The AHA developed the ACLS Provider Course for “currently active” healthcare providers (eg, medical, nursing, EMS or allied health personnel) whose daily occupation or volunteer activities demand proficiency in the knowledge and skills of ACLS.

Any currently active healthcare provider can take this course. Students involved in nursing, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, medical, EMS (emergency medical technician/paramedic) or allied health training programs are also eligible for the ACLS provider course. In addition, the Training Center has the discretion to allow other professionals who are deeply involved in the field of resuscitation (scientists, educators, researchers, etc.) to attend the ACLS course. Persons that are interested in attending the ACLS provider course who do not specifically fit one of the categories listed above may audit the program with permission from a Cascade Training Center Coordinator. These persons are not eligible to be “credentialed” and will not be formally tested in practical or written stations and will not receive an ACLS certification card.

To receive an ACLS completion card, a student must be an active healthcare provider whose training and scope of practice includes a knowledge base that includes the foundations of ACLS knowledge and skills.

Providers who take the course must be proficient in the following:

• Performing BLS CPR Skills using the 2005 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC.
• Reading and interpreting basic EKGs.
• Understanding ACLS Drugs
• Performing the BLS Primary and ACLS Secondary Survey.

Students should complete the pre-course assessment (provided with the ACLS Provider Text Book and Student CD), print their scores and bring their scores and materials to the provider course. The completion of the pre-course student CD and CD pre-course exams is not mandatory or required for course completion.

During the ACLS Provider course TC Faculty, Instructors and/or course directors present, evaluate and test participants within the scope of the AHA curriculum. This curriculum uses suggested guidelines set forth by the AHA for treating patients but may not be the specific guidelines that are expected to be used by a particular Hospital, Medical Center, EMS Authority or other health care entity. It is the responsibility of the clinician or practitioner to work within their scope of practice.

The AHA developed the PALS Provider Course for “currently active” healthcare providers who initiate and direct advanced life support beyond the first few minutes through the stabilization or transport phases of a pediatric emergency. PALS providers may include nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, paramedics, physicians or allied health professionals. . In addition, the Training Center has the discretion to allow other professionals who are deeply involved in the field of resuscitation (scientists, educators, researchers, etc.) to attend the PALS course. Students involved in nursing, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, medical, EMS (emergency medical technician/paramedic) or allied health training programs are also eligible for the PALS provider course. Persons that are interested in attending the PALS provider course who do not specifically fit one of the categories listed above may audit the program with permission from a Cascade Training Center Coordinator. These persons are not eligible to be “credentialed” and will not be formally tested in practical or written stations and will not receive a PALS certification card.

Students must adequately prepare to successfully complete the PALS provider course. This course does not teach CPR skills, interpretation of rhythm strips or basic PALS pharmacology. Before taking this course students should complete the self-assessment CD-based test on the PALS student CD (packaged with the Provider textbook. Students are asked to bring a printout of their scores to the PALS course. Submitting the printout, however, is not a requirement to take or complete the course.

During the PALS Provider course TC Faculty, Instructors and/or course directors present, evaluate and test participants within the scope of the AHA curriculum. This curriculum uses suggested guidelines set forth by the AHA for treating patients but may not be the specific guidelines that are expected to be used by a particular Hospital, Medical Center, EMS Authority or other health care entity. It is the responsibility of the clinician or practitioner to work within their scope of practice.

The ACLS and PALS Renewal courses are designed for students whose provider card is soon to expire. Renewal students are expected to have a full understanding of the curriculum. Renewal courses focus on skills practice and an emphasis on updating science and evidence based changes in the curriculums. A provider who has a current or soon to expire card is eligible to take the initial course especially if the individual does not have the opportunity to use their ACLS or PALS skills on a regular basis in their clinical practice.

Students who present an expired card or do not possess a provider card may challenge a renewal course but WILL NOT BE GIVEN THE OPTION OF REMEDIATION. They will need to re-take the entire initial provider course at their cost if they can not meet the course completion requirements when evaluated.

Cascade offers courses to Healthcare Professionals (MDs, PA, ARNPs, RNs, LPN/LVNs, EMTs, CNAs, Dental, Respiratory and Radiology Professionals, Etc.) as well as non-healthcare providers (Persons wanting CPR or First aid training). No prior training or certification is required to enter any of the CPR courses. Non-Healthcare providers can take the healthcare level CPR course if they wish.

