Certifications › Life support cards
Course card · American Heart Association · American Red Cross (its own Advanced Life Support course)
ACLS — Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
ACLS is the advanced adult resuscitation course for clinicians who direct or manage cardiac arrest and other cardiovascular emergencies; AHA delivers it as HeartCode ACLS online plus a hands-on session. The Red Cross sells its own Advanced Life Support (ALS) course with a two-year certificate, and many postings ask for AHA ACLS by name, so check the posting before you book.
Named in 6,037 of 29,080 postings on this site as of 11 Nov 2026, mostly Registered Nurse (5,097), Nurse Practitioner (405) and Paramedic (291).
The facts, from the issuer
- Who it is for
-
AHA ACLS is for clinicians who direct or manage cardiopulmonary arrest and other cardiovascular emergencies, including emergency, ICU and critical care staff, physicians, nurses and paramedics.
American Heart Association — HeartCode ACLS · checked ·
Quote
“This course is designed for healthcare professionals who direct or manage cardiopulmonary arrest or other cardiovascular emergencies;”
- Eligibility
-
The only prerequisite for Red Cross ALS is proficiency in adult BLS skills.
American Red Cross — ALS Certification · checked ·
Quote
“The only prerequisite for enrollment is that you must be proficient in adult basic life support (BLS) skills.”
- Format
-
HeartCode ACLS is the AHA blended option: online portion first, then a hands-on skills session with an AHA ACLS Instructor or a HeartCode-compatible manikin.
American Heart Association — HeartCode ACLS · checked ·
Quote
“Providers first complete the online portion of HeartCode ACLS and then complete a hands-on skills session with an AHA ACLS Instructor or a HeartCode compatible manikin.”
-
Red Cross ALS (the Red Cross’s own course) is blended: online class and written exam, then an in-person skills session with a Red Cross instructor, for a two-year Red Cross certificate.
American Red Cross — ALS Certification · checked ·
Quote
“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.”
- How long it lasts
-
Red Cross Advanced Life Support (its ACLS course) certification is valid for two years; then take the full course or ALS recertification.
American Red Cross — ALS Certification · checked ·
Quote
“ALS certification is valid for two years. After that time, healthcare clinicians should complete either a ALS full course or an ALS recertification course”
- Cost
-
AHA sells HeartCode ACLS (online portion, includes the ACLS Provider Manual eBook) for $178.00; the hands-on session is sold separately.
American Heart Association — HeartCode ACLS · checked ·
Quote
“for more details or to schedule a hands-on session. × $178.00 Instock”
- What does not count
-
The HeartCode ACLS online portion alone does not earn a card; a hands-on session with an AHA Training Center is required.
American Heart Association — HeartCode ACLS · checked ·
Quote
“After completing the online portion of this course, you must complete a hands-on session (sold separately) with an AHA Training Center to obtain a course completion card.”
- Find a class or test site
-
Book the AHA hands-on ACLS session through an AHA Training Center near you.
American Heart Association — HeartCode ACLS · checked ·
Quote
“Contact an AHA Training Center in your area for more details or to schedule a hands-on session.”
Where to take it
Start with the issuer’s own class or test-site search:
- Class search: AHA Find a Training Center (ahainstructornetwork.americanheart.org)
- Class search: Red Cross Find Classes Near You (Red Cross courses) (redcross.org)
Classes in our training directory that teach ACLS: 14 listed in 5 states. Pick a state, enter a ZIP, or use your location. Your ZIP and location are not sent anywhere: the page downloads, from this site, the ZIP-area file for the first two digits of your ZIP and the class lists for nearby states, and works out distances in your browser.
Distances are straight-line from the ZIP or city centre (U.S. Census 2024 gazetteer), not drive times. Listings come from state approved-program lists, issuer directories and providers' own pages. A listing is not a partnership; confirm dates, price and seats with the provider.
Related
- Career pathway: Flight paramedic or flight nurse
- Career pathway: Travel nurse
- Career pathway: Construction and plant turnaround medic
- Career pathway: US offshore medic (Gulf of Mexico)
- Career pathway: Motorsports and event medic
- Career pathway: Ship, cruise and yacht medic
- Current Registered Nurse jobs
- Current Nurse Practitioner jobs
- Current Paramedic jobs
- BLS — Basic Life Support
- PALS — Pediatric Advanced Life Support
- PEARS — Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization
Every fact above was read on the issuers’ own pages on the date shown, with the exact words quoted. Anything the issuer does not publish is left out, so a missing fee means the issuer leaves pricing to the class provider or did not publish one. Employers decide which cards they accept; check the posting.