One of the most common questions from healthcare professionals taking our ACLS course is:
“How are clinical skills verified in the AMRI online program?”
Whether you’re earning your initial ACLS certification or completing a recertification course, understanding how your ACLS clinical skills verification works is essential.
In a traditional classroom ACLS class, participants demonstrate hands-on skills such as high-quality CPR, rhythm recognition, defibrillation, and team communication during an instructor-led evaluation.
In the AMRI online course, the same skills verification process is available in a more flexible and efficient format. Students can complete the online portion and knowledge checks at their own pace, then demonstrate their ACLS skills at their place of work.
After a student completes the self-directed learning and final exam, they’ll receive instructions to verify hands-on skills with a qualified professional. This approach allows nurses, physicians, and other healthcare providers to earn an accredited certification without the time constraints of attending an on-site class.
To maintain accreditation and integrity, AMRI accepts skills verification from qualified professionals within healthcare settings. These may include:
Hospital educators
Clinical or unit educators
CME (Continuing Medical Education) directors
Academic educators
Unit administrators
These individuals confirm that participants meet the hands-on requirements of the ACLS provider course — ensuring every learner demonstrates competence in CPR and advanced cardiovascular life support techniques.
For recertification, AMRI’s process is designed to be limited, efficient, and focused on real-world skill application. Participants completing an ACLS recertification simply fill out a clinical skills inventory and provide contact details for a professional who can confirm their continuing competency.
Because these students are “re-verifying” their knowledge and experience, the process eliminates unnecessary repetition while still meeting all ACLS clinical skills verification requirements.
AMRI’s online ACLS course supports a personalized learning path that adapts to your experience level. The program includes:
Self-directed modules with interactive learning
Knowledge checks to reinforce clinical understanding
Access to case studies and video simulations
Guidance for completing the hands-on skills verification process
This structure allows students and nurses in critical care, emergency medicine, or intensive care units to complete their training efficiently — without compromising quality or accreditation.
The ACLS clinical skills verification step ensures that every provider can confidently respond to cardiac and respiratory emergencies. Whether paired with BLS or PALS training, verified clinical competency supports better outcomes for patients and higher confidence for the healthcare team.
By maintaining rigorous standards for skills verification, AMRI continues to uphold its commitment to providing accredited, flexible, and high-quality education for healthcare professionals across all disciplines.
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.