Healthcare Professionals are required to take the Healthcare specific courses by accreditation organizations, their employer or the state licensing/certification board. In addition to these entities, healthcare professionals SHOULD take the Healthcare level courses because of their scope of practice and their capacity to perform the additional skills taught in the Healthcare specific courses.

For non-healthcare professionals the AHA has developed the HEARTSAVER curriculums. These courses cover CPR, AED and First Aid. There are many different course modules. Some of these courses are “credentialed” and others are “non-credentialed”.

General requirements to be an Cascade Training Center BLS Instructor:

1. A current AHA provider card for the course you wish to teach.
2. Letter from a Training Center Coordinator indicating that the TC will accept you as an instructor.
3. Willingness to teach the scientific and program guidelines of the American Heart Association.
4. Commitment to teach two courses per year according to AHA guidelines.
5. Successful completion of a Cascade Training Center Initial BLS Instructor Course.
6. Successful instructor monitoring in a Cascade Training Center BLS course.
7. Internet access with an active email address.

The Cascade Training Center selects instructor candidates based on the criteria listed above and the need for instructors in the region that the candidate intends to provide instruction. Instructors must teach a minimum of 2 courses every year and supply the Training Center with rosters, course evaluations and skill check lists as required by AHA ProAd. Cascade reserves the right to revoke an instructor credential or not accept a transferring Instructor from another Training Center based on violation of Training Center policy or procedure or non-compliance with ProAd rules and regulations.

General requirements to be an Cascade Training Center ACLS or PALS Instructor:

1. A current AHA provider card for the course you wish to teach.
2. A minimum of two years practicing as a credentialed ACLS /PALS provider.
3. Clinical experience as a resuscitation team leader in ACLS /PALS.
4. Mastery of all basic EKG rhythms, 12-lead EKG interpretation, resuscitation pharmacology and current ACLS/PALS and BLS science and guidelines.
5. Letter from a Training Center Coordinator indicating that the TC will accept you as an instructor.
6. If teaching for a Cascade Training Center Training Site, a letter from the site coordinator accepting the instructor in their Training Site program.
7. Willingness to teach the scientific and program guidelines of the American Heart Association.
8. Commitment to teach two courses per year according to AHA guidelines.
9. Successful completion of a Cascade Training Center Initial ACLS/PALS Instructor Course.
10. Successful instructor monitoring in a Cascade Training Center ACLS/PALS course.
11. Internet access with an active email address.

The Cascade Training Center selects instructor candidates based on the criteria listed above and the need for instructors in the region that the candidate intends to provide instruction. Instructors must teach a minimum of 2 courses every year and supply the Training Center with rosters, course evaluations and skill check lists as required by AHA ProAd. Cascade reserves the right to revoke an instructor credential or not accept a transferring Instructor from another Training Center based on violation of Training Center policy or procedure or non-compliance with ProAd rules and regulations.

ACLS/PALS instructors must teach with TC faculty course directors during all Cascade Training Center ACLS/PALS courses.

Training Center Faculty serve as the quality assurance and educational leadership for their Training Center. All AHA Training Centers are required to appoint at least one Training Center Faculty member in each discipline they teach. The purpose of this appointment is to ensure that the TC is capable of conducting quality Instructor and TCF courses within the TC.

The Cascade Training Center has TCF in the following areas:

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support
• Basic Life Support (HCP and Heartsaver)

The Cascade Training Center is one of the largest Training Centers in the United States. Faculty Members include:

• Physicians
• Physician Assistants
• Mobile Intensive Care Paramedics
• ICU/ER/Pediatric/Cath Lab Nurses
• Critical Care Transport / Flight Nurses
• Emergency Medical Technicians / Firefighters
• First Responder Technical Rescue Personal

Cascade employs a minimum of three full time Training Center Faculty in addition to our administrative team. TCF can work part time as Program Directors who work with our administrative team and Training Center Coordinators in the following areas: ACLS, ACLS-EP, PALS, BLS, Regulatory Health, Pre-Hospital and Information Technology.

All of our TCF’s have extensive experience in the art and science of adult and pediatric critical care management and resuscitation.

Pre-requisite for the TCF application process:

• Minimum of two (2) years of Instructor experience with the Cascade Training Center
• Possess current instructor and provider cards for the curriculum(s)
• Written recommendations from a minimum of two (2) current Training Center Faculty
• Perform ALL of the skills taught in the curriculum(s) in their current practice
• Be in good standing with the AHA and Cascade Training Center
• Recommended by Cascade Training Center coordinator and accepted based on need