Renew ACLS and BLS online on your schedule. Learn how to complete recertification with flexible, self-paced modules that fit any shift.
Healthcare providers are required to maintain up-to-date lifesaving credentials throughout their careers. Two certifications in particular—Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Life Support (BLS)—form the foundation of effective, evidence-based emergency care in hospitals, ambulatory settings, and out-of-hospital environments.
Traditionally, clinicians renewed ACLS and BLS through in-person classes that required travel, scheduling coordination, and extended time away from clinical duties. Today, ACLS & BLS renewal online has become the most efficient and accessible option for busy medical professionals. High-quality online programs allow learners to review updated content, practice algorithms, and complete renewal exams at their own pace—while ensuring training aligns with the latest American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines.
This guide provides everything you need to know about ACLS and BLS renewal online, including how long each certification lasts, what’s included in a combined renewal, why online recertification has become the preferred method for thousands of clinicians, and what to do if your ACLS or PALS has expired.
Basic Life Support (BLS) is the core lifesaving skillset required for nearly every healthcare provider, from nurses and physicians to technicians, therapists, paramedics, and medical students. BLS focuses on early recognition and immediate intervention during life-threatening emergencies, including:
Sudden cardiac arrest
Respiratory arrest
Airway obstruction
Unresponsiveness
BLS certification ensures providers can perform:
High-quality CPR for adults, children, and infants
AED use (Automated External Defibrillator)
Bag-mask ventilation
Team-based resuscitation
Basic airway management
Recognition of respiratory distress and cardiac arrest rhythms
Even advanced providers—those with ACLS or PALS—are required to hold a separate, current BLS certification. ACLS depends on the successful application of foundational BLS skills. Without strong CPR and AED proficiency, ACLS interventions are significantly less effective.
For this reason, nearly all hospitals, surgery centers, and clinical employers require both ACLS and BLS certification for credentialing and privileging.
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) builds on BLS fundamentals and introduces advanced, evidence-based interventions for managing cardiovascular and respiratory emergencies. ACLS is typically required for:
Emergency department clinicians
ICU and critical care staff
Telemetry nurses
Hospitalists and intensivists
Anesthesia providers
Paramedics and advanced prehospital personnel
Proceduralists and code team members
ACLS certification covers:
Recognition and management of cardiac arrest
Post-cardiac arrest care
Tachycardia and bradycardia algorithms
Airway management and ventilation
Pharmacology for cardiovascular emergencies
Stroke assessment
Acute coronary syndromes
Team dynamics during high-stakes events
Online ACLS renewal courses allow providers to refresh key concepts, review algorithm changes, and complete exams without attending extended in-person sessions—while still meeting employer and regulatory expectations.
Both ACLS and BLS certifications are valid for 2 years from the date of successful completion.
Renewal ensures providers stay current with the most recent AHA guidelines, which update every 5 years with interim scientific advisories as needed.
Hospitals, surgery centers, and EMS systems require proof of current ACLS status for credentialing.
BLS certification also expires every two years.
Employers require uninterrupted BLS coverage, as it is fundamental to bedside practice.
Because BLS is required across all levels of healthcare, combined renewal is often more efficient.
Renewing ACLS and BLS together helps providers:
Maintain a synchronized renewal cycle
Avoid gaps in credentialing that could affect scheduling or clinical privileges
Reduce administrative burden
Complete training in a single structured session
Ensure alignment with the same AHA guideline cycle
For busy healthcare professionals, ACLS & BLS renewal online offers the most streamlined path to staying compliant.
Online renewal courses allow learners to complete training on their schedule—24/7, without classroom attendance—while still offering comprehensive preparation based on the latest AHA science and algorithms.
Below is an overview of what’s included in each component.
Adult, child, and infant CPR
One-rescuer and two-rescuer techniques
Compression-to-ventilation ratios
Best practices for minimizing interruptions
Early defibrillation principles
Proper AED pad placement
AED prompts and shock delivery
Safety considerations
Bag-mask ventilation
Airway positioning
Oxygen delivery
Respiratory distress vs arrest
Choking emergencies
Unresponsiveness and rapid assessment
Roles within a resuscitation team
Effective communication
Closed-loop communication
Learners also receive study guides, algorithms, and practice questions to reinforce core skills.
