How to Become ACLS Certified

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification expands on the Basic Life Support (BLS) skills required of all medical and health practitioners. Many hospital, emergency services, and medical office jobs require ACLS certification. To get certified, you will need to register for and complete an ACLS certification course. You will also need to demonstrate your skill competencies in-person, and pass a written examination.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Choosing Your Learning Path

  1. Image titled Become ACLS Certified Step 1
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    Make sure you meet the prerequisites for ACLS courses. Before you start on your journey to become ACLS certified, you need to make sure you meet the prerequisites for your course. Students in ACLS courses should already have a mastery of BLS skills and other medical support skills including:[1]
    • CPR
    • AED use
    • Recognizing various heart rhythms
    • Knowledge of different airway management tools
    • Knowledge of common drugs used to treat cardiovascular irregularities
  2. Image titled Become ACLS Certified Step 2
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    Look for an American Heart Association (AHA) program. Most jobs that require you to have an ACLS certification in the U.S. require it to come from AHA. AHA offers courses directly and works with a number of affiliated training centers. Before you commit to an ACLS course, make sure it ends with an AHA certification.[2]
    • Check on the AHA website to find an AHA training center in your area.[3]
    • If you are unsure if a program is affiliated with AHA you can ask them to see a copy of their certification card. It should have the official AHA logo on top, and text noting that your certification is with AHA on the bottom.
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  3. Image titled Become ACLS Certified Step 3
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    Decide if you want a classroom or online learning experience. No matter what you select, you will need to attend in-person skills practice and testing sessions. However, AHA and many of its affiliates offer the opportunity to complete classroom lessons in-person or online. Think about what works best for your schedule, and select either the Classroom or Blended course track.[4]
    • Blended is the e-learning course track because it blends online class time with in-person demonstrations.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Attending In-Person Certification Classes

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    Register for an ACLS certification class at your local training center. You will need to register for your ACLS certification class prior to actually attending. You can register online through the AHA website, or you may be able to register in-person at the training center. Be prepared to pay the fee for your class at this time.
    • Since many people working toward their ACLS certification are working professionals, most in-person classes are in the evenings or during the weekends.
    • Classes may be held at community centers, schools, or local healthcare institutions.
  2. Image titled Become ACLS Certified Step 5
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    Attend all scheduled classes. Once you have signed up, you will need to attend all of the classes scheduled for your program. Since each class contains vital information and many have demonstration and testing components, it is vital you attend all scheduled classes.
    • If you need to miss a class for unexpected or emergency reasons, talk to your instructor as soon as you can.
    • Generally, your combined courses will take about 16 hours in class, in addition to any time you may reserve for studying at home.
  3. Image titled Become ACLS Certified Step 6
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    Demonstrate your competencies in all your learning areas. To get your certification, you will need to demonstrate your ability to successfully perform the tasks associated with all learning areas. These demonstrations will happen in-person with your instructor, typically using a mannequin or test dummy. Skill may include:[5]
    • A CPR-AED skills test
    • Bag-mask ventilation skills test
    • Megacode test
  4. Image titled Become ACLS Certified Step 7
    4
    Take your certification examination. After you have completed all coursework and demonstrations, you will need pass a multiple-choice exam. Each exam is 50-75 questions long. Each test taker needs to score an 84% or higher to pass.[6]
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    Receive your certification. Immediately upon passing your skills and exam, you are considered ACLS certified. You will receive a temporary certification card after your exam. A permanent card will be mailed to you from AHA or your training center.[7]
    • Your certification will be good for 2 years. After that, you will need to recertify.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Attending Blended Training Courses

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    Register for an ACLS blended program. You will need to register for your ACLS certification class prior to beginning your online coursework. You can register online through the AHA website. Be prepared to pay the fee for your class at this time.
    • Online classes will be self-paced, allowing you to complete the coursework on your schedule within set deadlines.
    • You should receive any e-texts and other online training material you may need after signing up for your course.
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    Complete the e-learning modules. Once you are registered for your course, you will need to complete all online course components in the required timeframe. Each component will have a specific due date, and you are free to complete them on your own schedule any time before that date.[8]
    • Your course may have requirements in addition to class modules such as forum posts, quizzes, and response posts. Check your particular course syllabus or outline for requirements and deadlines.
    • Online courses will have instructors or moderators to help you make the most of your course materials. Talk to them if you are struggling with any course material or staying on schedule.
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    3
    Attend your in-person demonstrations. Blended courses still require student to attend in-person demonstrations of key skills. You are required to attend these, as you will have to demonstrate your proficiency with the course skills . Your course registration information should provide details for how to schedule and attend your demonstrations. Skills you may need to demonstrate include:
    • A CPR-AED skills test
    • Bag-mask ventilation skills test
    • Megacode test
  4. Image titled Become ACLS Certified Step 12
    4
    Take your certification examination. After you have completed all your online coursework and in-person demonstrations, you must pass a multiple-choice exam. Each exam is between 50 and 75 questions long. Each test taker needs to score an 84% or higher to pass.[9]
  5. Image titled Become ACLS Certified Step 13
    5
    Receive your certification. Immediately after demonstrating your skills and passing your exam, you are considered ACLS certified. You will receive a temporary certification card directly after your exam. A permanent card will be mailed to you from AHA or your training center.[10]
    • Your certification will be good for 2 years. After that, you will have to recertify in order to maintain your ACLS status.
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References

  1. ↑ http://ahainstructornetwork.americanheart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@ecc/documents/downloadable/ucm_429832.pdf
  2. ↑ https://acls-algorithms.com/acls-certification/
  3. ↑ https://cpr.heart.org/en/cpr-courses-and-kits/healthcare-professional/acls
  4. ↑ https://cpr.heart.org/en/courses/advanced-cardiovascular-life-support-course-options
  5. ↑ http://ahainstructornetwork.americanheart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@ecc/documents/downloadable/ucm_429832.pdf
  6. ↑ http://ahainstructornetwork.americanheart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@ecc/documents/downloadable/ucm_429832.pdf
  7. ↑ http://work.chron.com/requirements-acls-certification-9985.html
  8. ↑ https://shopcpr.heart.org/heartcode-acls
  9. ↑ http://ahainstructornetwork.americanheart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@ecc/documents/downloadable/ucm_429832.pdf
  1. ↑ http://work.chron.com/requirements-acls-certification-9985.html

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7 votes - 57%
Co-authors: 3
Updated: November 9, 2021
Views: 12,401
Categories: Resuscitation (CPR)

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The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

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