Nurses, Paramedics, and New Medical Professional Grads: Which Certifications Should You Prioritize?
In 2014, the founder of ACLS Academy, Shelley Lynch, already an American Heart Association BLS, ACLS, and PALS instructor, witnessed a medical emergency at Logan Airport and rushed to the scene to perform immediate lifesaving measures. This incident sparked Shelley and her husband’s idea to start ACLS Academy for the general public to learn these skills as well. Fast forward to 2025, where ACLS Academy has celebrated its tenth anniversary, is a certified American Heart Association Training Center for BLS, ACLS and PALs, has a team of over 25 experienced medical professionals, and offers 17 lifesaving skills courses recommended for nurses, paramedics, new medical professional graduates, and HeartSaver courses for non-healthcare providers. Most courses include an online module through the American Heart Association, followed by an in-person, hands-on skills session taught by an ACLS Academy instructor. As a recent medical professional graduate, you may be wondering, which course do I need to take for my profession? The choices can be overwhelming and hard to decipher which certification is most important. Let us help you!
Essential Certifications for Every Healthcare Career
There are multiple courses offered by ACLS Academy for all healthcare providers and medical students looking for additional knowledge and advanced skills.
Basic Life Support (BLS): BLS is the foundation of emergency care—and a must-have for any new healthcare provider. In this course, you’ll learn how to perform high-quality CPR, use an AED, and respond effectively as both a solo rescuer and part of a team. It’s the first step in being prepared to save lives.
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS): If you’re headed into a role in emergency, critical care, or acute care settings, ACLS is an essential next step. This course builds on your BLS training and prepares you to recognize and manage adult cardiac arrest, stroke, arrhythmias, and post-arrest care. You’ll also sharpen your skills in team-based response, communication, and clinical decision-making.
Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition, and Stabilization (PEARS): For providers who may care for children—but don’t need the full PALS certification—PEARS is the perfect fit. Through instructor-led training and realistic pediatric scenarios, you’ll learn how to quickly assess and stabilize young patients in respiratory or circulatory distress.
Courses for Those Entering Pediatric, Neonatal, or Maternal Health
If your new career path involves working with children, infants, or expectant mothers, ACLS Academy offers specialized training to help you deliver safe, effective care from day one.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS): Designed for healthcare providers who respond to emergencies involving infants and children, PALS focuses on recognizing and treating pediatric cardiac arrest, respiratory emergencies, and shock. The course emphasizes high-quality resuscitation and teamwork to improve outcomes for critically ill pediatric patients.
Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP): Perfect for professionals attending deliveries or caring for newborns, NRP offers an evidence-based approach to managing newborn care immediately after birth. You'll build confidence in handling respiratory support, thermoregulation, and team-based neonatal resuscitation.
Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC): Created by the Emergency Nurses Association, this course is ideal for registered nurses working in pediatric or emergency care settings. ENPC provides essential pediatric assessment skills, hands-on clinical scenarios, and evidence-based interventions to improve outcomes in emergency situations.
Intermediate Fetal Heart Monitoring (FHM): Offered through the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), this course is designed for clinicians who already have foundational knowledge in fetal monitoring. It covers essential skills like performing Leopold maneuvers, interpreting fetal heart tracings, identifying appropriate interventions, and communicating effectively within the care team.
Advanced Training for Experienced Providers
For seasoned healthcare professionals looking to expand their expertise, ACLS Academy offers advanced-level courses that go beyond the basics. These programs are designed to challenge critical thinking, strengthen leadership in emergencies, and incorporate the latest evidence-based practices.
ACLS for Experienced Providers (ACLS EP): This advanced course is ideal for clinicians who regularly use ACLS in high-acuity settings. ACLS EP goes beyond the standard curriculum by encouraging critical thinking, clinical decision-making, and complex case analysis for adult cardiovascular emergencies.
PALS Plus: Tailored for experienced pediatric providers, PALS Plus delivers more advanced content than the standard PALS course. It’s designed to deepen your understanding of pediatric emergency response and improve care for critically ill or injured children.
Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC): Developed by the Emergency Nurses Association, TNCC is geared toward registered nurses with an active, unrestricted license. This course combines evidence-based knowledge, critical thinking, and hands-on training to prepare nurses to deliver expert trauma care across all emergency situations.
Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP): This course is recommended for RNs, respiratory therapists, and pediatricians who may need to perform full resuscitation of a newborn. It includes advanced skills such as neonatal intubation, chest compressions, and medication administration in the delivery room and NICU settings.
Advanced Stroke Life Support (ASLS): Stroke care is time-sensitive and high-stakes. ASLS equips you with the knowledge and skills to identify and manage strokes in both prehospital and in-hospital settings. The course includes an online learning module and hands-on training, with three track options depending on your role and setting.
Courses for the General Public & Everyday Heroes
You don’t have to work in healthcare to help save a life. ACLS Academy offers essential training for individuals in non-medical professions who want to be prepared to act in an emergency. Whether you're a teacher, coach, security guard, or simply someone who wants to make a difference, these courses are designed for you.
Stop the Bleed: Open to anyone, this nationally recognized course, developed by the American College of Surgeons, teaches three simple, life-saving techniques to control severe bleeding. With over 1 million people trained, including students, educators, and community groups, Stop the Bleed empowers everyday citizens to take immediate action in a crisis.
Heartsaver® Bloodborne Pathogens: This classroom-based course is designed for employees who may be exposed to blood or bodily fluids on the job. It's ideal for childcare workers, security personnel, maintenance staff, school employees, hotel housekeepers, fitness center staff, and tattoo artists. Participants learn how to protect themselves and reduce risk through proper precautions and procedures.
Heartsaver® CPR, AED, and First Aid: Perfect for individuals in roles where emergency preparedness is essential—such as coaches, restaurant workers, fitness trainers, and lifeguards—this course teaches the fundamentals of CPR, how to use an AED, and how to provide basic first aid. No medical background is required—just a willingness to learn and act when it counts.
Be the help until help arrives.
Easy Certification Renewals
To renew any certification, ACLS Academy provides renewal classes that are less detailed than the initial certification course. No need to worry about losing track of time, ACLS Academy tracks your certification status to ensure it doesn’t lapse. Most certifications are valid for two years, while the Emergency Nurses Association’s Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC) and Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course (ENPC) are on a four-year expiration cycle. Learn more about renewals and recertifications here!
No matter where you are in your healthcare journey—or even if you're just beginning as a concerned citizen—ACLS Academy offers the training you need to build confidence, save lives, and advance your career. From foundational certifications to advanced specialty courses, there's something for everyone.
Explore our course calendar today and take the next step toward being prepared, empowered, and ready to make a difference.
ACLS Academy is an authorized American Heart Association (AHA) Aligned Training Center. We have three convenient locations in Massachusetts—Quincy, Bridgewater, and Newton Center—and most of our classes include an online training component. We offer high-quality courses taught by instructors who are practicing medical professionals, including ACLS, BLS, TNCC, ENPC, NRP, PALS, PALS Plus, PEARS, ACLS-EP, ASLS, Bloodborne Pathogen, HeartSaver CPR/AED, First Aid, and Instructor Courses.