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Course card · American Heart Association · American Red Cross (its own PALS course)
PALS — Pediatric Advanced Life Support
PALS is the advanced pediatric resuscitation course for clinicians who manage respiratory and cardiovascular emergencies and arrest in children; AHA runs it as HeartCode PALS plus a hands-on session. The Red Cross runs its own PALS course with a two-year certificate; many postings name AHA, so check the posting before you book.
Named in 2,955 of 29,080 postings on this site as of 11 Nov 2026, mostly Registered Nurse (2,444), Paramedic (264) and Nurse Practitioner (146).
The facts, from the issuer
- Who it is for
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AHA PALS is for clinicians who direct or participate in managing pediatric respiratory and cardiovascular emergencies and cardiopulmonary arrest.
American Heart Association — HeartCode PALS · checked ·
Quote
“is for healthcare providers who either direct or participate in the management of respiratory and/or cardiovascular emergencies and cardiopulmonary arrest in pediatric patients.”
- Eligibility
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The only prerequisite for Red Cross PALS is proficiency in pediatric BLS skills.
American Red Cross — PALS Certification · checked ·
Quote
“The only prerequisite for enrollment is that you must be proficient in pediatric basic life support (BLS) skills”
- Format
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HeartCode PALS is online first, then a hands-on skills session with an AHA PALS Instructor or a HeartCode-compatible manikin.
American Heart Association — HeartCode PALS · checked ·
Quote
“then complete a hands-on skills session with an AHA PALS Instructor or a HeartCode® compatible manikin.”
- How long it lasts
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Red Cross PALS certification is valid for 2 years after you complete the course.
American Red Cross — PALS Certification · checked ·
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“Your PALS certification is valid for 2 years after completion of the course.”
- Renewal
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Red Cross PALS recertification gives another two years and is for people whose PALS is current or expires within 30 days.
American Red Cross — PALS Certification · checked ·
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“The recertification course is intended for individuals whose PALS certification is still current or will expire within 30 days.”
- Cost
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AHA sells HeartCode PALS (online portion, includes the PALS Provider Manual eBook) for $178.00; the hands-on session is sold separately.
American Heart Association — HeartCode PALS · checked ·
Quote
“for more details or to schedule a hands-on session. × $178.00 Instock”
- What does not count
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The Red Cross says online PALS counts only when it includes a hands-on skills evaluation and follows current resuscitation guidelines.
American Red Cross — PALS Certification · checked ·
Quote
“Online PALS certification is only considered valid when it includes hands on skills evaluation and follows current resuscitation guidelines.”
- Find a class or test site
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Book the AHA hands-on PALS session through an AHA Training Center near you.
American Heart Association — HeartCode PALS · 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 PALS: 13 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: US offshore medic (Gulf of Mexico)
- Career pathway: Ship, cruise and yacht medic
- Current Registered Nurse jobs
- Current Paramedic jobs
- Current Nurse Practitioner jobs
- BLS — Basic Life Support
- ACLS — Advanced Cardiovascular 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.