National Association of EMTs Courses
Initial and Renewal Courses
Basic Life Support
(BLS)
The AHA’s BLS course trains participants to promptly recognize several life-threatening emergencies, give high-quality chest compressions, deliver appropriate ventilations and provide early use of an AED. Reflects science and education from the American Heart Association Guidelines Update for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC).
Who should take this course?
The AHA’s BLS Course is designed for healthcare professionals and other personnel who need to know how to perform CPR and other basic cardiovascular life support skills in a wide variety of in-facility and prehospital settings.
What does this course teach?
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High-quality CPR for adults, children, and infants
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The AHA Chain of Survival, specifically the BLS components
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Important early use of an AED
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Effective ventilations using a barrier device
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Importance of teams in multirescuer resuscitation and performance as an effective team member during multirescuer CPR
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Relief of foreign-body airway obstruction (choking) for adults and infants
Initial and Renewal Courses
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
The AHA’s ACLS course builds on the foundation of lifesaving BLS skills, emphasizing the importance of continuous, high-quality CPR. Reflects science and education from the American Heart Association Guidelines Update for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC).
Who should take this course?
Healthcare professionals who either direct or participate in the management of cardiopulmonary arrest or other cardiovascular emergencies and for personnel in emergency response. Participants should be proficient in performing BLS and ACLS skills, reading and interpreting ECGs, understanding ACLS pharmacology; and who regularly lead or participate in emergency assessment and treatment of prearrest, arrest, or post-arrest patients.
What does this course teach?
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Basic life support skills, including effective chest compressions, use of a bag-mask device, and use of an AED
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Recognition and early management of respiratory and cardiac arrest
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Recognition and early management of peri-arrest conditions such as symptomatic bradycardia
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Airway management
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Related pharmacology
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Management of ACS and stroke
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Effective communication as a member and leader of a resuscitation team
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Recognize and manage cardiac arrest until termination of resuscitation or transfer of care, including post–cardiac arrest care
Initial and Renewal Courses
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
The AHA offers two separate courses for healthcare providers who require training in pediatric care. Both courses reflect science and education from the American Heart Association Guidelines Update for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC).
Who should take this course?
Pediatric Advanced Life Support courses are for healthcare providers who respond to emergencies in infants and children and for personnel in emergency response, emergency medicine, intensive care and critical care units.
What does this course teach?
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After successfully completing this course, students will be able to
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Perform high‐quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) per American Heart Association (AHA) basic life support (BLS) recommendations
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Differentiate between patients who do and do not require immediate intervention
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Recognize cardiopulmonary arrest early and begin CPR within 10 seconds
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Apply team dynamics
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Differentiate between respiratory distress and failure
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Perform early interventions for respiratory distress and failure
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Differentiate between compensated and decompensated (hypotensive) shock
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Perform early interventions for the treatment of shock
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Differentiate between unstable and stable patients with arrhythmias
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Describe clinical characteristics of instability in patients with arrhythmias
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Implement post–cardiac arrest management