American Heart Association Courses | BLS- ACLS – PALS
Our website is regularly updated, with new changes happening every day. Be sure to check back often to see what’s new.
Our website is regularly updated, with new changes happening every day. Be sure to check back often to see what’s new.
CLASS
Registration
New 2025 ACLS Course FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AHA’s 2025 ACLS Provider Course?
The Association’s ACLS Provider Course has been updated to reϐlect new science in the 2025 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and ECC and the 2025 ACC/AHA/ACEP/NAEMSP/SCAI Guideline for the Management of Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes. ACLS teaches the importance of preventing cardiac arrest, high-performance teams, continuous high-quality CPR, systems of care, recognition, and intervention of cardiopulmonary arrest, post-cardiac arrest care, acute dysrhythmias, stroke, and acute
coronary syndromes (ACS).
The goal of the ACLS Provider Course is to improve outcomes for adult cardiac arrest and stroke and other cardiopulmonary emergencies through early recognition and time-sensitive interventions by high-performance teams.
What specifically is taught in the new ACLS Course?
In the 2025 ACLS Provider Course, students will learn and practice
• Systematic approach (assessment)
• High-quality BLS
• Airway management
• Rhythm recognition
• Deϐibrillation
• Intravenous (IV)/intraosseous (IO) access (information only)
• Use of medications
• Cardioversion
• Transcutaneous pacing
• High-performance teams
What are the key differences between the 2020 Guidelines and 2025 Guidelines versions of the ACLS Provider Course?
The 2025 ACLS Course includes the following updates:
Course Videos
• Course videos have been fully updated, except for the Coping with Death course video, which includes a new look, updated graphics, and updated animations.
Instructor Manual
• The Instructor Manual (IM) has been updated with new illustrations, updated checklists, and includes an emphasis on objective testing. With a focus on measuring and reporting the chest compression fraction (CCF), checklists now include space to record the team’s CCF.
Provider Manual Updates
• The Provider Manual (PM) has been updated with new science and new illustrations. Please refer to the 2025 ACLS Science Summary Table for specific science changes.
What is the format for the ACLS Provider ILT Course?
In the new ACLS Provider ILT Course, video prework can be completed before the course, depending on the agenda chosen by the Training Center (TC), to help students be more prepared for the course. Video prework includes the eight video lessons, each followed by interactive questions to check for learning.
The course is structured as follows:
• Core concepts are presented through case-based scenarios around a manikin as a
team during class.
• The CPR Coach and Instructor coach students by using a required feedback device
as they practice CPR and ventilation skills.
• The Instructor monitors as each student/team demonstrates skills proficiency as outlined in the learning station checklists and the skills testing checklists.
• Students take the ACLS Provider Course Exam to confirm their understanding of core concepts.
The TC may choose for students to complete online video lessons (prework) before coming to class, or may choose to conduct a regular ACLS course, where all video lessons are conducted in class as interactive discussions with students. The course is designed to allow students to practice and demonstrate proficiency in the following skills used in resuscitation:
• Systematic approach (assessment)
• High-quality BLS
• Airway management
• Rhythm recognition
• Defibrillation
• Intravenous (IV)/intraosseous (IO) access (information only)
• Use of medications
• Cardioversion
• Transcutaneous pacing
• High-performance teams
Is there an ACLS Update Course?
Yes. The ACLS Update (Renewal) class takes less time to complete.
Who is the intended audience for the ACLS Course?
The ACLS Course 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, intensive care/critical care units, and surgery, such as physicians, nurses, and paramedics, as well as others who need an ACLS course completion card for job or other requirements.
What are the prerequisites for taking the ACLS Course?
Providers who take the ACLS Course must be proϐicient in the following:
• Performing high-quality BLS skills according to the current American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and ECC
• Reading and interpreting electrocardiograms (ECGs)
• Understanding ACLS pharmacology
• Providing bag-mask ventilation
What resources are available to help prepare students for the ACLS Course?
