognition and activation, immediate high-quality CPR, rapid
defibrillation, advanced life support, post-cardiac arrest care, and recovery. Once the emergency response system is
activated, the next link is early CPR beginning with chest compressions to maintain perfusion. Option A delays
intervention and worsens outcomes; Option C is important but compressions should not be delayed while awaiting the
AED; Option D is incorrect because adult cardiac arrest is typically cardiac in origin, so compressions take priority
over ventilations.
Page 1 — BLS Certification Final Assessment
, BLS Final Exam | 2026/2027 — Basic Life Support Certification AHA ECC Guidelines 2026/2027
Q2: A 67-year-old woman in cardiac arrest is receiving CPR from a single rescuer. To ensure
high-quality chest compressions for an adult victim, what is the correct compression rate and depth as
specified by AHA BLS guidelines?
A. 80–100 compressions per minute, 1.5 inches (4 cm).
B. 100–120 compressions per minute, at least 2 inches (5 cm) but not greater than 2.4 inches (6 cm).
[CORRECT]
C. 120–140 compressions per minute, 1.5–2 inches (4–5 cm).
D. 60–80 compressions per minute, 3 inches (7.5 cm).
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: AHA BLS guidelines specify a compression rate of 100–120 per minute and an adult compression depth of at
least 2 inches (5 cm) without exceeding 2.4 inches (6 cm). Rates below 100 or above 120 reduce coronary and cerebral
perfusion; depths shallower than 2 inches are ineffective, while depths beyond 2.4 inches increase the risk of internal
injury without improving outcomes. Options A, C, and D each fail one or both of the rate and depth criteria defined by
the 2026/2027 ECC guidelines.
Q3: You are the only trained rescuer at the scene of an adult cardiac arrest in a workplace setting.
After confirming unresponsiveness, no breathing, and no pulse, you initiate CPR. What is the correct
compression-to-ventilation ratio for a single rescuer performing adult CPR?
A. 15 compressions to 2 ventilations.
B. 30 compressions to 1 ventilation.
C. 30 compressions to 2 ventilations. [CORRECT]
D. 15 compressions to 1 ventilation.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: For a single rescuer performing CPR on an adult (or a child or infant), the AHA BLS ratio is 30
compressions to 2 ventilations (30:2). This ratio maximizes chest compression fraction while still providing adequate
ventilation. The 15:2 ratio in Option A applies only to two-rescuer pediatric CPR, not adult CPR. Options B and D use
an incorrect ventilation count and do not match any AHA-recognized ratio for a single rescuer.
Q4: A coworker collapses in the office. You assess responsiveness (none) and breathing (absent or only
agonal gasping). What is the MAXIMUM duration you should take to check for a carotid pulse before
starting chest compressions?
A. 2–5 seconds.
B. 5–10 seconds. [CORRECT]
C. 15–20 seconds.
D. Up to 30 seconds if the rescuer is unsure.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: AHA BLS guidelines require the pulse check to last at least 5 seconds but no more than 10 seconds. If a
pulse is not definitely felt within 10 seconds, the rescuer should begin chest compressions immediately to avoid delaying
perfusion. Option A is too brief to confidently detect a pulse; Options C and D introduce unacceptable delays in
initiating CPR, during which cerebral and myocardial ischemia worsen rapidly.
Page 2 — BLS Certification Final Assessment
BLS FINAL EXAM | 2026/2027 ACTUAL EXAM
25 Verified Questions and Correct Answers
Basic Life Support Certification — Final Assessment
Aligned with American Heart Association (AHA) BLS Course Curriculum, AHA BLS Provider Manual, and Emergency
Cardiovascular Care (ECC) Guidelines (2026/2027 Edition)
Examination Overview: This final assessment consists of 25 multiple-choice questions distributed across four core
domains of Basic Life Support. The exam evaluates cognitive competency at three levels: 30% recall of foundational
knowledge, 40% application of BLS algorithms in simulated clinical scenarios, and 30% analysis of complex
resuscitation situations including rhythm recognition, medication dosing considerations, and clinical decision-making.
Each question presents four options (A–D) with exactly one verified correct answer and a rationale citing AHA BLS
guidelines.
