American Heart Association
ACLS Certification
Complete the American Heart HeartCode® ACLS online course at your own pace, then verify your skills at one of our CPR Verification Stations. Receive your official American Heart ACLS certification instantly after completion.
Self-Guided Learning™
How it works.
Complete your AHA ACLS certification in three simple steps, on your schedule.
Select Your Location
Where would you like to get ACLS certified?
Three convenient Florida locations. Same AHA-approved instruction, same same-day eCards.
Self-Guided Learning™
Learn on your schedule. Certify on your terms.
Self-Guided Learning™ from the American Heart Association® and Laerdal Medical lets you complete Self-Guided Learning from the American Heart Association and Laerdal Medical gives you complete flexibility. Use True Adaptive Learning to work through content at your own pace, then visit a CPR Verification Station to verify your skills and receive your AHA eCard immediately.
Curriculum
What you'll learn.
ACLS builds on BLS skills with advanced assessment, pharmacology, and team leadership for managing life-threatening cardiovascular emergencies.
ACLS places heavy emphasis on leading and participating in high-performance resuscitation teams — assigning roles, closed-loop communication, real-time feedback, and coordinated interventions during cardiac arrest.
Recognize symptomatic bradycardia and apply transcutaneous pacing as a temporizing measure while preparing for definitive treatment.
Rapidly assess and manage acute coronary syndromes and stroke — risk stratification, time-critical interventions, and specialized care pathway activation.
Post-ROSC management: targeted temperature management, hemodynamic optimization, and neuroprognostication to improve outcomes after return of spontaneous circulation.
Who it's for
Who needs ACLS certification?
ACLS is designed for healthcare professionals who direct or participate in the management of cardiac arrest and other cardiovascular emergencies.
- Emergency Medicine Physicians
- Internal Medicine / Hospitalists
- Anesthesiologists
- Surgeons & Cardiologists
- Physician Assistants (PA)
- Nurse Practitioners (NP)
- ICU / Critical Care Nurses
- Emergency Department Nurses
- Cardiac Cath Lab / OR Nurses
- Telemetry / Step-Down Nurses
- Flight Nurses & CRNAs
- Paramedics
- Flight / Critical Care Paramedics
- EMS Medical Directors
- Firefighter-Paramedics
- Prehospital RNs
- Medical & PA Students
- NP / CRNA Students
- Paramedic Students
- Respiratory Therapists
- Clinical Pharmacists
- Dentists & Oral Surgeons
Compare options
Side by side.
See exactly what each format includes.
| Feature | Self-Guided | Blended | Classroom | Skills Only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online coursework | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| CPR Verification Station™ | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| In-Person Skills Session | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| AHA eCard included | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Best for | Flexibility + Self-paced learners | Flexibility + guidance | Guided instruction | Renewals |
| Flexibility level | Highest | High | Low | High |
FAQ
Common questions.
What is Self-Guided Learning?
Self-Guided ACLS uses HeartCode® Complete ACLS online with True Adaptive™ Learning, followed by a skills verification session at a CPR Verification Station™ learning center. You receive your AHA ACLS Course Completion eCard immediately upon successful completion.
What are the prerequisites for ACLS?
You should be proficient in BLS skills before taking ACLS. For the Experienced Providers course, you should already be proficient in ACLS skills, ECG interpretation, and ACLS pharmacology.
How long does the ACLS course take?
The Self-Guided option lets you complete the online portion at your own pace, then visit a CPR Verification Station™ for the skills session. Full classroom ACLS typically runs 1–2 days (12–16 hours).
Is ACLS accepted by employers?
Yes. All formats result in an official AHA ACLS Course Completion eCard, which is required by most hospitals, EDs, ICUs, and clinical settings nationwide.
What's the difference between ACLS and BLS?
BLS covers foundational CPR, AED, and choking relief. ACLS builds on BLS with ECG rhythm interpretation, advanced pharmacology, airway management, defibrillation/cardioversion, transcutaneous pacing, and high-performance team leadership.
