ACLS & PALS Provider Certification

• Residents and Fellows are required to have a current accredited ACLS Certificate throughout their training period.
• Pediatric specialties are required to complete PALS in lieu of the ACLS.
• Combined Adult/Pediatric Programs must have both ACLS & PALS.

BLS/ACLS/PALS training must be from an American Heart Association (AHA) accredited course provider. Please be aware that there are a number of websites and companies that offer “ACLS Certification” and make you think that you have completed an accredited re-certification course, but they are not AHA accredited. They use the official textbook, however they do not use the official curriculum nor do they include a face to face skills test. If the course does not include a face to face skills test, it is NOT accredited by the American Heart Association. If your certification card does not display the AHA logo, it is NOT an accredited course.

PLEASE NOTE: The ACLS/PALS certification issued from an accredited course will display the AHA logo and only those certifications will be accepted as evidence of completing an accredited course.

Acceptable and safe course locations are found below.

• • Memorial Hermann Lifeflight
  • Instruction By Masters
  • American Heart Association – Find a different approved class here
  • UT Surgical & Clinical Skills Center
    • The SCSC provides onsite American Heart Association Certified courses at the Medical School Building.
    • Time Requirements:
      • The average time to complete the BLS and ACLS courses are noted below. These are average times with a wide range of variability, depending on how quickly one can complete each module.
      • Part 1…Online Portion on your computer
      • Part 2…Skills Session in the SCSC
        • BLS……new certification 2 hours 30-60 minutes
        • BLS……renewal 1 ½ -2 hours 30-45 minutes
        • ACLS…new certification 10 hours 30-45 minutes
        • ACLS…renewal 3 – 6 hours 30 minutes