Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) for Healthcare Providers
Sessions Starting Now!
The ACLS course builds on the foundation of lifesaving Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers skills, emphasizing the importance of continuous, high-quality CPR. This advanced course highlights the importance of team dynamics and communication, systems of care, and immediate post-cardiac arrest care. ACLS also covers airway management and related pharmacology.
Skills are taught in large-group sessions and small-group learning and testing stations where case-based scenarios are presented.Successful course completion includes demonstrating skills competency in all learning stations and passing the CPR and AED skills test, bag-mask ventilation skills test, a Megacode test and a written test. Upon successful completion, students receive
an ACLS Provider card, valid for two years.
ACLS training is intended for healthcare providers who either direct or participate in the resuscitation of a patient, whether in or out of the hospital.
To be successful in any ACLS course, students should be able to identify ECG rhythms and should know pharmacology specific to cardiopulmonary arrest and other cardiopulmonary emergencies before beginning the course. It is strongly recommended that students review the ACLS course materials and complete a precourse self-assessment using the tools in their student materials before starting the course.
Part 1 (cognitive portion) can be taken in an instructor-led training session or on a self-directed basis as an online eLearning course. Students then practice their skills (Part 2) and are tested (Part 3) with a certified American Heart Association ACLS instructor.
Course Covers
• Key changes in advanced cardiovascular life support, reflecting
the 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
• 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 acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and stroke
• Effective communication as a member and leader of a
resuscitation team
Primary 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.
The American Heart Association’s course is the premier ACLS training for healthcare providers. The evidence-based content and well-tested teaching methodology can dramatically improve the learning and retention of lifesaving skills.