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ADVANCED CARDIOVASCULAR LIFE SUPPORT

American Heart Association (2020)

The AHA’s ACLS course builds on the foundation of lifesaving BLS skills, emphasizing the importance of preventing cardiac arrest, early and continuous high-quality CPR, and high-performing teams.


The course reflects science and education from the 2020 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC).

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The course is designed for healthcare professionals who either direct or participate in the management of cardiopulmonary arrest or other cardiovascular emergencies. This includes personnel in emergency response, emergency medicine, intensive care, and critical care units such as physicians, nurses, and paramedics, as well as others who need an ACLS course completion card for job or other requirements.

Class Costs

Heart Code ACLS Online

$375

HeartCode® ACLS Online is a self-directed, comprehensive eLearning program that uses adaptive learning technology to allow learners to acquire and demonstrate Advanced Cardiac Life Support skills using a personalized learning path that adapts in real time to a learner’s performance. The program is designed for healthcare professionals who need Advanced Cardiac Life Support training for their clinical duties. HeartCode® ACLS Online consists of a cognitive portion that is completed online. A separate hands-on skills assessment session with an AHA Instructor is required to earn a valid AHA ACLS Provider eCard that is valid for two years. 

2-Day Initial Certification

Must have online modules completed prior to scheduling

$375

Please email training@nursementor.net for any questions about our class costs

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The American Heart Association strongly promotes knowledge and proficiency in all AHA courses and has developed instructional materials for this purpose. Use of these materials in an educational course does not represent course sponsorship by the AHA. Any fees charged for such a course, except for a portion of fees needed for AHA course materials, do not represent income to the AHA.

Important Information

What is taught in the 2020 ACLS Provider Course

In the 2020 ACLS Provider Course, students will learn and practice

  • Systematic approach (assessment)

  • High-quality BLS

  • Airway management

  • Rhythm recognition

  • Defibrillation

  • Intravenous (IV)/intraosseous (IO) access (information only)

  • Use of medications

  • Cardioversion

  • Transcutaneous pacing

  • High-performance teams

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The course is designed to give students the opportunity to practice and demonstrate proficiency in the following skills used in resuscitation:

  • Systematic approach (assessment)

  • High-quality BLS

  • Airway management

  • Rhythm recognition

  • Defibrillation

  • Intravenous (IV)/intraosseous (IO) access (information only)

  • Use of medications

  • Cardioversion

  • Transcutaneous pacing

  • High-performance teams

Prerequisites for taking the ACLS Course

Providers who take the ACLS Course must be proficient in the following:

  • Performing high-quality BLS skills according to the current AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC

  • Reading and interpreting electrocardiograms (ECGs)

  • Understanding ACLS pharmacology

  • Providing bag-mask ventilation

Provider Manuals

Provider manuals are mandatory per AHA guidelines as of February 1, 2021. You may purchase or bring a 2020 provider manual. HeartCode ACLS Online includes an eBook.

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You may purchase books here

PreCourse Self-Assessment

This must be completed prior to class. You will need to email the completion certificate prior to the first day of the 2-Day Course or before arriving for the hands-on skills session.

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This is required and you must pass with a score of at least 70%. To complete, see below:

  • ACLS Initial: ACLS Precourse Self-Assessment and Precourse Work

  • ACLS Update: ACLS Precourse Self-Assessment

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There is no cost for these assignments.

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To be successful and get the most of the classes offered, completing all pre-course assignments are required. If you do not have your pre-course assignment completed and/or do not bring or email your completion certificate to your instructor prior to class, you cannot attend. You may reschedule but there will be a 50% service charge. This means that you will have to pay an additional fee to reschedule.

Current Certification

If you have an expired provider card or do not possess a provider card, you may be allowed to take a renewal course but will not be given the option of remediation. If you get less than an 84% on the written or do not successfully pass the skills testing on your 1st attempt, you will need to repeat the entire update (renewal) provider course. You will incur all fees associated with the repeat class if you cannot successfully meet the course completion requirements when tested.

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If you do not have your card, you can try and search for it on the AHA eCards Verification page.

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You do not need to have a current BLS Provider card to take ACLS but you are expected to be proficient in BLS skills. You will be tested on your BLS skills at your hands-on testing session.

AHA Provider Card

We no longer mail physical cards. All AHA cards will be sent as e-cards to the email you noted during registration. You will receive your e-card within 1-2 business days. You may verify your e-card at the AHA eCards Verification page after the 2nd day.

Registration

  • Advanced registration is requested no later than 14 days prior to the first day of the course. Early registration is advised to allow time to receive pre- course materials. In order to achieve maximum success in all courses, pre-course preparation is essential.

  • Classes fill up quickly and will close when the maximum enrollment is reached. 

Testing

Knowledge Testing: You must pass a written exam or the online exam with a score of 84% or better. The AHA has an open-resource policy for exams which means you can use the following resources while taking your test:

  • Provider manual (printed or eBook),

  • Any notes taken during the course,

  • Posters

  • 2020 Handbook of Emergency Cardiovascular Care for Healthcare Providers

  • 2020 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care

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Skills Testing: ACLS skills testing includes high-quality BLS skills focusing on continuous chest compressions, megacode, and airway management.

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HeartCode skills sessions are by appointment only. Send an email to schedule.

Class Length

Initial: 11-12 hours

Renewal/Update: 7-8 hours

Hands-on Skills Testing: 1-2 hours

Refunds, Cancellations, and Rescheduling

Due to the limited number of seats, refunds will not be given except in emergencies with documentation. You may reschedule but will only be added as a registrant if there are still seats available 10 days prior to the next scheduled course.

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