PALS EDUCATIONAL GUIDE
What Is PALS Certification?
Learn what Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification includes and how healthcare professionals prepare for pediatric emergencies.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification is designed for healthcare professionals who may respond to critically ill or injured infants and children. During the American Heart Association HeartCode PALS eLearning course, students learn pediatric assessment, rhythm recognition concepts, team dynamics, and evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care. The in-person skills session focuses on demonstrating high-quality CPR skills using the American Heart Association CPR Verification Station.
Whether you are becoming ACLS certified for the first time or renewing your certification, understanding what to expect can help you feel more confident before your course.
WHAT IS PALS CERTIFICATION?
PALS certification builds upon Basic Life Support (BLS) by introducing advanced concepts related to pediatric emergency care. The HeartCode PALS eLearning course teaches healthcare professionals how patient assessment, communication, rhythm recognition, and systematic decision-making work together during pediatric emergencies.
The course emphasizes recognizing emergencies, communicating effectively with a healthcare team, and applying current resuscitation principles during simulated patient scenarios.
WHO NEEDS PALS CERTIFICATION?
Healthcare professionals commonly requiring PALS certification include:
- Registered Nurses (RN)
- Physicians
- Nurse Practitioners
- Physician Assistants
- Respiratory Therapists
- Paramedics
- Emergency Department Staff
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Staff
- Pediatric Healthcare Professionals
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?
Topics commonly covered include:
- Pediatric patient assessment
- Pediatric rhythm recognition concepts
- High-quality pediatric CPR concepts
- Pediatric airway management concepts
- Team dynamics
- Recognition of pediatric emergencies
- Post-cardiac arrest care concepts
How to Prepare
Preparing before your HeartCode PALS eLearning course can help reinforce pediatric emergency care concepts. The in-person PALS skills session focuses on demonstrating high-quality CPR skills rather than teaching advanced pediatric concepts.
- Complete the HeartCode PALS eLearning course before your skills session.
- Review pediatric Basic Life Support concepts.
- Become familiar with pediatric assessment principles.
- Arrive prepared to demonstrate high-quality CPR skills.
- Key Takeaways
- PALS certification prepares healthcare professionals for pediatric emergencies.
- Advanced pediatric concepts are taught during the HeartCode PALS eLearning course.
- Patient assessment and teamwork are essential components of PALS.
- The in-person PALS skills session focuses on demonstrating high-quality CPR skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
American Heart Association PALS certification is typically valid for two years.
PALS certification is intended for healthcare professionals who care for infants and children in emergency or critical care settings.
Yes. BLS focuses on high-quality CPR and AED use, while PALS builds upon those skills by introducing advanced pediatric emergency cardiovascular care concepts during the HeartCode PALS eLearning course.
Yes. Students complete the HeartCode PALS eLearning course before attending the in-person skills session, which focuses on demonstrating high-quality CPR skills.
