Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

Who should take the course?

Health care professionals who either director 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, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, pharmacists and paramedics.

Course Covers

  • Basic life support skills, including effective chest compressions, use of a bag-mask device, and use of an AED
  • Recognition and early management of respiratory and cardiac arrest
  • Recognition and early management of peri-arrest conditions such as symptomatic bradycardia
  • Airway management
  • Related pharmacology
  • Management of ACS and stroke
  • Effective communication as a member and leader of a resuscitation team

Course Delivery

Instructors deliver the cognitive learning and the skills practice and testing in a classroom setting. At the end of the course, students are provided a course completion card when they achieve a minimum score of 84% or greater on a 50-question written exam and demonstrate proficient ACLS skills performance during one-on-one skills testing.

Browse Courses by Type

The CoxHealth Education Center offers the following course formats:

ACLS Provider Course

  • Intended for individuals take the course for the first time or those who prefer an in-depth course experience
  • Course length: 16 hours, over two full days

View ACLS provider courses

ACLS Provider Update Course

  • Intended for individuals who have a current ACLS provider card
  • Course length: 8 hours

View ACLS provider update courses

ACLS Blended Learning

The CoxHealth Education Center does not offer ACLS blended-learning courses.

Disclaimer: 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.