Advanced Cardiac Life Support

Audience:  ACLS  is designed for healthcare professionals who either direct or participate in the management of cardiopulmonary arrest and other cardiovascular emergencies. This includes personnel in emergency response, emergency medicine, intensive care, and critical care units.

Update/Renewal Pre-requisites: Participants in this course MUST have a current ACLS course completion card.  Participants must be able to recognize basic dysrhythmias.  

Pre-Course Assessment:  Before the full and renewal course, participants must take the "Pre-Course Self Assessment" - This certificate is required for the day of course entry.

Full 2-Day Course Pre-requisites: Participants must be able to recognize basic dysrhythmias. 

ACLS Course Content:

• Basic life support skills, including effective chest compressions, use of a bag-mask device, and use of an AED
• Recognition and early management of respiratory and cardiac arrest
• Recognition and early management of peri-arrest conditions such as symptomatic bradycardia
• Airway management
• Related pharmacology
• Management of ACS and stroke
• Effective communication as a member and leader of a resuscitation team

ACLS Update/Renewal Content:  All ACLS content as listed above and the BLS course content.

Course Format / Time

Update/Renewal Course requires approximately 5-6 hours, including skills practice and skills testing.  Full 2 Day Course takes approximately 15 hours.  *course time based on 1 instructor: 6 student: 2 manikins

Classroom-based (instructor and video, with skills conducted throughout)

Minimum class size: We will not cancel a class due to a minimum class size.  We will hold the class even if only one student enrolls.

Enrollment Cut-off: Enrollment closes when the class is full.  Those that enroll within a few days fo the class may have their book held until the day of the class.

Certification: Upon completion of this course, students receive an American Heart Association ACLS e-Card via email.  e-Cards are valid for two years.  e-Cards are issued 1-2 business days after course completion.

CAPCE: For EMTs, AEMTs and Paramedics: This continuing education activity is approved by the American Heart Association, an organization accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE), for 9.75 advanced CEHs for the full course and 4.75 advanced CEHs for the update (renewal) course.  

 For answers to common questions, please see our Frequently Asked Question page for CPR.

Use of American Heart Association materials in an educational course does not represent course sponsorship by the American Heart Association.  Any fees charged for such a course, except for a portion of fees needed for AHA course materials, do not represent income to the Association.