Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

Clinical Training Center
Department of Emergency Medicine

The American Heart Association's ACLS Course has been updated to reflect new science in the 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines Update for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. This course builds on the foundation of lifesaving BLS skills, 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, etc...

• Students certifying for the first time- The Initial course is approximately 13 hours (Over 2 days.
• Students that are updating (recertifying)- The update course is approximately 5 hours

Advanced Cardiac Life Support Class Schedule and Registration

• ACLS Initial Certification program
• ACLS Update Program (Student must have current ACLS Certification)
• ACLS Instructor Certification Class (Student must have current ACLS Certification)

Important Notes

ACLS Course Pretest

Students must complete the American Heart Association ACLS Pre Course Evaluation before taking the program. Access to this test is included with your textbook. If you have difficulty locating the code, please contact the CTC for assistance.

Pharmacology and ECG Recognition

Students entering the ACLS program are expected to have a basic understanding of ECG recognition, and basic pharmacology. By completing the Pre-Course Assessment, this will help you identify what areas you may review before class. (Consider taking the ECG and Pharmacology Prep Class prior to your ACLS class)

Textbooks

The American Heart Association requires all students to have a current provider manual available to them “before, during and after” the certification program. In our experience, students that have the book prior to class, and take the online pre-course assessment are able to participate more fully in the class, and score better in the practical and written exams.

Provider manuals are available for purchase with your online registration, can be purchased at our office, or are available the day of class.