Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support Training Course

AHA Certifications offered

• ACLS and BLS initial certification (HeartCode and skills session)
• ACLS and BLS update/recertification (In-person and skills session)
• PALS update/recertification (Heartcode and skills session)

ACLS and BLS initial certification

This applies to learners who have never been AHA-certified in the discipline previously or if it has been greater than two years and one month since your last AHA certification in the discipline.

HeartCode Modules (offered through the AHA site) and completion of the ACLS pretest are both required prior to your skills session. You must show proof (printed/electronic) to your lead instructor that you have scored 90 percent or higher on the pretest (you may take the pretest exam multiple times).

To purchase the HeartCode for your respective discipline(s):

• ACLS HeartCode online
• BLS HeartCode online
• PALS Heartcode online

Please note you must sign up for an in-person skills sessions within two months of completing your HeartCode. After successful completion of the in-person skills session you will be assigned an electronic certification card from the AHA, which is valid for two years.

ACLS, BLS, and PALS update/recertification

This applies to learners who have been AHA-certified in the discipline within two years and one month. No HeartCode module is needed, but you will need to complete a pre-course (pre-test) prior to ACLS class.

Please sign up for an in-person didactic session which includes a same-day skills session. After successful completion of the in-person skills session you will be assigned an electronic certification card from the AHA, which is valid for two years.

If you have taken a course through Baylor and have lost your AHA Certification Card, email chris.rhodes@bcm.edu (fee at cost for replacement card).

General information: *Currently only offered to Medical Students*

Welcome to the BCM AHA ACLS/PALS/BLS page. A Basic Life Support (BLS) Update/Recertification course and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) or Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) initial certification course are required for graduation from Baylor College of Medicine. 

Although students have previously taken these courses during APEX, that is no longer the only option to take these courses. You may now opt to take this as early as the beginning of your third year so that you meet requirements for away rotations that require AHA certification(s).

To determine if you should take ACLS or PALS, consider your specialty of choice and if you will be significantly involved in the care of pediatric patients, or consult with your future residency program about their requirements. Along with your BLS Update/Recertification, one of these courses (ACLS or PALS) is included in your tuition; If you would like to take both ACLS and PALS, there is a charge for the second course. 

Instructions for medical students (read all instructions below):

If you are a medical student needing BLS recertification/update: 

• Complete the online AHA BLS Heartcode module prior to skills test
  • You will be emailed a payment code at the earliest two months prior to your skills test. Do not purchase the module on your own.
• Save your certificate after completion of the module
• Sign up for a skills test through the registration link below

If you are a medical student needing ACLS initial certification: 

• Complete the online AHA ACLS Heartcode module prior to skills test
  • You will be emailed a payment code at the earliest two months prior to your skills test. Do not purchase the module on your own.
• Save your certificate after completion of the module
• Sign up for a skills test through the registration link below
• Complete the ACLS pretest prior to your skills test, and show proof to your lead instructor that you have scored 90 percent or higher (you may take the pretest exam multiple times).

If you are a medical student needing PALS initial certification: 
Complete the online AHA PALS Heartcode module prior to skills test

• You will be emailed a payment code at the earliest two months prior to your skills test. Do not purchase the module on your own.
• Save your certificate after completion of the module
• Sign up for skills test through the registration link below
• Complete the PALS pretest prior to your skills test, and show proof to your lead instructor that you have scored 90 percent or higher (you may take the pretest exam multiple times).

Check your email for an email from Chris Rhodes for the link to register for a skills test session. If you did not receive an email, reach out to Chris at chris.rhodes@bcm.edu.

Information regarding the online Heartcode modules and skills tests

The online AHA modules consist of case-based scenarios designed to teach you the algorithms for BLS, ACLS, or PALS and include a multiple-choice exam at the end. You will receive a certificate upon completion of the module. Completion of the ACLS or PALS pretest is required in addition to the Heartcode modules.

The in-person skills exam consists of multiple scenarios designed to assess your ability to implement the principles of BLS, ACLS, or PALS to patient cases. The BLS patient scenarios will be out-of-hospital-based and will assess your ability to provide adequate chest compressions, ventilations using a bag-valve mask, AED use, etc. The ACLS and PALS patient scenarios will be in-hospital-based and will assess your ability to execute the AHA treatment algorithms.