Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

Who should take the course?

Health care providers who either direct or participate in the management of respiratory and/or cardiovascular emergencies and cardiopulmonary arrest in pediatric patients. 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

  • The systematic approach to assess and treat a seriously ill or injured infant/child
  • Recognition and management of cardiac arrest
  • Basic child and infant life support skills
  • Effective resuscitation team dynamics
  • Recognition and management of respiratory distress and failure, including airway management
  • Recognition and management of shock, including vascular access
  • Recognition and management of arrhythmias, including electrical therapy
  • Post-cardiac arrest care

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 PALS skills performance during one-on-one skills testing.

Browse Courses by Type

The CoxHealth Education Center offers the following course formats:

PALS 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 PALS provider courses

PALS Provider Update Course

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

View PALS provider update courses

PALS Blended Learning

The CoxHealth Education Center does not offer PALS 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.