Structure: Section 1 — Adult BLS & CPR (10 questions) | Section 2 — Pediatric BLS & CPR (5 questions) | Section 3
— AED Use & Team Dynamics (5 questions) | Section 4 — Choking & Airway Management (5 questions).
Section 1: Adult BLS & CPR (Q1–Q10)
Q1: A 56-year-old man collapses in a shopping mall. A bystander confirms unresponsiveness and alerts
a nearby off-duty nurse. The nurse verifies no breathing and no pulse. According to the adult Chain of
Survival, what is the MOST critical immediate next step after early recognition and activation of the
emergency response system?
A. Await the arrival of advanced life support providers before any intervention.
B. Begin high-quality CPR, starting with chest compressions. [CORRECT]
C. Retrieve and apply an AED before initiating any compressions.
D. Perform rescue breathing only for 2 minutes before compressions.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The adult Chain of Survival consists of early recognition and activation, immediate high-quality CPR, rapid
defibrillation, advanced life support, post-cardiac arrest care, and recovery. Once the emergency response system is
activated, the next link is early CPR beginning with chest compressions to maintain perfusion. Option A delays
intervention and worsens outcomes; Option C is important but compressions should not be delayed while awaiting the
AED; Option D is incorrect because adult cardiac arrest is typically cardiac in origin, so compressions take priority
over ventilations.
Page 1 — BLS Certification Final Assessment
, BLS Final Exam | 2026/2027 — Basic Life Support Certification AHA ECC Guidelines 2026/2027
Q2: A 67-year-old woman in cardiac arrest is receiving CPR from a single rescuer. To ensure
high-quality chest compressions for an adult victim, what is the correct compression rate and depth as
specified by AHA BLS guidelines?
A. 80–100 compressions per minute, 1.5 inches (4 cm).
B. 100–120 compressions per minute, at least 2 inches (5 cm) but not greater than 2.4 inches (6 cm).
[CORRECT]
C. 120–140 compressions per minute, 1.5–2 inches (4–5 cm).
D. 60–80 compressions per minute, 3 inches (7.5 cm).
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: AHA BLS guidelines specify a compression rate of 100–120 per minute and an adult compression depth of at
least 2 inches (5 cm) without exceeding 2.4 inches (6 cm). Rates below 100 or above 120 reduce coronary and cerebral
perfusion; depths shallower than 2 inches are ineffective, while depths beyond 2.4 inches increase the risk of internal
injury without improving outcomes. Options A, C, and D each fail one or both of the rate and depth criteria defined by
the 2026/2027 ECC guidelines.
Q3: You are the only trained rescuer at the scene of an adult cardiac arrest in a workplace setting.
After confirming unresponsiveness, no breathing, and no pulse, you initiate CPR. What is the correct
compression-to-ventilation ratio for a single rescuer performing adult CPR?
A. 15 compressions to 2 ventilations.
B. 30 compressions to 1 ventilation.
C. 30 compressions to 2 ventilations. [CORRECT]
D. 15 compressions to 1 ventilation.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: For a single rescuer performing CPR on an adult (or a child or infant), the AHA BLS ratio is 30
compressions to 2 ventilations (30:2). This ratio maximizes chest compression fraction while still providing adequate
ventilation. The 15:2 ratio in Option A applies only to two-rescuer pediatric CPR, not adult CPR. Options B and D use
an incorrect ventilation count and do not match any AHA-recognized ratio for a single rescuer.
Q4: A coworker collapses in the office. You assess responsiveness (none) and breathing (absent or only
agonal gasping). What is the MAXIMUM duration you should take to check for a carotid pulse before
starting chest compressions?
A. 2–5 seconds.
B. 5–10 seconds. [CORRECT]
C. 15–20 seconds.
D. Up to 30 seconds if the rescuer is unsure.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: AHA BLS guidelines require the pulse check to last at least 5 seconds but no more than 10 seconds. If a
pulse is not definitely felt within 10 seconds, the rescuer should begin chest compressions immediately to avoid delaying
perfusion. Option A is too brief to confidently detect a pulse; Options C and D introduce unacceptable delays in
initiating CPR, during which cerebral and myocardial ischemia worsen rapidly.
Page 2 — BLS Certification Final Assessment