• Mandatory Precourse Self-Assessment
• Precourse Preparation Checklist
• Prework (Video lessons)
• ACLS Supplementary Information
• IO Video
• Coping With Death Video
What is the ACLS Precourse Self-Assessment?
The Precourse Self-Assessment is an online tool that evaluates a student’s knowledge in three sections: rhythm recognition, pharmacology, and practical application. Students complete the assessment before the course to help assess their proϐiciency and determine the need for additional review and practice before the course. All students must complete the Pre-course Self-Assessment and achieve a score of at least 70% before taking the ACLS Course. Students must print their successful scoring report and Course Completion Certificate and bring them with them to class.
Why is the ACLS Precourse Self-Assessment required?
Students need to ensure they are prepared for the ACLS Provider Course to minimize the risk of failing it. Market research indicates a signiϐicantly favorable response from Instructors on making the pre-course self-assessment mandatory. The need for the compulsory Precourse Self-Assessment has increased as more non-traditional students are taking ACLS.
How long is the ACLS Course?
• 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
• HeartCode® ACLS Instructor-Led Hands-On Skills Session: 6.75 – 7.75 hours with breaks
Does the 2025 ACLS Provider Course include an option for students to earn a BLS Provider Card during an ACLS class?
Yes. The Association does offer an ofϐicial agenda for Instructors to add BLS skills testing and an exam to provide both a BLS Provider eCard and an ACLS Provider eCard upon successful completion of the ACLS course. If a BLS Provider card is to be issued, a BLS Instructor must be present to complete the infant CPR skills tests as well as the exam. Renewal of BLS skills during an ACLS class should be a preplanned option, with registration for the BLS portion to allow for both the students and the Instructor to prepare. Finally, during an ACLS course, if a BLS card is also being issued, it must come from the same Training Center that is issuing the ACLS card.
Are students allowed to access resources when taking the ACLS Provider Course Exam?
The Association has an open-resource policy for exams. Open resources mean students may use them as a reference while completing the exam. Resources could include the provider manual, either in printed form or as an eBook on personal devices, any notes the student took during the provider course, the 2025 Handbook of ECC for Health Care Professionals, etc. Open resource does not mean open discussion with other students or the Instructor. Students may not interact with each other during the exam.
Does the ACLS Provider ILT Course offer continuing education (CE)?
Yes. The following CE is available for the ACLS Provider and the ACLS Update Courses:
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Course
Continuing Education Accreditation – Emergency Medical Services
The Continuing education activity is approved by the American Heart Association, an organization accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE), for 13.75 Advanced CEHs, activity number 25-AMHA-F2-0029.
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Video Prework
AMA Credit Designation Statement – Physicians
The American Heart Association designates this activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
AAPA Credit Acceptance Statement – Physician Associates (PA)
AAPA accepts certificates of participation for educational activities that are accredited by the ACCME or a recognized state medical society and are certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. Physicians Associated may receive up to 1.5 Category 1 hours of credit upon completion of the program.
AANP Credit Acceptance Statement – Nurse Practitioners
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
ANCC Credfit Designation Statement – Nurses
The maximum number of hours awarded for this CE activity is 1.5 contact hours.
ACPE Credit Designation Statement – Pharmacists
ACPE Credit: 1.5 Contact Hours. Universal Program Number: JA0000134-0000-25-039-H01-P
ACPE Credit must be claimed within 30 days of participation. ACPE Credit will no longer be available to claim after 30 days have lapsed.
Continuing Education Accreditation – Emergency Medical Services
The continuing education activity is approved by the American Heart Association, an organization accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE), for 12.5 Advanced CEHs, activity number 25-AMHA-F2-0030.
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Update Course
Continuing Education Accreditation – Emergency Medical Services
The continuing education activity is approved by the American Heart Association, an organization accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CEPCE), for 12.5 Advanced CEHs, activity number 25-AMHA-F2-0030.
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Course Card and BLS Card With Video Prework
Continuing Education Accreditation – Emergency Medical Services
The 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 7.75 Advanced CEHs, activity number 25-AMHA-F2-0025.