ACLS Certification or Recertification
How to get ACLS Certification or Recertification
ACLS Certification is required by health care providers working in acute care settings and also by providers of emergency services.
The majority of hospitals and emergency services require that this certification be accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA).
Don’t be fooled by Non-AHA imitations.
There are a number of ways to obtain AHA accredited ACLS certification. Below is a breakdown of what is required and how it can be obtained. Also included are some cautions about online certification.
Attend a local class
- The safest way to obtain AHA ACLS certification is by attending a class in your local area. Many hospitals provide the course at a discount to their employees. You can also check your yellow pages for education facilities that provide BLS, ACLS, and first aid training. Cost for the class usually ranges from $ 150-200.
Ask your education department about opportunities for fee reimbursement or fee assistance. - When looking for a course in your local area, you should make sure to ask if the certification is AHA accredited since nearly all hospitals and emergency services require AHA accredited ACLS certification.
AHA certification always requires hands-on Megacode testing.
Online Certification:
- You should be very cautious about online certification. There are quite a number of websites that offer “ACLS Certification” but are not AHA accredited. Some may even say “approved by AHA certified physicians” or “AHA physicians recommend this course”. Beware of these sites. Most hospitals and health care facilities will not recognize these certifications.
- There are several online courses that are AHA accredited and they will say so right up front. They want you to know they are accredited and they will always make that clear.
- AHA does offer an online CD driven course called “HeartCode ACLS Anywhere”
This is the American Heart Association self-directed learning program. The cost of the CD is $120 and includes CME/CE credits. There are two parts to the program . Part 1 is the CD-based learning component that allows users to work through the ACLS curriculum at their own pace. Part 2 is the hands-on skills evaluation session usually costs around $50.
Conclusion
ACLS certification is a great way to expand your knowledge base as a health care professional, and it will help prepare you to be ready to perform advanced resuscitation in the health care setting. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
ACLS-Algorithms.com is here to provide you with the best web-based ACLS training available. Try the Megacode Simulator or watch a video about the new 2010 ACLS guidelines for pulseless arrest algorithm.
Great preparation for ACLS recertification class! I passed with flying colors! While I don’t recommend waiting until the last few days to prepare (even had the best of intentions), but … I did – and I did just fine! PASSED! THANKS for the great questions and most of all the MegaCode simulations! And for making the recert so less stressful!
Barbara
Dear Jeff:
I am cramming for my ACLS examination and I found this site very useful. The format is easy to follow, the information very comprehensive and faithful to the AHA guidelines. I initially signed up for a cram special deal like two weeks. I would like to change that to a full year-12 month and you can use the visa card I have used initially. Will the fee take into consideration what I paid for the 2 weeks?
Fanny A. dela Cruz
Thanks for this extremely useful site in preparation for ACLS and megacode. I have taken it at least 12 times and this is the best prep course ever. You have reduced my anxiety to a reasonable level. I’m taking the renewal class tomorrow.
Thank you for making this website! I am a bachelors prepared nurse, who has been practicing for almost 2 years now. I LOVE this website, especially the mega code practices… I thought that I was getting the information by reading and memorization, but learned VERY quickly, that I needed some help when it came time to actually verbalize what I needed to do. This website has helped so much- I only wish I would have found it earlier! I’m actually going to show all my work friends, and purchased for a few months so I can keep this information fresh in my head- and help my fellow co-workers! Thanks again!!
how often is recertification required?
Every 2 years.
best website ever.
Hi Jeff and Chris,
Just a brief history, I am 64, a retired OR nurse of 40 years, and a product of 12 years of parochial education, and perdiem OR nurse, requirements dictate….. ACLS certificaions!!!!!. If you can read into this at all I am terrified………I found this site a month ago and have been a daily visitor since then. The ACLS test is 1/25/12……I would like to thank you in advance, I feel more confidant than I have felt in a very long time. I will respond one way or the other. 1/25/12
Much respect to you and your brother, Therese South of Boston