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Certification · PT · RN · RT

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)

32 citations · 3 lenses scored

ACLS is the American Heart Association's provider credential in advanced management of cardiac arrest, peri-arrest arrhythmias, and acute cardiopulmonary emergencies (valid 2 years).

Not universally required of PTs, but commonly an employer competency requirement for therapists in ICU, acute cardiac care, and cardiac-rehab settings where they monitor telemetry and risk-stratified exercise.

It is a low-cost, broad safety/competency credential rather than a scope-expanding specialty.

Score anatomy · every lens
Clinical outcomes ×35
55/100

ACLS-guided resuscitation is evidence-based for arrest care, and provider-course participation is associated with improved patient outcomes (Lockey 2018), but for a rehab clinician it is an emergency-readiness competency rather than a primary driver of rehab outcomes.

Caseload applicability ×15
42/100

Directly relevant in ICU, acute cardiac, and telemetry settings; minimal relevance to general outpatient PT.

Billing & reimbursement ×15
15/100

No billing or payer impact; purely an internal competency credential.

Certification investment ×20
85/100

A 1–2 day provider course with skills/written check; among the cheapest, fastest credentials available.

Employer demand ×10
62/100

Frequently required or strongly preferred for ICU/acute-care and cardiac-rehab therapist roles; real hiring relevance in those settings.

Patient experience ×5
45/100

Tied to safety and emergency response rather than the patient's perceived rehab experience.

