ACLS — Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support — is the American Heart Association course for the clinicians who lead a resuscitation: doctors, nurses in acute areas, paramedics and anyone who may run a cardiac arrest, manage an unstable rhythm or care for a patient after return of circulation. Safety First Medical Services is an AHA training centre on Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi. We run ACLS as HeartCode blended learning, as a classroom course, and on site for hospital and clinic teams across the UAE. Live dates are below — pick one and register in about a minute.
In short
An ACLS course certifies you to manage adult cardiovascular emergencies beyond basic CPR: cardiac arrest rhythms and defibrillation, resuscitation drugs, airway management, bradycardia and tachycardia, acute coronary syndromes, stroke and post-arrest care, working as a team leader or member. You need solid BLS skills before you start, you pass a written test and a hands-on Megacode, and the AHA ACLS Provider eCard is valid for two years.
What an ACLS course covers
ACLS sits on top of Basic Life Support. Everything in it assumes that high-quality chest compressions, early defibrillation and good bag-mask ventilation are already happening, and then asks the next question: what is this rhythm, what is causing it, and what does the team do in the next two minutes? If you want to see where the line between the two courses falls, our guide to BLS vs ACLS sets it out side by side.
The AHA ACLS Provider course is built around a set of core cases. You work through each one on a manikin connected to a rhythm simulator, first as a team member and then as the team leader:
Respiratory arrest — recognising it before the heart stops, and managing the airway with basic adjuncts and bag-mask ventilation.
Cardiac arrest: ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia — shock, compressions, drugs and the two-minute rhythm-check cycle.
Cardiac arrest: asystole and pulseless electrical activity — the non-shockable pathway, and the search for a reversible cause.
Post-cardiac arrest care — what happens after return of spontaneous circulation: oxygenation and ventilation targets, blood pressure, a 12-lead ECG and temperature control.
Bradycardia and tachycardia, stable and unstable — when to give a drug, when to pace and when to cardiovert.
Acute coronary syndromes and acute stroke — early recognition and getting the patient to the right definitive care fast.
Running through all of it are the ACLS algorithms and a systematic approach — the BLS assessment, then a primary assessment (airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure), then a secondary assessment that looks for the reversible causes usually remembered as the H’s and T’s.
Who needs ACLS
ACLS is written for healthcare professionals who direct or take part in the management of cardiopulmonary arrest and other cardiovascular emergencies. In practice, in the UAE, that means:
Doctors in emergency medicine, internal medicine, anaesthesia, cardiology and intensive care, and any doctor on a cardiac arrest rota.
Nurses in the emergency department, ICU and CCU, cath lab, operating theatre, recovery and high-dependency units.
Paramedics and ambulance clinicians who carry a manual defibrillator and resuscitation drugs.
Dentists and dental teams offering sedation, and other clinicians whose facility licence requires advanced life support cover.
Facilities and the health regulators set their own rules about who must hold which card. Our guide to ACLS for doctors, nurses and paramedics covers what employers under DOH, DHA and MOHAP typically ask for. If you are not sure whether you need ACLS or BLS, ask the person who approves your licence or your privileges — not the course provider.
Three ways to take ACLS with us
Format
How it works
Best for
HeartCode ACLS (blended)
The cognitive part online, at your own pace, then a hands-on skills practice and testing session with an AHA instructor at our centre.
Busy clinicians and renewals — you only spend a short session with us. See HeartCode ACLS explained.
Classroom ACLS
Instructor-led from start to finish, with video, case discussion, skills stations and testing in the room.
All three lead to the same AHA ACLS Provider eCard. The booking form at the top of this page shows our live HeartCode ACLS skills sessions; the HeartCode ACLS course page has the same dates with the course description.
Before you come: the precourse work
ACLS is not a course you can walk into cold. Before the class the AHA asks every student to complete the ACLS Precourse Self-Assessment, which checks rhythm recognition, pharmacology and practical application, and to bring the certificate with you. It is also worth refreshing your BLS the week before — the course opens with a high-quality BLS skills test, and a weak compression technique is the most common reason a candidate struggles on the day. Our guide to the ACLS pretest, written exam and Megacode explains each assessment, and the SFMS blog has a practical checklist for preparing for an ACLS course.
How you are assessed
To be issued an ACLS Provider card you must pass three things: a high-quality BLS skills test (adult CPR and AED, with bag-mask ventilation), an airway management skills test, and a Megacode — a simulated cardiac arrest in which you lead the team through the algorithms, from the first rhythm to post-arrest care. There is also a written test. Your instructor tells you on the day exactly how each part is run. If a part is not passed first time, AHA courses allow remediation, and our instructors plan the day so that there is time for it.
What the day actually looks like
People are often surprised by how practical ACLS is. Most of the time is spent around a manikin with a monitor, not in a lecture. A typical skills session moves from the BLS and airway stations to rhythm practice, then into case scenarios where the team rotates roles: compressor, airway, monitor and defibrillator, medications, recorder, and team leader. The instructor pauses the scenario to debrief what went well and what slowed the team down — closed-loop communication, clear role allocation and minimising pauses in compressions are coached as hard as the algorithms themselves.
If you are coming for HeartCode, you arrive having finished the online part; the session with us is the hands-on practice and the skills testing. If you are on the classroom course, the video segments and case discussions are delivered in the room between skills stations.
