Are BLS/ACLS/PALS Skills the same whether you’re doing a new certification vs. recertifying? What about the course itself?

In short, yes. The skills and the course are the same for renewal as they are for initial certification.

Code One uses Beacon for our online courses. Whether it’s an initial certification or renewal, students take the same course. This ensures all students are learning all up to date information. Beacon uses adaptive learning to make the experience more personalized. You can learn more about adaptive learning here.

When looking to get an AHA certification or recertification there are two parts that have to be completed. There is the cognitive component (online course) and the hands on component (skills session).

Listed below are the courses and skills that will be practiced and tested.

BLS Skills:

1)  60 continuous compressions on an adult manikin

2)  12 bag mask ventilations on an adult manikin

3)  Two Rescuer Adult CPR with a virtual rescuer.  In this skill, you’ll switch between performing ventilations and compressions.  This will last for two cycles.  You’ll do a total of 120 compressions during this module.

4)  60 continuous compressions on an infant manikin

5)  12 bag mask ventilations on an infant manikin

6)  Two Rescuer Infant CPR with a virtual rescuer.  In this skill, you’ll switch between performing ventilations and compressions.  This will last for two cycles.  You’ll do a total of 60 compressions during this module.

Heartsaver Skills (CPR/First Aid):

1)  60 continuous compressions on adult manikin

2)  60 continuous compressions on infant manikin

3)  Finding the Problem

4)  Bleeding and Bandaging

5)  How to use an Epinephrine Pen

5)  Proper way to remove gloves

ACLS Skills:

1) 60 continuous compressions on an adult manikin

2) 12 bag mask ventilations on an adult manikin

3)  Two Rescuer Adult CPR with a virtual rescuer.  In this skill, you’ll switch between performing ventilations and compressions.  This will last for two cycles.  You’ll do a total of 120 compressions during this module.

4) ACLS megacode review – you should be familiar with rhythm identification and how to navigate the ACLS algorithms.

*Please note, if you are combining ACLS and BLS skills, you will complete BLS Skills with ACLS Megacode Review. 

PALS Skills:  

1)  60 continuous compressions on an adult/child manikin

2)  12 bag mask ventilations on an adult/child manikin

3)  Two Rescuer Child CPR with a virtual rescuer. In this skill, you’ll switch between performing ventilations and compressions on an adult manikin.  This will last for two cycles.  You’ll do a total of 120 compressions during this module.

4)  60 continuous compressions on an infant manikin

5)  12 bag mask ventilations on an infant manikin

6)  Two Rescuer Infant CPR with a virtual rescuer.  In this skill, you’ll switch between performing ventilations and compressions.  This will last for two cycles.  You’ll do a total of 60 compressions during this module.

7) PALS megacode review – you should be familiar with basic rhythm identification, and how to navigate the PALS algorithms from evaluation, identification, and intervention.

*Please note, if you are combining PALS and BLS skills, you will complete BLS Skills with PALS Megacode Review.  

*If you completed the “ACLS or PALS Beacon Complete” courses in Moodle with BLS and need to claim CEUs, please ask your instructor or call our office for more information.