Sources · 32 on file
Evidence mix
Clinical guideline
9
28%
Systematic review
7
22%
Narrative review
6
19%
Meta-analysis
2
6%
Cohort study
1
3%
RCT
1
3%
Cross-sectional
1
3%
Other
5
16%
Publication years56% since 2021
6
Last reviewed 2026-1032 sources
22 other6 peer-reviewed4 professional-society
  1. 01
    Part 3: Adult Basic and Advanced Life Support — 2020 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
    Panchal AR, Bartos JA, Cabañas JG, et al. · Circulation · 2020
    The current AHA evidence-based ACLS guideline defining advanced resuscitation algorithms the credential certifies.
    Clinical guidelineprofessional societydoi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000916
    DOI ↗
  2. 02
    Part 1: Executive Summary — 2020 AHA Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
    Merchant RM, Topjian AA, Panchal AR, et al. · Circulation · 2020
    Summarizes the evidence base and chain-of-survival framework underpinning ACLS training.
    Clinical guidelineprofessional societydoi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000918
    DOI ↗
  3. 03
    Part 6: Resuscitation Education Science — 2020 AHA Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
    Cheng A, Magid DJ, Auerbach M, et al. · Circulation · 2020
    Reviews evidence on resuscitation training effectiveness and skill retention relevant to ACLS certification value.
    Clinical guidelineprofessional societydoi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000903
    DOI ↗
  4. 04
    Virtual reality and the transformation of medical education
    Pottle J · Future Healthcare Journal · 2019
    Discusses simulation/VR in resuscitation and emergency-skills training, context for ACLS competency maintenance.
    Narrative reviewdoi:10.7861/fhj.2019-0036
    DOI ↗
  5. 05
    Delays in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Defibrillation, and Epinephrine Administration All Decrease Survival in In-hospital Cardiac Arrest
    Bircher NG, Chan PS, Xu Y (American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines–Resuscitation Investigators) · Anesthesiology · 2019
    Shows time-to-intervention strongly affects in-hospital cardiac arrest survival, the competency ACLS addresses.
    doi:10.1097/ALN.0000000000002563
    DOI ↗
  6. 06
    In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Review
    Andersen LW, Holmberg MJ, Berg KM, Donnino MW, Granfeldt A · JAMA · 2019
    Reviews epidemiology and management of in-hospital cardiac arrest, the clinical scenario ACLS providers respond to.
    Narrative reviewdoi:10.1001/jama.2019.1696
    DOI ↗
  7. 07
    The Use of CPR Feedback/Prompt Devices During Training and CPR Performance: A Systematic Review
    Yeung J, Meeks R, Edelson D, Gao F, Soar J, Perkins GD · Resuscitation · 2009
    Evidence that feedback-device training improves CPR skill acquisition, relevant to ACLS course quality.
    Systematic reviewdoi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2009.04.012
    DOI ↗
  8. 08
    Part 14: Education — 2015 AHA Guidelines Update for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
    Bhanji F, Donoghue AJ, Wolff MS, et al. · Circulation · 2015
    Education guidance underpinning ACLS course design and recertification intervals.
    Clinical guidelineprofessional societydoi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000268
    DOI ↗
  9. 09
    Impact of advanced cardiac life support training program on the outcome of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a tertiary care hospital
    Sodhi K, Singla MK, Shrivastava A · Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine · 2011
    ACLS training of staff was associated with improved return of spontaneous circulation and CPR outcomes.
    doi:10.4103/0972-5229.92070
    DOI ↗
  10. 10
    Impact of adult advanced cardiac life support course participation on patient outcomes—A systematic review and meta-analysis
    Lockey A, Lin Y, Cheng A · Resuscitation · 2018
    Provider ACLS course participation was associated with improved patient outcomes, supporting the credential's clinical value while noting evidence limitations.
    Meta-analysisdoi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2018.05.034
    DOI ↗
  11. 11
    Part 9: Adult Advanced Life Support: 2025 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
    J. G. Wigginton; S. Agarwal; J. A. Bartos; R. A. Coute; I. R. Drennan; A. Haamid; P. J. Kudenchuk; M. S. Link; A. R. Panchal; M. M. Pelter; M. Del Rios; A. J. Rodriguez; S. M. Perman; S. Sanko; P. Kotini-Shah; M. C. Kurz · Circulation · 2025
    Clinical guidelinedoi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001376
    DOI ↗
  12. 12
    Part 12: Resuscitation Education Science: 2025 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
    A. J. Donoghue; M. Auerbach; A. Banerjee; A. L. Blewer; A. Cheng; K. D. Kadlec; Y. Lin; E. Diederich; T. Sawyer; D. T. Stallings; L. E. B. Toft; D. Torman; J. I. Wright; S. M. Schexnayder; K. N. Dainty · Circulation · 2025
