Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
ACLS Certification Institute vs ProCPR
Where ACLS Certification Institute and ProCPR differ
| Compare |  ACLS Certification Institute |  ProCPR |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $99 | $39.95Lower |
| Course hours | 4 hours | 1 to 8 hoursHigher |
| Teaching practicum | No | YesHas it |
| Money-back period | 3 days | 30 daysHigher |
Same on both: Certification type (Cpr), Exam fee included (Yes), Recertification period (2 years).
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Key differences
- ProCPR scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 8.9.
- Price from is lower at ProCPR: $39.95 vs $99.
- Course hours is higher at ProCPR: 1 to 8 hours vs 4 hours.
- Teaching practicum: only ProCPR.
- Money-back period is higher at ProCPR: 30 days vs 3 days.
- Support channels: only ProCPR offers Chat.
- Founded is lower at ProCPR: 2003 vs 2010.
- Delivery: only ProCPR offers In person, Hybrid.
Our verdict on each
ACLS Certification Institute
ACLS Certification Institute suits people who want a cpr certificate quickly, online and without a separate exam charge, with $99 covering the assessment. It is a strong pick for shift workers and group buyers, less suited to anyone who needs supervised hands on practice or a regulator licensed body.
ProCPR
ProCPR suits buyers who want practice time and the exam fee inside a single purchase, and who can finish inside 1 to 8 hours. ProCPR CPR courses start at $39.95, above National CPR Foundation at $12.95, so tight budgets should weigh that gap against the 30 day money back window.
Score breakdown
| Area | ACLS Certification Institute | ProCPR |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2One payment of $99 with the exam fee included, ahead of $12.95 and $14.95. | 9.4HigherEntry price of $39.95 is above National CPR Foundation at $12.95, though 30 day money back softens the risk. |
| Offer | 8.8Cert type cpr, 4 hours of online study, 8 courses and completion and professional certificates. | 9.4HigherPracticum and the exam fee are included, and course hours run 1 to 8 hours, covering short and longer formats. |
| Trust | 8.5Operated by Career Step, LLC since 2010, with email, phone and help centre and a 3 day return window. | 8.9HigherCertified against aha guidelines and backed by 30 day money back, run by ProTrainings, LLC since 2003. |
Licences and countries
| Country | ACLS Certification Institute | ProCPR |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | ACLS Certification Institute | ProCPR |
|---|---|---|
| Online CPR and first aid courses | 14 of 15 | 8 of 15 |
If neither fits
Advanced Medical Certification has money-back period at 180 days, against 3 days for ACLS Certification Institute and 30 days for ProCPR.
Advanced Medical Certification reviewWhat we checked
ACLS Certification Institute
- acls.com: 12 facts, checked September 30, 2026
ProCPR
- procpr.org: 10 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- app.protrainings.com: 1 fact, checked September 30, 2026
- protrainings.com: 1 fact, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ACLS Certification Institute | ProCPR |
|---|---|---|
| Accreditation | Not confirmed | Aha guidelines |
| Delivery | Online | Online, In person, HybridCovers more |
| Legal entity | Career Step, LLC | ProTrainings, LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2010 | 2003Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Online courses
| Fact | ACLS Certification Institute | ProCPR |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | No | Not confirmed |
| Platform type | Curated | Not confirmed |
| Certificate types | Completion, Professional | Not confirmed |
| Number of courses | 8 | Not confirmed |
| Graded assessments | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Team plan | Yes | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ACLS Certification Institute | ProCPR | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $99above the median | $39.95below the median | $79 |
| Course hours | 4 hourslowest quarter | 1 to 8 hoursbelow the median | 60 hours |
| Recertification period | 2 yearsat the median | 2 yearsat the median | 2 years |
| Money-back period | 3 dayslowest quarter | 30 daysabove the median | 14 days |
Median across 52 listed providers.
Pros and cons
ACLS Certification Institute
Pros
- The exam fee is included, so $99 covers the certificate and the assessment together.
- Certificates come as completion and professional, covering both a completion record and a professional credential.
- Delivery is online only, so study fits around work rather than a fixed classroom slot.
Cons
- The study load is short at 4 hours, and there is no supervised practice, so anyone needing skills feedback in a classroom gets little here.
- Money back runs 3 days, well under the 30 day median in this group.
- Delivery is online only, so no in person option exists for those who want practice on site.
ProCPR
Pros
- A practicum is part of the course, so the card carries practical skills work rather than reading alone.
- The exam fee is included, so the assessment adds no charge after the course is finished.
- Course hours run 1 to 8 hours, holding a short refresher and a longer programme in the same catalogue.
Cons
- Entry price of $39.95 sits above National CPR Foundation at $12.95 and ACLS Now at $14.95.
- Renewal returns every 2 years, so the same card is a repeating cost and not a purchase made once.
- Course hours run 1 to 8 hours, so no single set duration applies and an employer checking a required length has to check each listing.
Who each suits
ACLS Certification Institute
Who it suits
- Busy professionals and shift workers who need a cpr certificate in a small block of study time.
- Clinics and workplaces ordering in bulk, since team ordering is available.
- Anyone who wants the exam fee inside the ticket price rather than paid on top.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who needs supervised hands on practice, since there is no practicum element and delivery is online.
- Learners who want to sample before paying, since there is no free tier.
- Employers requiring a licence from a regulator, as no licence appears for this provider.
ProCPR
Who it suits
- Buyers who want a practicum and the exam fee in the same checkout: ProCPR bundles both at $39.95, where National CPR Foundation at $12.95 is the cheaper way in when practice time matters less.
- People who want a short refresher rather than a long programme: ProCPR course hours run 1 to 8 hours, and the $39.95 entry still costs more than ACLS Now at $14.95.
- Anyone who wants the card in more than one setting: ProCPR offers online, in person and hybrid, so study does not have to stay on a single format like the entry only online routes priced at $14.95.
Who should look elsewhere
- Shoppers on the smallest budget: National CPR Foundation lists $12.95 and ACLS Now lists $14.95, both under ProCPR's $39.95.
- Employers that require a certifying body other than aha guidelines: ProCPR lists that single standard, so American BLS at $14.95 is the alternative to check.
- Anyone budgeting only the first payment: renewal comes round every 2 years, so the repeat belongs in the calculation from the start.
Questions about each
ACLS Certification Institute
How much does the cpr certificate cost, and is the exam fee included?+
The entry price is $99, and the exam fee is included in that figure, so there is no separate assessment charge at the end. Prices for the same level elsewhere start at $12.95 and $14.95, so this sits above the cheapest routes but below many.
How long is the course and how is it delivered?+
Course length is 4 hours, delivered online. The catalogue holds 8 courses, and certificates come as completion and professional. Short study time suits a busy schedule, though the ranking on course hours places it at 45 of 53.
ProCPR
What does a ProCPR CPR course cost to enter?+
ProCPR CPR courses start at $39.95. That is the entry figure, and it sits above National CPR Foundation at $12.95 and ACLS Now at $14.95. The exam fee is included, so the figure covers the course and the assessment together rather than charging for the card first and the test later.
How often does the certificate need renewing?+
The certificate runs on a 2 year renewal cycle, so this is a repeating cost rather than a single purchase. Buyers who compare on the entry figure alone end up comparing the wrong number, because the same amount comes round again on schedule. The cadence is fixed by the card, so a household or a workplace can put the repeat in a diary.