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 within the United States require that this certification be obtained through the American Heart Association (AHA).
Don’t be fooled by Non-AHA imitations.
There are a number of ways to obtain AHA approved 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 approved since nearly all hospitals and emergency services in the United States require AHA approved ACLS certification.
AHA approved certification always requires a written exam and hands-on skills station test.
Online Certification:
- You should be very cautious about online ACLS certification. There are quite a number of websites that offer “ACLS Certification” but are not AHA approved. Some may even say “approved by AHA certified physicians” or “AHA physicians recommend this course”. Beware of these sites. Most hospitals and healthcare facilities will not recognize these certifications.
- There are several online courses that are AHA approved and they will say so right up front. They want you to know they are approved and they will always make that clear.
- AHA does offer an online course or CD called “HeartCode ACLS Part 1.” If
This is the American Heart Association self-directed learning program. The cost of Part 1 is $120 and includes CME/CE credits. To complete AHA ACLS certification, there are two parts to the program. Part 1 is the online or 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 healthcare 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 2015-2020 ACLS guidelines for cardiac arrest algorithm.
Denise Dittus says
Do students taking Heartcode for ACLS certification have to also do the required pre-course self assessment?
Jeff with admin. says
Typically, most facilities providing the skills station and AHA ACLS training require the pre-course self assessment to be completed and the results printed out and brought to the skills station assessment or class.
Kind regards,
Jeff
Antonino Mannone says
Jeff, I have a generic question: I am a Gastroenterologist- Endoscopist, 70 years old, I perform my procedures in a Hospital, I am not a hospitalist, I just bring my outpatients to have their procedures in the hospital because there are not Indipendent Endoscopy Centers in the area. I have been trained and certified in Conscious Sedation and BLS. I have been doing endoscopies for the past 35 years and in different hospitals. Now the present hospital is asking for me to be Certified in ACLS. The hospital has a Rapid Response Team (RRT) in charge of all codes. The endoscopic suite does not have a defibrillator and/or a code cart available and relies on the RRT. Independently from the general learning what is the use to have me certified in ACLS?
Jeff with admin. says
When you use the hospital’s resources as a contract to the hospital, you become a liability to them. They have certain rules and regulations that they put in place and Joint Commission requires that these rules must be followed. If the rules are not followed then the hospital becomes liable. I’m sure that one of the rules is that all OR physician, nurses, etc. must have taken the AHA provider course.
If something happens in the OR suite, the hospital becomes liable for the rules that they have set in place and they must ensure that all staff has an active AHA ACLS Provider card.
That would be the most likely reason for your having to take the AHA ACLS Provider Course.
Kind regards,
Jeff
David Villafañe says
I`ve already done the AHA ACLS course and still active, but I missed the certification license. How can I get it again?
Jeff with admin. says
you will need to find a local provider that can help you get the certification taken care of.
You can use the class locator to find one. I have listed the link below.
AHA Class locator
Kind regards,
Jeff
William Trejo says
I’m actually looking to become an instructor in BLS/AED. I’m currently on deployment in the Sinai peninsula for the Army. How can you help me?
SGT Trejo
Jeff with admin. says
First, thank you for your service to our country!
This is where you need to start: AHA instructor page
Kind regards,
Jeff
bob says
I have finished ACLS course and passed . My instructor told me I need buy a ACLS book before he can give me a cert/ACLS card?Is that true I need purchase a book?
Jeff with admin. says
Your instructor is incorrect. You do not have to purchase a provider manual to take the provider course, pass and receive the AHA ACLS Provider card. I would contact AHA and let them know about this.
Kristy Wolf says
If I have my bls do I need to do the hands on portion? What specific class am I looking for with the hands on if I do part 1 online?
Jeff with admin. says
You will need to find a local provider to complete part 2 of the AHA ACLS provider course.
Part 2 consists of a skill session. You can locate a local provider by using the AHA class located here.
Kind regards,
Jeff
Antony Borzotra says
Hello Jeff,
Thank You very much, for providing this course. Your site, enabled Me to not just pass, but to do well, when it came time, to do the actua AHA acls course.
I’ve recommended Your course to some of My co-workers, and the ones that utilized it have told Me that They’ve passed w/ no problem s as well.
anna says
Do I have to be nurse or can I just go and take this 8 hours?
How much you can make per houre with ACLS licence in California?
Thank you
Jeff with admin. says
You do not have to be a nurse to take ACLS. You do not get a license from taking the ACLS course. You receive a provider card from the AHA that states you have taken the course. This class will not dictate what your pay per hour will be.
Kind regards,
Jeff
dehrn1 says
Jeff,
This was an EXCELLENT preparation for both the ACLS Practical & Written examinations. Using the Interactive Course Guide was the best way to be completely prepared. I will highly recommend ACLS-Algorithms to all my co-workers and many acquaintances in both Nursing & EMS. Well worth the nominal cost. I see now that it was a very smart investment.
Regards,
David
P.S. 100% on the final written test. Now it’s on to PALS.
Jeff with admin. says
Hi David,
Thank you so much for the encouragement. I’m so glad that the site was helpful for you. Thanks for passing the site along to others.
Kind Regards, Jeff
Lynn says
Can I get ACLS certificate if I am an EMT-S?
Jeff with admin. says
Yes, anyone can get ACLS certification. There are no prerequisites that must be obtained prior to taking ACLS.
Kind regards,
Jeff
Nancy Brady says
Jeff
Kind regards to you! I passed my ACLS with flying colors! Thanks for this website and all this wonderful information!!!!
Nancy
dehan says
Hi , im 17 And Hsve BLS , Can i already do my ACLS ?
Jeff with admin. says
Yes, anyone can take the AHA ACLS Provider course.
You can find a course in your local area here: AHA Class Locator
Kind regards,
Jeff
Christopher Navarro says
how long is this course? My wife is pre-hired but she needs her ACLS to finalize her hiring process.
Jeff with admin. says
For this corse as a preparation for the AHA ACLS Provider course, from start to finish it should take approx 8 hours. This would be the minim amount of time to go through all of the content.
Kind regards,
Jeff
Immaculate says
This course is only learning purpose or do I get certificate for the purchase I do after training
Jeff with admin. says
This course is for learning purposes only. I do not offer any type of certification. This course is designed to prepare you for the AHA ACLS provider course.
Kind regards,
Jeff