ACLS Course

The Advanced Cardiac Life Support course (ACLS) from the Western Institute of Emergency Education uses a combination of videos and instructor-led training to improve on your basic life support (BLS) skills. You will learn the importance of providing continuous, high quality CPR, how to improve teamwork and communication, and how to recognize when a patient requires intervention.

At the end of the course, you will receive a Heart and Stroke Foundation ACLS certification. Canada-based healthcare providers who work in the management of any cardiovascular emergencies can benefit from this certification.

What ACLS Canada Covers

Our ACLS course takes your CPR skills to the next level. You will better understand how to recognize and intervene in cases of cardiopulmonary arrest, stroke, acute coronary syndromes, and post-cardiac arrest. The course also covers systems of care and uses the latest science for better outcomes.

To enhance the learning process, you will view simulations and animations that detail how rescuers and teams responded to patients in a variety of situations. We can also adapt the instruction to meet local protocols for the area in which you practice.

Over the duration of the course, you will put into practice the skills necessary for resuscitation, taking the role of a team member and team leader in different simulations. To pass the course, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in BLS, airway management, defibrillation, use of medications, rhythm recognition, cardioversion, IV and IO access, and transcutaneous pacing.

About ACLS Training

ACLS training is provided in groups of six students to one instructor. The course lasts for 12 hours and 20 minutes. Successful completion earns you an ACLS certification, which is valid for two years and recognized across Canada.

You can renew your certification before it expires by taking our ACLS renewal course. This has a reduced training time of 6 hours and 35 minutes. It is also possible for some students who do not have current certification to take the renewal course. This is at the instructor's discretion. To be eligible, you must prove that you use ACLS skills regularly at work or as a volunteer.

Who Should Take Our ACLS Course?

Emergency response, intensive care, emergency medicine, and critical care personnel like paramedics, physicians, and nurses should take this ACLS course. Canada-based healthcare professionals who work in other areas related to cardiovascular emergencies and who require an ACLS certification should also enroll.

The prerequisites for the course are a current BLS course completion card, a score of at least 70 percent on a pre-course self-assessment (you can take the test as many times as you need to gain a passing score), high quality BLS skills, and a proficiency in reading and interpreting ECGs on a monitor and on paper. It is crucial that you are able to identify rhythms associated with bradycardia, tachycardia (with both adequate perfusion and poor perfusion), and pulseless arrest. Finally, it is important for you to use your ACLS skills after the training, so as to not lose the skills and knowledge.

For more information on this course and your eligibility, please contact us.