Adult cardiac arrest
Post-cardiac arrest care
Shockable vs non-shockable rhythms
VF, VT, PEA, asystole
SVT, AF with RVR, heart blocks
Bradycardia vs tachycardia emergencies
Advanced airway considerations
Oxygenation and CO₂ monitoring
Epinephrine, amiodarone, adenosine
Atropine, magnesium sulfate
Indications, dosages, and contraindications
Early recognition
Initial management
Patient stabilization
Recognition using validated tools (FAST, Cincinnati, etc.)
Early diagnostic steps
Transport and handoff considerations
Leadership roles during resuscitation
Collaborative decision-making
Learners also receive:
ACLS algorithm charts
practice exams
video lessons and step-by-step walkthroughs
case simulations
One of the primary advantages of online renewal is flexibility. Healthcare providers no longer need to coordinate their schedules around in-person classes or meet minimum attendance times.
A standard online renewal process includes:
Instant Access After Enrollment. Providers can begin learning immediately—no scheduling barriers.
Self-Paced Course Modules. Clinicians review content based on their experience level, skipping or repeating sections as needed.
Updated Learning Materials. Courses incorporate the latest AHA guidelines and current best practices.
Online Certification Exam. After reviewing the course content, learners complete a multiple-choice exam designed to evaluate competency.
Instant Digital Provider Card. Upon passing, learners receive a digital ACLS or BLS provider card immediately.
A physical card may also be offered depending on the provider.
Unlimited Exam Retakes (If Applicable). Providers can retest at no added cost, ensuring mastery before certification.
The self-paced structure respects clinical schedules, allowing learners to complete the course during downtime, after shifts, or on days off.
Most healthcare professionals complete:
BLS renewal in 1–2 hours
ACLS renewal in 2–4 hours
Total combined renewal time typically ranges from 3–6 hours, depending on clinical experience and familiarity with current guidelines.
Factors that may affect completion time:
Years of emergency or critical care experience
Time since last certification
Familiarity with updated algorithms
Comfort with ECG rhythm interpretation
Online renewal is significantly faster than in-person options, which often require half-day or full-day attendance.
Most healthcare organizations accept online ACLS and BLS renewal when the program:
Aligns with the latest AHA guideline recommendations
Provides comprehensive, evidence-based instruction
Issues a recognized digital provider card
Includes an exam or assessment to verify competency
Employers increasingly recognize that high-quality online education delivers the same clinical content as traditional classroom courses, with far greater flexibility for working professionals.
AMRI’s ACLS and BLS programs are:
Accredited by the National Board of Emergency Care Certifications (NBECC)
Aligned with the most current AHA guidelines
Widely recognized and accepted by most healthcare employers nationwide
Because a small number of facilities require an AHA-issued course completion card—which only AHA-sponsored classroom or blended programs can provide—AMRI offers a 100% money-back guarantee if your employer does not accept our certification.
Our online ACLS and BLS renewal courses are designed to be employer-accepted, clinically rigorous, and fully aligned with today’s resuscitation standards.
Online ACLS and BLS renewal is generally more cost-effective due to:
No travel or classroom fees
No scheduled class commitments
Faster completion time
Accessible course materials included at no additional cost
In-person renewal may require:
Scheduling constraints
Additional fees
Time spent away from clinical duties
For professionals managing shift work and credentialing deadlines, ACLS & BLS renewal online provides the best balance of convenience, affordability, and educational quality.
Most learners finish both renewals in 3–6 hours, depending on clinical experience.
Yes. ACLS does not replace BLS. Employers require both certifications to remain current.
AMRI’s courses align with the latest AHA guidelines and evidence-based resuscitation science.
BLS includes CPR, AED use, airway management, rescue breathing, and team-based resuscitation skills.
Yes. Digital provider cards issued upon successful completion are widely accepted by healthcare organizations.
Yes—AMRI provides an instant digital provider card with the option to receive a physical card by mail.
ACLS and BLS certification are essential components of delivering safe, effective emergency care. Online renewal allows healthcare providers to stay current with the latest AHA guidelines while training at their own pace—without the scheduling challenges of traditional classroom courses.
Whether you work in a hospital, clinic, EMS agency, or other patient-care setting, ACLS & BLS renewal online provides the fastest, most efficient path to staying credentialed, compliant, and fully prepared to respond to life-threatening emergencies.
With AMRI, you receive:
Evidence-based content
Updated algorithms
Self-paced access
Instant digital provider cards
Employer-accepted certification
Renewal doesn’t need to disrupt your schedule. When you’re ready, AMRI provides the flexible, high-quality training you need to stay prepared—and stay certified.
