AHA Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)

What this course covers

ACLS builds on basic life support skills with advanced airway management, recognition of cardiac arrest and peri-arrest rhythms, pharmacology used during resuscitation, and team-based megacode scenarios. Instruction emphasizes clear roles and communication during a real resuscitation event, not just individual skills in isolation.

Who this is for

ACLS is designed for nurses, paramedics, and other clinical providers who may respond to cardiac emergencies as part of their role. It is a recommended next step after Basic Life Support for anyone moving into more acute or critical care responsibilities.

Prerequisites

A current AHA BLS Provider certification is typically recommended before starting ACLS, along with a working knowledge of basic cardiac rhythms. If you are not sure whether you meet the prerequisites, call our admissions team and we will help you confirm before you enroll.

AHA Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) course overview

Our Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support course is an American Heart Association (AHA) ACLS course taught in person at our Orangevale campus. It is designed for licensed and advanced clinicians who manage patients during cardiac and respiratory emergencies. ACLS builds directly on Basic Life Support, adding the assessment, medications, and team leadership skills needed to run a resuscitation. On successful completion you earn an official AHA ACLS Provider card.

Because our lead instructor is a Registered Nurse with hands-on clinical experience, the course focuses on how ACLS actually plays out in a real code, from reading the monitor to communicating clearly as a team. That practical grounding is what helps the algorithms stick when the pressure is on.

What you learn in ACLS

ACLS takes the lifesaving basics of CPR and adds the advanced cardiac care that clinical teams rely on. The course covers:

• Recognition and management of cardiac arrest, from high-quality CPR to defibrillation
• ECG and heart-rhythm recognition, including the rhythms that drive treatment decisions
• ACLS pharmacology: the core medications, when to give them, and why
• Airway management, including bag-mask ventilation and advanced airway support
• Management of related emergencies such as bradycardia, tachycardia, and post-cardiac-arrest care
• High-performance team dynamics and the role of the team leader during a megacode

These standards come straight from the American Heart Association, so your card carries the same weight anywhere. What we add is small-group attention and an instructor who can answer the clinical why behind each step.

Who needs ACLS

ACLS is for clinicians whose roles include responding to or leading cardiac emergencies. You likely need a current ACLS card if you are:

• A registered nurse in critical care, emergency, telemetry, cardiac, or a rapid-response role
• A paramedic or advanced prehospital provider
• A physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner in acute or emergency care
• A respiratory therapist or other clinician who participates in code teams
• A travel nurse or new hire who must show a current ACLS card before starting an assignment

If your employer requires ACLS and you are not certain whether you need an initial course or a renewal, call us at (916) 544-1256 and we will confirm the right option.

BLS before ACLS: the prerequisite expectation

ACLS assumes you are already proficient in Basic Life Support, so most training centers expect you to hold or obtain a current BLS card. High-quality CPR is the backbone of every ACLS algorithm, and the course moves quickly on the assumption that those basics are second nature. If you need to refresh or earn your BLS first, we offer AHA BLS certification in the same hands-on format, and we are happy to schedule both so you arrive ready.

ACLS versus BLS

BLS is the foundation that everyone in healthcare needs: CPR, AED use, rescue breathing, and team basics. ACLS is the advanced course for the clinicians who lead and manage cardiac emergencies, adding rhythm interpretation, medications, and advanced airway skills. ACLS does not replace BLS; providers usually keep both cards current on their own two-year cycles. For a fuller side-by-side, see our guide on BLS versus ACLS and which certification you need.

How the class works and how to prepare

Our ACLS course is taught in person with hands-on practice and a skills evaluation, because leading a resuscitation is a physical, team-based skill that cannot be learned from a screen alone. Initial certification typically spans one to two sessions, and renewal is shorter for providers who already hold a current card. The American Heart Association provides a precourse self-assessment and provider materials to review beforehand; coming in familiar with the core rhythms and algorithms makes the day go smoothly. Bring a photo ID and, if you are renewing, your current ACLS card.

Your AHA ACLS Provider card and the 2-year renewal

When you pass, you receive an American Heart Association ACLS Provider card, which is valid for two years. Employers verify AHA eCards online, so keep your card on file with human resources. Renew before your card expires rather than after, since an expired ACLS card can keep you off certain clinical assignments until you recertify. We make renewal quick and hands-on so staying current is one less thing to worry about.

Onsite and group ACLS training for teams

We bring ACLS to hospitals, clinics, urgent care centers, and provider groups across the greater Sacramento region and Northern California, including Sacramento, Roseville, Auburn, Grass Valley, Yuba City, Napa, and Redding. Training your team onsite keeps everyone current together, on your schedule, without pulling staff away for a full day of travel. It is a practical way to prepare a unit before an accreditation survey or a wave of new hires.

Preparing for your ACLS day

ACLS moves quickly, so a little preparation goes a long way. The American Heart Association offers a precourse self-assessment and provider materials; working through them before class helps you arrive comfortable with the core rhythms, the common medications, and the flow of each algorithm. If it has been a while since your last course, spending time with the rhythm strips and the cardiac arrest and bradycardia and tachycardia algorithms is the highest-value way to prepare.

During the class you will move through skills stations and a megacode, where you lead or take part in a simulated resuscitation as a team. The goal is not to trick you; it is to make sure you can apply the algorithms under realistic pressure and communicate clearly with your team. Because we teach in small groups with an RN instructor, you get direct coaching through the parts that feel hardest, which is exactly where confidence is built.

Who should enroll

Enroll in ACLS if your role requires you to respond to or lead cardiac emergencies and you need an initial certification or a renewal. Critical care and emergency nurses, paramedics, advanced providers, and travel clinicians all fit this course. If you also need to keep your foundational card current, ask about scheduling BLS alongside it.

Course fee and what is included

The AHA Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support course is $209. That covers your in-person instruction, hands-on megacode and skills practice, your skills evaluation, and your AHA ACLS Provider card on successful completion. For onsite team training, call us and we will build a plan around your group size and timeline.

How to enroll and what to expect next

To get started, use our enrollment form or call (916) 544-1256. Let us know whether you need initial ACLS or a renewal, and whether it is for you or a team, and we will confirm a date and the materials to review beforehand. Come in for the hands-on session, complete your evaluation, and leave ready to verify your card with your employer. If you are working against a start date or survey, tell us and we will do our best to accommodate it.

Sources and official references

• American Heart Association CPR & First AidPublishes the official ACLS curriculum and issues course completion cards

Certification requirements are set by the State of California through the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the relevant certifying bodies, and can change. Prices and prerequisites are current as of 2026; please confirm current details with the California Department of Public Health and the American Heart Association before enrolling.