ADVANCED CARDIOVASCULAR LIFE SUPPORT (ACLS) PROVIDER

ADVANCED CARDIOVASCULAR LIFE SUPPORT (ACLS) PROVIDER

The AHA’s ACLS course builds on the foundation of lifesaving BLS skills, emphasizing the importance of preventing cardiac arrest, early and continuous high-quality CPR, and high-performing teams. The course reflects science and education from the 2020 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC).

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE?

The AHA’s ACLS course is designed for healthcare professionals who either direct or participate in the management of cardiopulmonary arrest or other cardiovascular emergencies and for personnel in emergency response. Upon successful completion of the course, students receive a course completion card, valid for two years. Please contact your employer to ensure that you are selecting the correct course.

ACLS is geared towards advanced prehospital and in-facility providers such as paramedics, nurses, physicians, and supporting staff involved in the response to, and care of, victims of cardiovascular events.

This course is appropriate for advanced medical providers and healthcare professionals such as:

  • Paramedics
  • RNs, CRNAs, APNs, and Nurse Practitioners
  • Physicians and PAs
  • Other Healthcare Providers or Professionals, and Medical or Healthcare Students

WHAT DOES THIS COURSE TEACH?

After successfully completing this course, students should be able to

  • Define systems of care
  • Apply the BLS, Primary, and Secondary Assessments sequence for a systematic evaluation of adult patients
  • Discuss how the use of a rapid response team (RRT) or medical emergency team (MET) may improve patient outcomes
  • Discuss early recognition and management of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), including appropriate disposition
  • Discuss early recognition and management of stroke, including appropriate disposition
  • Recognize bradycardias and tachycardias that may result in cardiac arrest or complicate resuscitation outcome
  • Perform early management of bradycardias and tachycardias that may result in cardiac arrest or complicate resuscitation outcome
  • Model effective communication as a member or leader of a high-performance team
  • Recognize the impact of team dynamics on overall team performance
  • Recognize respiratory arrest
  • Perform early management of respiratory arrest
  • Recognize cardiac arrest
  • Perform prompt, high-quality BLS including prioritizing early chest compressions and integrating early automated external defibrillator (AED) use
  • Perform early management of cardiac arrest until termination of resuscitation or transfer of care, including immediate post–cardiac arrest care
  • Evaluate resuscitative efforts during a cardiac arrest through continuous assessment of CPR quality, monitoring the patient’s physiologic response, and delivering real-time feedback to the team

WHAT FORMAT IS THIS COURSE TAUGHT IN?

This course can be taken in either a blended learning, or traditional classroom format.

HeartCode ACLS is a hybrid, blended learning course which involves a combination of eLearning followed by an in-person skills check with an American Heart Association ACLS Instructor. Students first complete an adaptive, self-directed, online course including the written exam. Students then schedule and meet with an American Heart Association ACLS Instructor to perform their hands-on skills performance evaluation. Students must successfully complete both the online and in-person requirements to receive their course completion eCard.

Instructor-Led Training (ILT) is an entirely in-person course whereby a student attends and receives their training in a traditional classroom setting. This course is conducted entirely in-person by American Heart Association ACLS Instructors utilizing videos, skills demonstrations, lecture, and discussion. Students must successfully complete all course requirements, including the written exam and skills performance to receive their course completion eCard.

WHAT IS THE LENGTH OF THIS COURSE?

HeartCode ACLS: Total Time Varies (eLearning) + (In-Person 4h 45m - 5h 45m)*

Instructor-Led Training Full Course: 12h 15m - 13h 15m (not including breaks)*

Instructor-Led Training Update Course: 6h 45m - 7h 45m (not including breaks)*

* Course completion times may, and often do vary based on many factors such as course format, number of students, student:manikin ratio, individual learner abilities, remediation, and other parameters. Listed course lengths are approximations only.

WHAT ARE THE PREREQUISITES FOR TAKING THIS COURSE?

Students taking an ACLS Provider course MUST be proficient in:

  • Performing high-quality BLS skills according to the current AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC*
  • Providing bag-mask ventilations
  • Reading and interpreting electrocardiograms (ECGs)
  • Understanding ACLS pharmacology

* While having current AHA BLS Provider status is no longer a prerequisite or requirement prior to taking the ACLS Provider course, it is STRONGLY recommended.

HeartCode ACLS: Students must successfully complete the HeartCode Online training prior to attending the in-person hands-on skills check. Students must bring the printed course completion certificate to their skills check.

Instructor-Led Training: Students must complete the online ACLS Precourse Self-Assessment and achieve a score of at least 70% prior to attending the classroom course. Students must print their scoring report and bring it with them to the classroom course. Students attending an ACLS Provider Update (Renewal) course must also bring a copy of their current ACLS Provider card to the classroom course. 

WHAT ARE THE COURSE COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS?

HeartCode ACLS: Successful completion of the HeartCode ACLS Online course, which includes the written examination, followed by successful hands-on skills demonstration with an AHA ACLS Instructor. Skills demonstration includes BLS / CPR, airway management, rhythm recognition, pharmacology, and management of cardiac rhythm disturbances and cardiopulmonary arrest.

Instructor-Led Training: Successful skills demonstration including BLS / CPR, airway management, rhythm recognition, pharmacology, and management of cardiac rhythm disturbances and cardiopulmonary arrest. Students must also complete a 50 question written examination and achieve a passing score of 84% or above.

WHAT TYPE OF CERTIFICATE OR CARD WILL I RECEIVE?

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be issued an American Heart Association course completion eCard, which is valid for two years.

WHERE CAN I FIND OR REGISTER FOR AN UPCOMING CLASS?

Visit our class registration page to view and register for any of our upcoming classes. 

Prefer to attend this class at your location? We offer on-site training for groups of six or more. Simply visit our training request page and complete the online questionnaire. Our friendly staff will contact you to review your request.

Disclaimer: The American Heart Association strongly promotes knowledge and proficiency in BLS, ACLS, and PALS and has developed instructional materials for this purpose. Use of these 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.