The American Heart Association (AHA)’s ACLS® course has been updated to reflect new science in the 2025 American Heart Association Guidelines Update for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. This course builds on the foundation of lifesaving [BLS skills](/node/118871 "Department of Emergency Medicine: The Clinical Training Center at BMC: Basic Life Support Provider (BLS) Certification | Boston Medical Center"), emphasizing the importance of continuous, high-quality CPR.

This advanced course highlights the importance of high-performance team dynamics and communication, systems of care, recognition and intervention of cardiopulmonary arrest, immediate post-cardiac arrest, acute dysrhythmia, stroke, and acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

**Target Audience:** MDs, PAs, RNs, NPs, paramedics, respiratory therapists, technicians, etc.

 

 

 

 ## The Certification and Recertification Process

[![Logo: American Heart Association (AHA) Authorized Training Center](/sites/default/files/Patient_Care/Specialty_Care/Emergency_Medicine/clinical-training-center/aha-authorized-training-center.jpg)](https://atlas.heart.org/ "American Heart Association (atlas.heart.org)") The process of ACLS® certification and recertification is simple. Classes are taught in a blended format. There are four steps:

1. **Online pre-course assessment.** Once you register for the online portion, you will be assigned an online pre-course assessment that **must be passed with a score of greater than 70 percent**. This helps ensure that you have the baseline knowledge of ECG interpretation, pharmacology, and basic resuscitation to be successful in the course.
2. **Online lessons.** You will complete the online video-based lessons that introduce you to new updates in the science of resuscitation and review the ACLS algorithms (bradycardia, tachycardia, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, and cardiac arrest resuscitation).
    - [**Register for ACLS® Certification and Recertification (Online Portion)**](https://form.jotform.com/210866901625154 "BMC Clinical Training Center Registration Form hosted by Jotform (form.jotform.com)")
3. **Skills session.** You will register for and attend an ACLS® hands-on skills session.
    1. Each session is **eight hours**, including a 30-minute lunch and morning and afternoon breaks.
    2. During this session you will **work in small groups** to extensively practice the algorithms you learned online.
    3. Employees of BMC Brighton and BMC South must attend skills session classes either **on the campus at which they work** or at the **BMC main campus**. All BMC Health System employees are welcome to attend classes at the BMC main campus.
    4. Skills sessions for outside students (non–BMC employees) are held **only** at the BMC main campus.
4. ![An example certificate of completion](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Screenshot%202024-11-13%20at%208.55.25%E2%80%AFAM.png) **Final exam.** You will take the 50-question final exam at the end of the skills session day.
    1. This exam can be completed on your laptop, a tablet, or smartphone.
    2. Paper exams will be available for those learners who do not bring a device.

**Your completion card will be emailed the next business day following your successful completion of the final exam.**

 

 



 

 ## Register for a Skills Session

Please note:

- All BMC Health System employees, as well as registered outside students/non–BMC employees, may attend skills sessions held at the BMC main campus. **However, skills sessions held at BMC Brighton and BMC South are open only to employees of those campuses.**
- The skills sessions are held in various locations around the BMC campuses. **When you register, please make note of the location at which your session will be held.**
- On the day of your hands-on skills session, check-in starts at 7:45 a.m. and instruction begins promptly at 8 a.m. **If you arrive more than 10 minutes late, you will be turned away.**

[**Register for ACLS® Skills Sessions at BMC (main campus)**](https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080844ABAA29A7F58-acls4#/ "ACLS® Hands-On Skills Sessions at BMC Main Campus: Registration Form hosted by SignUp Genius (signupgenius.com)") (for anyone)

[**Register for ACLS® Skills Sessions at BMC Brighton**](https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080844ABAA29A7F58-53104259-acls#/ "ACLS® Hands-On Skills Sessions at BMC Brighton: Registration Form hosted by SignUp Genius (signupgenius.com)") (for employees of BMC Brighton only)

[**Register for ACLS® Skills Sessions at BMC South**](https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080844ABAA29A7F58-53104296-acls#/ "ACLS® Hands-On Skills Sessions at BMC South: Registration Form hosted by SignUp Genius (signupgenius.com)") (for employees of BMC South only)

 

 



 

 ## Adding on Basic Life Support Certification during ACLS®

You have the option to complete the HeartCode® BLS course’s online portion prior to the ACLS® skills session. If you do, we will issue **both** a BLS and an ACLS® completion card. **No preregistration is required.**

 

 



 

 ## Explore the Clinical Training Center

 

- [Department of Emergency Medicine](/departments/emergency-medicine)
- [The Clinical Training Center at BMC](/departments/emergency-medicine/clinical-training-center-bmc)
- [Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification](/departments/emergency-medicine/clinical-training-center/basic-life-support-bls-certification)
- [Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)® Certification & Recertification](/departments/emergency-medicine/clinical-training-center/pediatric-advanced-life-support-palsr-certification-and-recertification)