    Clinical guidelinedoi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001374
    DOI ↗
  13. 13
    Part 11: Post-Cardiac Arrest Care: 2025 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
    K. G. Hirsch; E. Amorim; P. J. Coppler; I. R. Drennan; A. Elliott; A. J. Gordon; J. C. Jentzer; N. J. Johnson; A. Moskowitz; B. E. Mumma; A. M. Presciutti; A. J. Rodriguez; A. F. Yen; J. C. Rittenberger · Circulation · 2025
    Clinical guidelinedoi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001375
    DOI ↗
  14. 14
    European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2025 Education for Resuscitation
    S. Nabecker; T. de Raad; C. Abelairas-Gomez; J. Breckwoldt; O. Chakroun-Walha; B. Farquharson; S. Hunyadi-Antičević; C. Lott; S. Schnaubelt; J. Yeung; A. Lockey; R. Greif; ERC Education for Resuscitation Collaborators · Resuscitation · 2025
    Clinical guidelinedoi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2025.110739
    DOI ↗
  15. 15
    2023 American Heart Association Focused Update on Adult Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support: An Update to the American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
    S. M. Perman; J. Elmer; C. B. Maciel; A. Uzendu; T. May; B. E. Mumma; J. A. Bartos; A. J. Rodriguez; M. C. Kurz; A. R. Panchal; J. C. Rittenberger; American Heart Association · Circulation · 2024
    Clinical guidelinedoi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001194
    DOI ↗
  16. 16
    Etiologies of In-hospital cardiac arrest: A systematic review and meta-analysis
    J. Allencherril; P. Y. K. Lee; K. Khan; A. Loya; A. Pally · Resuscitation · 2022
    Meta-analysisdoi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2022.03.005
    DOI ↗
  17. 17
    Management of Intraoperative Cardiac Arrest
    A. K. Kacha; M. H. Hicks; C. Mahrous; A. Dalton; T. K. Ben-Jacob · Anesthesiol Clin · 2023
    Narrative reviewdoi:10.1016/j.anclin.2022.10.002
    DOI ↗
  18. 18
    Gamified learning for resuscitation education: A systematic review
    A. Donoghue; T. Sawyer; A. Olaussen; R. Greif; L. Toft · Resusc Plus · 2024
    Systematic reviewdoi:10.1016/j.resplu.2024.100640
    DOI ↗
  19. 19
    2023 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations: Summary From the Basic Life Support; Advanced Life Support; Pediatric Life Support; Neonatal Life Support; Education, Implementation, and Teams; and First Aid Task Forces
    K. M. Berg; J. E. Bray; K. C. Ng; H. G. Liley; R. Greif; J. N. Carlson; P. T. Morley; I. R. Drennan; M. Smyth; B. R. Scholefield; G. M. Weiner; A. Cheng; T. Djärv; C. Abelairas-Gómez; J. Acworth; L. W. Andersen; D. L. Atkins; D. C. Berry; F. Bhanji; J. Bierens; T. Bittencourt Couto; V. Borra; B. W. Böttiger; R. N. Bradley; J. Breckwoldt; P. Cassan; W. T. Chang; N. P. Charlton; S. P. Chung; J. Considine; D. T. Costa-Nobre; K. Couper; K. N. Dainty; V. Dassanayake; P. G. Davis; J. A. Dawson; M. F. de Almeida; A. R. De Caen; C. D. Deakin; B. Dicker; M. J. Douma; K. Eastwood; W. El-Naggar; J. G. Fabres; J. Fawke; N. Fijacko; J. C. Finn; G. E. Flores; E. E. Foglia; F. Folke; E. Gilfoyle; C. A. Goolsby; A. Granfeldt; A. M. Guerguerian; R. Guinsburg; T. Hatanaka; K. G. Hirsch; M. J. Holmberg; S. Hosono; M. J. Hsieh; C. H. Hsu; T. Ikeyama; T. Isayama; N. J. Johnson; V. S. Kapadia; M. D. Kawakami; H. S. Kim; M. E. Kleinman; D. A. Kloeck; P. Kudenchuk; A. Kule; H. Kurosawa; A. T. Lagina; K. G. Lauridsen; E. J. Lavonas; H. C. Lee; Y. Lin; A. S. Lockey; F. Macneil; I. K. Maconochie; R. J. Madar; C. Malta Hansen; S. Masterson; T. Matsuyama; C. J. D. McKinlay; D. Meyran; V. Monnelly; V. Nadkarni; F. L. Nakwa; K. J. Nation; Z. Nehme; M. Nemeth; R. W. Neumar; T. Nicholson; N. Nikolaou; C. Nishiyama; T. Norii; G. A. Nuthall; S. Ohshimo; T. M. Olasveengen; Y. G. Ong; A. M. Orkin; M. J. Parr; C. Patocka; G. D. Perkins; J. M. Perlman; Y. Rabi; J. Raitt; S. Ramachandran; V. V. Ramaswamy; T. T. Raymond; A. G. Reis; J. C. Reynolds; G. Ristagno; A. Rodriguez-Nunez; C. C. Roehr; M. Rüdiger; T. Sakamoto; C. Sandroni; T. L. Sawyer; S. M. Schexnayder; G. M. Schmölzer; S. Schnaubelt; F. Semeraro; E. M. Singletary; M. B. Skrifvars; C. M. Smith; J. Soar; W. Stassen; T. Sugiura; J. A. Tijssen; A. A. Topjian; D. Trevisanuto; C. Vaillancourt; M. H. Wyckoff; J. P. Wyllie; C. W. Yang; J. Yeung; C. M. Zelop; D. A. Zideman; J. P. Nolan; Collaborators · Circulation · 2023
    Narrative reviewdoi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001179
    DOI ↗
  20. 20
    Virtual Reality for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Healthcare Professionals Training: A Systematic Review
    R. Trevi; S. Chiappinotto; A. Palese; A. Galazzi · J Med Syst · 2024
    Systematic reviewdoi:10.1007/s10916-024-02063-1
    DOI ↗
  21. 21
    2022 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations: Summary From the Basic Life Support; Advanced Life Support; Pediatric Life Support; Neonatal Life Support; Education, Implementation, and Teams; and First Aid Task Forces
