Frequently, people ask us how long their ACLS or PALS certification is good for, or in other words, how long till it expires and needs to be renewed.
The simple answer is that your ACLS or PALS certification is good for two years after you earn the certification.
Typically, you’ll see an expiration date on your certification card that should be exactly two years past the certification date. Once that date has passed, your certification is no longer valid and you need to renew your certification.
If you’ve previously completed an ACLS or PALS certification course, or consecutively done an ACLS or PALS renewal, there is no need to retake the initial certification course. In fact, doing so would mean additional study time and expense.
Instead, you’ll want to take your ACLS Renewal or PALS Renewal course. For those, the only prerequisite is that you must have previously completed an ACLS or PALS certification. It doesn’t matter whether you earned that certification via a different provider, or if your certification expired several years ago.
With most certification providers, AMRI included, the certification card you receive at the end of a renewal is identical to that which you originally received after your initial certification, and is good for another two years.
If your certification is expired, your best bet is to go ahead and sign up for an ACLS Renewal or PALS renewal course as soon as possible. Once you pass the exam, you’ll get instant proof of completion.
Furthermore, all renewal classes come with everything included in our AMRI Guarantee:
✓ Free Instant ACLS Card
✓ Free Review & Retake of Exam
✓ Nationally Accredited
✓ Guaranteed Acceptance (Or Your Money Back)
✓ Access to Case Study & Training Library
One of my colleagues expressed the belief that ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation should be treated the same way. This does not square with my knowledge of electrophysiology and pharmacology. Please comment. We wholeheartedly agree with your approach of beginning with basic cardiac electrophysiology; electrical therapy and pharmacology.
Your authority to practice is based on your state’s EMS laws. Most EMS systems (local, state or regional) issue system-wide standard operating procedures (SOP’s). These function in many ways like a prospective prescription from the system medical authority authorizing treatment(s) based on defined circumstances. ACLS algorithms were developed as educational tools, not prospective standing orders. They are not a prescription. Thus, it is essential that you practice according to the guidelines established by your medical authority. If you have questions regarding your system’s standing medical orders (SMO’s), a fact-finding meeting with your medical authority (e.g. your Project Medical Director) may be useful for EMS leadership and field personnel.
My clinic administrator stated that if we are ACLS certified, and simply provide care exactly as listed in the ACLS algorithms, we will be protected from medical malpractice suits. Is this correct? The Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) program is a training program. The “algorithms” were developed to assist users in remembering a large body of information. Simply being able to regurgitate dozens of clinical interventions does not assure proper care. Proper treatment of critically ill patients requires an understanding of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, therapeutics, etc. Blindly following a list rather than developing a treatment plan based on the patient’s condition might result in suboptimal care. Furthermore, medical science is dynamic. Practitioners have a duty to stay reasonably informed about current literature and changes in professional practice. While ACLS training may provide the tools needed to support good practice, no plastic card provides protection from tort litigation based on improper care.
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