Nondiscrimination Policy Update

Boston Medical Center Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. BMCHS provides free aids and services to people with disabilities and free language services to people whose primary language is not English.

To read our full Nondiscrimination Statement, click here.

Language

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)® Initial Certification and Recertification

Offered by the Clinical Training Center at Boston Medical Center

Logo: American Heart Association (AHA) Authorized Training Center

The American Heart Association (AHA)’s PALS® (1) initial certification and (2) recertification courses have been updated to reflect new science in the 2025 AHA Guidelines Update for CPR and ECC.

These blended learning courses include preparation time prior to class and instructor-led learning that uses a series of videos and simulated pediatric emergencies to reinforce the important concepts of a systematic approach to pediatric assessment, basic life support, PALS treatment algorithms, effective resuscitation, and team dynamics. The goal of the PALS® courses is to improve the quality of care provided to seriously ill or injured children, resulting in improved outcomes.

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

The Initial Certification and Recertification Process

An example certificate of completion

The process of PALS® initial certification and recertification is simple. Classes are taught in a blended format. There are four steps:

  1. Online Precourse Assessment: Once you register for the online portion, you will be assigned an online Precourse Assessment that must be passed with a score of greater than 70%. 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 pediatric resuscitation and review the pediatric algorithms (shock, respiratory failure, arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest resuscitation).
  3. Skills Session: You will register for and attend an PALS® hands-on Skills Session. During these sessions you will work in small groups to extensively practice the algorithms you learned online.
    • 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 Initial Certification skills session is 12 hours, held over two days. You must attend both days to receive the certification.
      • Day 1: 8 hours, starting at 8 a.m., with a 30-minute lunch and morning and afternoon breaks.
      • Day 2: 4 hours, starting at 8 a.m., with breaks.
    • The Recertification skills session is 8 hours, starting at 8 a.m., including a 30-minute lunch and morning and afternoon breaks.
  4. Final Exam: You will take the 50-question final exam at the end of the Skills Session.
    • This exam can be completed on your laptop, a tablet, or smartphone.
    • 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.

Registration Links

Register for the online portion:

Register for PALS® Initial Certification or Recertification (Online Portion)

Register for a Skill 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.

PALS® Initial Certification

The Initial Certification skills session is 12 hours, held over two days. You must attend both days to receive the certification.

  • Day 1: 8 hours, starting at 8 a.m., with a 30-minute lunch and morning and afternoon breaks.
  • Day 2: 4 hours, starting at 8 a.m., with breaks.

Register for PALS® Initial Certification Skills Sessions at BMC (main campus) (for anyone)

Register for PALS® Initial Certification Skills Sessions at BMC South (for employees of BMC South only)

PALS® Recertification

The Recertification skills session is 8 hours, starting at 8 a.m., including a 30-minute lunch and morning and afternoon breaks.

Register for PALS® Recertification Skills Sessions at BMC (main campus) (for anyone)

Register for PALS® Recertification Skills Sessions at BMC South (for employees of BMC South only)

Adding on Basic Life Support (Re-)Certification during PALS®

Optionally, if you complete the HeartCode® BLS course’s online portion prior to the PALS® skills session, we will issue both a BLS and a PALS® completion card. No preregistration is required.