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Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Course Options

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) is available in two different training methods – HeartCode® blended learning and classroom training. All ACLS course options teach the same American Heart Association science and result in the same Association ACLS Course Completion Card.

Is ACLS the right course for me?

ACLS is designed for healthcare professionals who either direct or participate in the management of cardiac arrest, stroke, or other cardiopulmonary emergencies. This includes personnel in emergency response, emergency medicine, critical care/intensive care, and surgery such as Physicians, Nurses, and Paramedics, as well as others who need an ACLS course completion card for a job or other requirement. 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.


Compare ACLS Course Options
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Classroom
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Blended Learning
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Self-Guided Learning

Format

Students are with an American Heart Association instructor for their entire learning experience. An Instructor administers both the cognitive portion of the course and hands-on skills practice and testing.

Contact an Association Training Center(link opens in new window) in your area to sign up for an Instructor-led class.

Complete the online portion(link opens in new window) independently, followed by a hands-on skills session(link opens in new window) with an AHA Instructor.

HeartCode ACLS(link opens in new window) is online portion of the Association's BLS blended learning delivery method. Blended learning is a combination of eLearning, in which a student completes part of the course in a self-guided manner, followed by a hands-on skills session.

Self-Guided Learning is a type of education delivery where students complete a cognitive learning portion of training online, then complete a hands-on skills portion of training at an approved CPR Verification Station.(link opens in new window)

CPR Verification Station learning centers provide objective coached feedback to enable learners to verify skills competency.

Course Completion

The ACLS Instructor-led Training (ILT) Provider course option is led by an Association Instructor in a classroom setting. ACLS ILT course option includes Video Prework (consisting of 8 interactive video lessons with knowledge checks) students must complete before attending class.

HeartCode® ACLS Online uses a personalized adaptive algorithm that sets students on the most efficient path to ACLS mastery. Students follow a continuously adapting learning path that is personalized by their own inputs: their performance and their self- reported confidence level related to each probing question.

The course content is presented in the form of self-guided learning content, probing questions, and Cognitive Assessment Activities (CAAs). After completing the online portion, students will attend a structured, Instructor-led hands-on session to perform their skills with an Association Instructor that focuses on meaningful skills practice, debriefing, team dynamics training, megacode cases, discussions of local protocols and skills testing. Where available, students may also complete the hands-on session with a HeartCode® compatible manikin that provides real-time audio and visual feedback.

HeartCode® Complete offers the next step in resuscitation training with the use of the CPR Verification Station. HeartCode Complete allows learners to fully complete their ACLS training at their own pace.

By combining comprehensive online learning with hands-on skills practice and testing, HeartCode Complete offers consistent, high-quality resuscitation training at a pace suited for every individual.

Time

Approximate times for each version of the ACLS Provider Course with breaks are listed below:

  • ACLS Course with Video Prework: 13.25 – 14.25 hours with breaks
  • ACLS Update Course with Video Prework: 8.25 – 9.25 hours with breaks
  • ACLS Course: 15.50 – 16.50 hours with breaks
  • ACLS Update Course: 8.50 – 9.50 hours with breaks

With the new adaptive learning format, the timing for completing the online portion of HeartCode® ACLS Online can vary depending on the student’s level of experience. The hands-on session for HeartCode® ACLS will take approximately 6.75 – 7.75 hours with breaks.

Timing for HeartCode Complete ACLS varies depending on the student’s level of experience.

Completion Card

ACLS Provider Course Completion Card, valid for two years
ACLS Provider Course Completion Card, valid for two years

HeartCode Complete ACLS Provider Card eCard, valid for two years

Accessibility

Contact your Training Center to inquire about their facility’s accommodations.
No accessible blended learning version at this time.

Contact the CPR Verification Station Learning Center(link opens in new window) to inquire about their accommodations.

CE/CME

FAQ

Features

  • Emphasis on preventing cardiac arrest, early and continuous high-quality CPR, integration of BLS into ACLS and importance of high-performing teams
  • Includes realistic, clinical scenarios that encourage active participation – delivered through actual patient case-scenarios on a manikin as a team. Hands-on class format to reinforce skills proficiency
  • Engaging, True Adaptive™ learning experience
  • Responsive design that ensures compatibility on mobile devices and tablets
  • All curriculum is contextualized for the in-hospital or prehospital student
  • Students select their level of competence as they begin and rank their confidence as they progress through the course, which support a personalized learning path
  • A modular course design which allows learners to easily track their progress
  • Redesigned Cognitive Assessment Activities (CAAs) incorporating high-stakes scenarios with increased realism and additional team dynamics
  • All curriculum is web-accessible through inclusive design (WCAG 2.2 AA)
  • Flexible scheduling
  • Lessons tailored for each learner’s needs with True Adaptive learning
  • Detailed debriefing after every online learning module
  • Real-time audio and visual feedback during skills sessions

Student Materials

HeartCode® ACLS Online will be provided by the Authorized Distributor offering Self-Guided learning.

Instructor Materials

N/A

Ready to take an ACLS class?

The Association offers options for how you can purchase an ACLS course. You can take a full classroom course, take a blended learning course (HeartCode® ACLS Online + a hands-on skills session training), or purchase additional course materials. Choose from the options below.

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Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

PALS is geared towards healthcare providers who respond to emergencies in infants and children and for personnel in emergency response, emergency medicine, intensive care and critical care units. Upon successful completion of the course, students receive a course completion card, valid for two years.