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You now have a choice in healthcare education from the first provider of resuscitation training in the United States. The Advanced Life Support (ALS, sometimes referred as ACLS) class from the American Red Cross has been designed specifically for healthcare providers and first responders – and offers ways to help streamline your training, improve your skill retention and help you better serve your patients.
By building on your Basic Life Support (BLS) knowledge, our scientifically equivalent and educationally superior training emphasizes providing high-quality patient care by integrating rhythm interpretation, electrical interventions, and pharmacologic knowledge with critical thinking, problem-solving, and in-person psychomotor skills practice to achieve the best possible patient outcomes. Throughout the Red Cross ALS course, you'll learn advanced life support assessment, as well as how to best manage respiratory emergencies, and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) protocols for acute arrhythmias, cardiac arrest (including post-cardiac arrest care), acute coronary syndromes and acute stroke within or outside of a medical facility setting.
Advanced Life Support (sometimes referred as advanced cardiac life support, or ACLS) classes are available via our innovative Blended Learning program, which combines online training coursework with an in-person skills session – so you can take them when and where you like – and on the device that suits you best. Throughout the course, our interactive scenarios will help you understand the science behind ALS and the finer points of providing care, and improve your clinical decision-making skills. With the online class complete, and after passing your final written exam, you'll attend an in-person skills session – where you'll meet with a certified ALS/ACLS Red Cross instructor and demonstrate your ALS skills. After passing both sections of the course, you'll receive a two-year ALS certificate.
As part of the Blended Learning experience, our ALS class features adaptive learning technology. By using this groundbreaking technology, you'll not only follow a personalized learning path, but you'll have the option to test out of sessions if you demonstrate competency. It’s an innovative way to reduce your overall class time and help you earn your ALS certification (sometimes referred as ACLS certification) faster.
If you're an experienced ALS provider, the Red Cross gives you the option to renew your ALS certification even faster. With the opportunity to do a brief, in-person skills review before testing (Recertification Option), or simply move straight to the Challenge Option and immediately take the skills test, you can get your ALS and ACLS recertified in less time.
Advanced Life Support courses are designed for professional healthcare providers who participate in the assessment and management of critical patients, including those working in in-hospital, pre-hospital, and out-of-hospital medical facilities.
The only prerequisite for enrollment is that you must be proficient in adult basic life support (BLS) skills.
Basic Life Support (BLS) is the foundation of resuscitation training for healthcare professionals including nurses, physicians, EMS professionals, and other healthcare and public safety personnel. The Advanced Life Support (ALS) program builds on the skills learned in BLS, training healthcare providers to care for adult patients who are experiencing life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest, acute coronary syndrome, or stroke.
ALS (Advanced Life Support) is often used interchangeably with the term ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support). Advanced Life Support is the name of the ILCOR taskforce that produces Consensus on Science with Treatment Recommendations in this subject area. Red Cross Advanced Life Support goes beyond a cardiac focus.
These three courses are part of the Red Cross Resuscitation Suite™ program.
Basic Life Support (BLS) is the foundation of resuscitation training for healthcare professionals including nurses, physicians, EMS professionals, and other healthcare and public safety personnel. BLS program content includes single-and multiple-responder CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and AED (automatic external defibrillator) use, as well as how to care for a patient who has an obstructed airway (choking).
The ALS program trains healthcare providers to care for adult patients who are experiencing life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest, acute coronary syndrome, or stroke.
The PALS program trains healthcare providers to care for pediatric patients who are experiencing life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest, respiratory emergencies and shock.
Advanced Life Support (ALS) focuses on advance cardiac care for the adult patient whereas Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) focuses on advanced cardiac care for the pediatric patient.
Advanced Life Support (ALS) focuses on advanced cardiac life support for adult patients, while Neonatal Advanced Life Support (NALS) focuses on the resuscitation of neonates, including airway, breathing and cardiac support.
Advanced Life Support (ALS) certification is intended for healthcare clinicians and trained emergency responders responsible for advanced team based patient care. This typically includes paramedics, nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists and others working in clinical or prehospital settings.
ALS is not intended for the general public or people without a healthcare background. Participants are expected to already have basic life support skills and experience with patient assessment and basic cardiac rhythm recognition before taking an ALS course.
ALS certification is more challenging than Basic Life Support (BLS) because it emphasizes advanced clinical skills and decision-making in life-threatening emergencies. The course covers topics such as cardiac rhythm recognition, critical time sensitive medical condition recognition, medication use and team-based response.
While the training is demanding, it is designed to be practical and supportive. Learners who review materials in advance and actively participate in scenarios and skills practice are well prepared to succeed.
Most ALS courses require participants to have a Basic Life Support (BLS) certification and a background in healthcare or emergency medical services. Learners are expected to be comfortable with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), patient assessment and basic emergency response skills.
Check course requirements ahead of time to confirm the training matches your role and experience.
ALS courses focus on advanced assessment and treatment of patients experiencing serious time sensitive medical emergencies. Training typically includes advanced airway management, cardiac rhythm recognition, medication use, team communication and leadership during critical events.
Participants practice responding to realistic emergency scenarios that involve cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, stroke, sepsis and STEMI. ALS courses emphasize clear decision-making, teamwork and applying current evidence-based care guidelines.
The length of an ALS course depends on whether you are taking it for the first time or renewing your certification. Initial ALS courses often take one to two full days, depending on the format and learner experience. Recertification courses are usually shorter since they focus on refreshing knowledge and skills and ensuring participants are able to practice at standard level. Many programs use a blended format that combines online learning with an in-person assessment.
ALS certification is valid for two years. After that time, healthcare clinicians should complete either a ALS full course or an ALS recertification course to stay current with the latest science, guidelines and best practices in advanced life support care. Renewing on time ensures clinicians are in compliance with local/state certification requirements as well as apprised of science updates and changes.
Basic Life Support (BLS) focuses on immediate lifesaving actions like CPR, automated external defibrillator (AED) use and basic airway support for people of all ages. BLS is often the first level of care provided until advanced help arrives.
Advanced Life Support (ALS) builds on those skills by allowing trained professionals to deliver advanced interventions. This includes interpreting heart rhythms, administering medications, managing advanced airways and leading coordinated team responses during complex medical emergencies.
ALS is used when patients need a higher level of assessment, treatment and clinical decision-making.
ALS (Advanced Life Support) is often used interchangeably with the term ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support). ALS is the American Red Cross course that provides not only ACLS education but also provides additional training in critical time sensitive emergencies like stroke and sepsis that many of our clinicians frequently encounter in their clinical settings.
ALS courses are often offered in a blended format that combines online learning with in-person skills testing. The online portion covers key concepts, protocols and assessments, while the in-person session allows participants to demonstrate hands-on skills and team performance. Online ALS certification is only considered valid when it includes hands on skills evaluation and follows current resuscitation guidelines.
ALS recertification courses count toward continuing education (CE) for licensed healthcare clinicians and Commission on Accreditation For Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE) credits for emergency response professionals. The ALS Recertification Course is accredited by CAPCE for 11.0 Advanced Continuing Education Hours (CEH). If credits are required for your license or employer, it’s essential to confirm that the course meets your specific continuing education needs.
