Who Needs AHA PALS Certification?
American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) training is designed for healthcare professionals who may respond to critically ill or injured infants and children. Depending on their responsibilities, this can include pediatric nurses, emergency department nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists, paramedics, and other healthcare professionals involved in pediatric emergency care.
PALS is different from basic pediatric CPR or general Heartsaver CPR AED training. It addresses advanced pediatric emergency care concepts and skills, so the appropriate certification depends on a healthcare professional’s role and the requirements of their employer, school, clinical program, or credentialing organization.
If you have been asked to obtain PALS certification or renewal, Citywide CPR offers American Heart Association PALS training through applicable Online + Skills and Skills Only pathways. You can review the current PALS certification and renewal options before choosing your course.
What Is the Difference Between Initial PALS Certification and Renewal?
Initial PALS certification is for healthcare professionals who need to complete PALS for the first time. Renewal is for professionals who already hold or have previously completed PALS and need to maintain the credential according to their employer, school, clinical program, or other applicable requirements.
The exact pathway you should choose depends on your circumstances. Someone completing PALS for the first time may need the complete course, while a returning participant may have already completed the applicable online coursework and only need the corresponding hands-on skills component.
Before registering, confirm whether you need initial certification or renewal and which course format your organization requires. This is particularly important when a PALS credential is needed for employment, clinical rotations, hospital privileges, or another professional requirement.
Citywide CPR’s PALS Online + Skills option combines the applicable AHA HeartCode PALS online course with the required hands-on skills session. Participants who have already completed the appropriate HeartCode PALS course may instead be eligible for PALS Skills Only, subject to the applicable requirements.
Can You Complete PALS Certification Online?
The knowledge-based portion of an applicable HeartCode PALS pathway can be completed online, but Online + Skills is not an online-only certification. The blended pathway combines the AHA online course with an in-person hands-on skills session.
That distinction is important when searching for “PALS certification online” or “PALS classes near me.” Completing the online coursework is only one part of the applicable blended-learning pathway. Participants must also complete the required hands-on skills component.
AHA HeartCode PALS Online Learning
The AHA HeartCode PALS online course provides the applicable knowledge-based portion of the training. With PALS Online + Skills, participants complete that coursework before attending their scheduled in-person skills appointment.
This format allows healthcare professionals to complete the online learning independently before coming to a participating Citywide CPR location. The online component and hands-on component work together; completing the online course alone does not replace the required skills session.
Required Hands-On PALS Skills Assessment
After completing the applicable online coursework, participants attend an in-person PALS skills session. At Citywide CPR, eligible participants can complete this portion through a Self-Guided Skills Session at a CPR Verification Station.
During the appointment, participants practice and perform the required hands-on skills using the appropriate training equipment and Voice-Assisted Manikin technology. The system provides guidance and real-time feedback during the skills experience.
Self-Guided does not mean that the hands-on portion is skipped. Participants still complete the required in-person skills experience; the difference is that the technology guides the session rather than the participant attending a traditional instructor-led classroom skills course.
How Does Self-Guided PALS Certification Work?
Citywide CPR’s Self-Guided model separates the online learning from the required hands-on skills experience. This can be a practical option for healthcare professionals who prefer to complete the knowledge-based coursework independently and then schedule a focused in-person appointment.
The Self-Guided CPR Training page provides additional information about applicable BLS, ACLS and PALS training pathways and the CPR Verification Station experience.
Complete Your AHA HeartCode PALS Course
If you select PALS Online + Skills, complete the applicable AHA HeartCode PALS online coursework before your scheduled skills appointment.
If you have already completed the appropriate HeartCode PALS course, Skills Only may be the appropriate pathway instead. During registration, you should be prepared to provide or upload the applicable HeartCode completion certificate as required.
Do not assume that an older PALS Provider eCard alone qualifies you for Skills Only. Skills Only is intended for participants who have completed the applicable online course and still need the corresponding hands-on skills component.
Visit a Citywide CPR Skills Verification Station
Once your online coursework is complete, attend your scheduled PALS Self-Guided Skills Session at a participating Citywide CPR location.
The CPR Verification Station uses Voice-Assisted Manikin technology to guide participants through the applicable hands-on skills experience and provide real-time feedback. Participants physically practice and perform the required skills rather than completing the skills portion virtually.
Because course availability can vary by location, use the Citywide CPR locations page to find a participating location and review current PALS options before scheduling.
Receive Your Official AHA PALS eCard
After successfully completing the applicable course requirements and hands-on skills session, your American Heart Association certification documentation can be processed.
The official AHA eCard is processed the same day after successful completion of course requirements and the skills session.
If you are completing PALS for a specific employer, school, clinical program, or credentialing requirement, confirm beforehand that the AHA PALS Provider credential and selected course pathway meet the requirement you were given.
How Long Does PALS Certification Take?
The total time required for PALS certification is more than the hands-on skills appointment alone because the complete pathway can include the AHA HeartCode online coursework plus the in-person skills session.
The Self-Guided hands-on skills session typically takes approximately 15–30 minutes. That time refers to the in-person skills portion, not the entire PALS certification process. Citywide CPR describes its Self-Guided model as online learning followed by a focused in-person skills experience.
For that reason, plan to complete the online portion before your appointment and allow enough time to finish all required coursework and skills requirements.
When Should Healthcare Professionals Renew PALS Certification?
Healthcare professionals should review the expiration date on their current PALS credential and allow sufficient time to complete the appropriate renewal pathway before the credential is needed.
The right renewal process can depend on the participant’s current certification status and the requirements of the organization requesting the credential. Do not assume that every returning participant has identical renewal requirements.
If your PALS certification is expired, check with your employer, school, clinical program, or credentialing organization before registering so you understand which course pathway is appropriate.
You can then review Citywide CPR’s current PALS certification and renewal information and select the applicable Online + Skills or Skills Only option.
Why Choose Citywide CPR for PALS Certification and Renewal?
Citywide CPR is an American Heart Association Training Center offering BLS, ACLS and PALS certification and renewal through participating locations. Its Self-Guided model allows eligible healthcare professionals to complete applicable AHA online learning before attending a scheduled hands-on skills session.
For participants who choose the applicable PALS pathway, the CPR Verification Station provides a focused in-person experience with Voice-Assisted Manikin technology and real-time feedback. This can make it easier to separate the knowledge-based portion of training from the hands-on portion while working around professional, academic, and clinical schedules.
Citywide CPR also offers PALS Online + Skills at numerous locations, while availability varies by location. Participants should verify that their selected location offers the PALS course and skills-session format they need before registering.
Find AHA PALS Certification and Renewal Near You
If you need PALS certification or renewal, start by confirming exactly what your employer, school, clinical program, or organization requires. Then determine whether you need the complete Online + Skills pathway or whether you have already completed the applicable HeartCode PALS online course and only need Skills Only.
Review the available PALS certification and renewal options to compare your pathway, and use the Citywide CPR locations page to find a participating location and review current availability.
If you are ready to begin PALS certification or renewal, choose the course that matches your requirements, complete the applicable AHA HeartCode coursework, and schedule the required in-person Self-Guided Skills Session. Citywide CPR provides a structured way for eligible healthcare professionals to complete the online and hands-on portions of PALS training through participating locations.