    M. H. Wyckoff; R. Greif; P. T. Morley; K. C. Ng; T. M. Olasveengen; E. M. Singletary; J. Soar; A. Cheng; I. R. Drennan; H. G. Liley; B. R. Scholefield; M. A. Smyth; M. Welsford; D. A. Zideman; J. Acworth; R. Aickin; L. W. Andersen; D. Atkins; D. C. Berry; F. Bhanji; J. Bierens; V. Borra; B. W. Böttiger; R. N. Bradley; J. E. Bray; J. Breckwoldt; C. W. Callaway; J. N. Carlson; P. Cassan; M. Castrén; W. T. Chang; N. P. Charlton; S. P. Chung; J. Considine; D. T. Costa-Nobre; K. Couper; T. B. Couto; K. N. Dainty; P. G. Davis; M. F. de Almeida; A. R. de Caen; C. D. Deakin; T. Djärv; M. W. Donnino; M. J. Douma; J. P. Duff; C. L. Dunne; K. Eastwood; W. El-Naggar; J. G. Fabres; J. Fawke; J. Finn; E. E. Foglia; F. Folke; E. Gilfoyle; C. A. Goolsby; A. Granfeldt; A. M. Guerguerian; R. Guinsburg; K. G. Hirsch; M. J. Holmberg; S. Hosono; M. J. Hsieh; C. H. Hsu; T. Ikeyama; T. Isayama; N. J. Johnson; V. S. Kapadia; M. D. Kawakami; H. S. Kim; M. Kleinman; D. A. Kloeck; P. J. Kudenchuk; A. T. Lagina; K. G. Lauridsen; E. J. Lavonas; H. C. Lee; Y. J. Lin; A. S. Lockey; I. K. Maconochie; R. J. Madar; C. Malta Hansen; S. Masterson; T. Matsuyama; C. J. D. McKinlay; D. Meyran; P. Morgan; L. J. Morrison; V. Nadkarni; F. L. Nakwa; K. J. Nation; Z. Nehme; M. Nemeth; R. W. Neumar; T. Nicholson; N. Nikolaou; C. Nishiyama; T. Norii; G. A. Nuthall; B. J. O'Neill; Y. G. Ong; A. M. Orkin; E. F. Paiva; M. J. Parr; C. Patocka; J. L. Pellegrino; G. D. Perkins; J. M. Perlman; Y. Rabi; A. G. Reis; J. C. Reynolds; G. Ristagno; A. Rodriguez-Nunez; C. C. Roehr; M. Rüdiger; T. Sakamoto; C. Sandroni; T. L. Sawyer; S. M. Schexnayder; G. M. Schmölzer; S. Schnaubelt; F. Semeraro; M. B. Skrifvars; C. M. Smith; T. Sugiura; J. A. Tijssen; D. Trevisanuto; P. Van de Voorde; T. L. Wang; G. M. Weiner; J. P. Wyllie; C. W. Yang; J. Yeung; J. P. Nolan; K. M. Berg; Collaborators · Circulation · 2022
    Narrative reviewdoi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001095
    DOI ↗
  22. 22
    Teaching team competencies within resuscitation training: A systematic review
    B. Farquharson; A. Cortegiani; K. G. Lauridsen; J. Yeung; R. Greif; S. Nabecker; Education Implementation Team Task Force of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation ILCOR · Resusc Plus · 2024
    Systematic reviewdoi:10.1016/j.resplu.2024.100687
    DOI ↗
  23. 23
    Cardiac Surgical Resuscitation: State of the Science
    S. J. Ley · Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am · 2019
    Narrative reviewdoi:10.1016/j.cnc.2019.05.010
    DOI ↗
  24. 24
    Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training for Healthcare Professionals: A Scoping Review
    K. G. Lauridsen; B. Løfgren; L. Brogaard; C. Paltved; L. Hvidman; K. Krogh · Simul Healthc · 2022
    Systematic reviewdoi:10.1097/SIH.0000000000000608
    DOI ↗
  25. 25
    Satisfaction evaluation for ACLS training
    G. Stirparo; L. Gambolò; L. Bellini; F. Medioli; M. Bertuol; M. Guasconi; F. Sulla; G. Artioli; L. Sarli · Acta Biomed · 2022
    doi:10.23750/abm.v93i3.13337
    DOI ↗
  26. 26
    Deliberate practice and mastery learning in resuscitation education: A scoping review
    A. Donoghue; K. Navarro; E. Diederich; M. Auerbach; A. Cheng · Resusc Plus · 2021
    Systematic reviewdoi:10.1016/j.resplu.2021.100137
    DOI ↗
  27. 27
    Effectiveness and perception of demonstration-observation- assistance-performance (DOAP) versus video-assisted learning (VAL) in training advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) among medical interns - A comparative study
    K. T. Madavan · J Educ Health Promot · 2022
    doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_1663_21
    DOI ↗
  28. 28
    Clinical simulation for nursing competence development in cardiopulmonary resuscitation: systematic review
    J. D. S. G. Nascimento; K. G. D. Nascimento; J. L. G. Oliveira; M. G. Alves; A. R. D. Silva; M. C. B. Dalri · Rev Lat Am Enfermagem · 2020
    Systematic reviewdoi:10.1590/1518-8345.4094.3391
    DOI ↗
  29. 29
    Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
    M. R. Fulton II; E. Nordquist · StatPearls Publishing · 2025
    Cohort studyPMID 40198051
    DOI ↗
  30. 30
    Attending Training Workshop of BLS/ACLS
    P. Yadav · JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc · 2022
    doi:10.31729/jnma.7782
    DOI ↗
  31. 31
    Retention of advanced cardiac life support knowledge and skills following high-fidelity mannequin simulation training
    A. L. Bingham; S. Sen; L. A. Finn; M. J. Cawley · Am J Pharm Educ · 2015
    RCTdoi:10.5688/ajpe79112
    DOI ↗
  32. 32
    Is current training in basic and advanced cardiac life support (BLS & ACLS) effective? A study of BLS & ACLS knowledge amongst healthcare professionals of North-Kerala
    M. Nambiar; N. M. Nedungalaparambil; O. P. Aslesh · World J Emerg Med · 2016
    Cross-sectionaldoi:10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2016.04.004
    DOI ↗
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