Renewing your ACLS card
The ACLS Provider card is valid for two years and expires at the end of the month it was issued. Renewing is quicker than the initial course: most renewing providers take HeartCode ACLS and a short skills session. We explain the timing, what happens if your card has already lapsed and how employers check validity in our ACLS renewal guide. Anyone can verify an AHA eCard on the AHA’s own eCard site, which is listed in the sources at the end of this page.
Four mistakes we see every month
Letting BLS lapse first. ACLS assumes current BLS skills. Book BLS first or on the same visit if yours has expired.
Skipping the precourse self-assessment. It is required, and it tells you which topics to revise before you arrive.
Memorising drug doses without the algorithm. The Megacode tests decisions in order. Learn why each step comes where it does — our algorithms guide walks through them.
Leaving renewal to the last week. Hospitals often check cards before a rota or a licence renewal. Book a month ahead.
If you also treat children
ACLS is adult-focused. Clinicians who resuscitate infants and children — paediatric and neonatal units, emergency departments that see children, and ambulance crews — usually need PALS, Paediatric Advanced Life Support, as well. Our guide to PALS vs ACLS explains which one your role needs, or whether you need both.
ACLS guide directory
43 guides answering the questions people ask about an ACLS course, grouped by topic. The same list is on the ACLS guides directory page.
ACLS Course Fees in the UAE: What Affects the Price — What an ACLS course costs in the UAE and why prices differ: HeartCode vs classroom, what is included, group and on-site rates, and hidden costs to check.
On-Site ACLS Training for Hospitals and Clinics — On-site group ACLS anywhere in the UAE: AHA instructors, manikins and rhythm simulators at your hospital or clinic, certifying your team together.
ACLS Practice Questions With Answers — Free ACLS practice questions with answers and explanations: arrest rhythms, shocks, drugs, bradycardia, tachycardia, capnography, teams and stroke.
ACLS for DOH, DHA and MOH Licensing in the UAE — How ACLS fits into licensing and privileges with DOH, DHA and MOHAP: which roles usually need it, what employers check and how to keep it current.
ACLS for Emergency, ICU, CCU and Cath Lab Nurses — ACLS for emergency department, ICU, CCU and cath lab nurses in the UAE: why acute nurses need it, the skills that matter most, and planning renewals.
ACLS for Paramedics and Ambulance Clinicians — ACLS for paramedics and ambulance clinicians: managing arrests, rhythms and drugs in the field, pre-hospital post-arrest care and how ACLS pairs with PALS.
ACLS Rhythms: The ECG Rhythms You Need to Recognise — The ECG rhythms tested in ACLS: VF, pulseless VT, asystole, PEA, sinus bradycardia, heart blocks, SVT, atrial fibrillation and flutter, and VT with a pulse.
ACLS vs ATLS: Cardiac vs Trauma Life Support — ACLS vs ATLS compared: cardiac and medical resuscitation versus trauma care, who runs each course, who needs which, and why many ED doctors hold both.
ACLS stands for Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support. It is the American Heart Association course that teaches healthcare professionals to manage adult cardiac arrest, unstable arrhythmias, acute coronary syndromes, stroke and post-arrest care as part of a resuscitation team.
Do I need BLS before taking ACLS?
Yes. ACLS assumes current BLS skills, and the course includes a high-quality BLS skills test. If your BLS has lapsed, renew it first or book both courses together.
How long is an ACLS certificate valid?
The AHA ACLS Provider eCard is valid for two years and expires at the end of the month in which it was issued.
How long does the ACLS course take?
It depends on the format. HeartCode ACLS lets you complete the online part at your own pace and then attend a shorter hands-on skills session. The classroom course is longer because all of the teaching happens in the room. The booking form on this page shows the times of each session.
Is there an exam in ACLS?
Yes. You complete a written test and practical skills tests: high-quality BLS, airway management and a Megacode, where you lead the team through a simulated cardiac arrest.
Is ACLS accepted by DOH, DHA and MOHAP?
AHA ACLS is the advanced life support certification most commonly requested by UAE hospitals and clinics licensed by DOH, DHA and MOHAP. Requirements depend on your role and facility, so confirm with your employer or the regulator.
Can I do ACLS online?
The theory can be done online through HeartCode ACLS, but you must also complete a hands-on skills session with an AHA instructor before an ACLS Provider card is issued.
What is the pass mark for ACLS?
Your instructor explains the scoring on the day. You must pass the written test and every skills test, including the Megacode, to receive the card; remediation is available if a part is not passed first time.
Is ACLS the same as ALS?
ALS (Advanced Life Support) is the general term. ACLS is the American Heart Association course for adult advanced life support. Other bodies run their own ALS courses; most UAE employers specify AHA ACLS.
Can you train our whole department?
Yes. We run on-site group ACLS for hospitals and clinics across the UAE, bringing manikins, rhythm simulators and instructors to you. Use the contact page to ask for a quote.
Book an AHA ACLS course in Abu Dhabi
Safety First Medical Services is an American Heart Association training centre on Al Reem Island. HeartCode blended ACLS, classroom ACLS and on-site group sessions for hospitals and clinics, with a two-year AHA ACLS Provider eCard on completion.
What we teach follows the awarding body and the UAE health authorities. For the definitive position on a course or licensing question, these are the places to check.
Last reviewed by the training team at Safety First Medical Services, an American Heart Association training centre at Addax Office Tower, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi. Call +971 55 761 9841 or email training@safetyfirstmed.ae.
