How to renew BLS ACLS PALS certifications super quickly in 2024

19th Aug 2024

Updated on August 19, 2024

If your existing certificate has expired and you are wondering how to renew BLS ACLS PALS certifications, we will share the renewal process for AHA (American heart association) certifications.

If you have never attended a course before, instead of reading How to renew BLS ACLS PALS certifications, visit our home page to find upcoming workshops to join one.

When to renew?

Your AHA certifications for BLS ACLS PALS generally last 2 years from the date issued. If you are planning to submit the certificate to Dental council UK, they might ask you to submit a certificate that’s issued within the last year.

Why renew?

If you are thinking “What happens if I do not renew my certification?”, it’s all about your working conditions. Some organizations expect you to have a valid certificate (valid = not expired) all the time. It’s one way to let the world know that you possess the skillset, and you are up to date with the current practice.

Online renewal

The certificate renewal may not be renewed online depending on where you live. In India, one must undergo physical skill test and theory test in person to receive a renewed certificate. Be aware of scam websites that might promise online renewal.

Cost of renewal course

Your renewal costs depend on when your certificate expired and whether you possess the reading materials as per current guideines.

Say you has 2015 guidelines manual and your certificate expired in 2019. You will be issues latest guidelines manual even if you have an old manual. So costs will be similar to regular course and you’ll have to attend as usual.

But, if you have 2020 guidelines book and your certificate expired in 2024 May, you plan on getting it renewed in Jun 2024, the ITC (training center) will honor your existing manual and might give you a discount on that book cost.

These things are beyond AHA control and ITCs can charge whatever they want. You can try finding another ITC nearby. Again, Medcourse can help you find one.

How to renew?

Let’s put that process into easy steps

Step 1 – Find an ITC

Find a training center near you in “upcoming medical workshops” page and contact Medcourse to get enrolled into the course. The AHA has multiple training centers in most of the major cities. You can find the list of authorized training centers on AHA website and rest assured; all the sessions listed on Medcourse are from one of the authorized AHA trainers only. They are allowed to carry the following banner in their brochures / flyers.

Step 2 – Prepare

Each renewal candidate will have to attempt the theory (MCQ) exam and score 84% or more just like they did the last time. You also need to clear the skill test. So, practice accordingly.

If you don’t have manuals, collect from ITC.

You need to take Precourse self assessment for “ACLS” and “PALS” courses once again. So, finish them and score more than 70% in the online assessment. You can attempt multiple times till you get such score. Read these pages to know how.

This is different from offline MCQ test where you need to score 84% (that is 21/25 for BLS and 42/50 for ACLS of PALS).

Step 3 – Attend

As per schedule, you need to attend at the specified time.

Do I need to attend full session?

That depends on the training center and when your prior certificate got expired. If it expired recently, instructor may allow you to attend only the exams. If it’s been a while it got expired, the instructor may ask you to attend in full.
What constitutes recent is up to the trainers. Some might say within last 1 month as recent and some might say within last 3 months as recent.

Step 4 – Get certified

Your genuine AHA certificate should look like this with a QR code which, when scanned will take you to AHA website that shows certified person details.