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PALS Provider

Instructor-led, hands-on class format with an American Heart Association Instructor
​​You must complete the online Precourse Self-Assessment and Precourse Work prior to attending course. 

PALS Provider

Course Description

Safeguard CPR offers the PALS Provider course in Alpharetta for healthcare providers who respond to emergencies in infants and children and for personnel in emergency response, emergency medicine, intensive care and critical care units. Upon successful completion of the course, students receive a course completion card, valid for two years. Please contact your employer to ensure that you are selecting the correct course.

​The PALS Provider Course aims to improve outcomes for pediatric patients by preparing healthcare providers to effectively recognize and intervene in patients with respiratory emergencies, shock, and cardiopulmonary arrest by using high‐performance team dynamics and high‐quality individual skills. The course includes a series of case scenario practices with simulations that reinforce important concepts. Upon successful completion of all the patient cases, students must pass the 50 question, multiple-choice exam with a minimum score of 84%. 

After successfully completing this course, students will be able to:

  • Perform high‐quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) per American Heart Association (AHA) basic life support (BLS) recommendations

  • Differentiate between patients who do and do not require immediate intervention

  • Recognize cardiopulmonary arrest early and begin CPR within 10 seconds

  • Apply team dynamics

  • Differentiate between respiratory distress and failure

  • Perform early interventions for respiratory distress and failure

  • Differentiate between compensated and decompensated (hypotensive) shock

  • Perform early interventions for the treatment of shock

  • Differentiate between unstable and stable patients with arrhythmias

  • Describe clinical characteristics of instability in patients with arrhythmias

  • Implement post–cardiac arrest management

  • Includes realistic, clinical scenarios that encourage active participation – delivered through actual pediatric patient videos and lifelike simulations

  • Comprehensive and includes our systematic approach to assess and treat pediatric patients in emergency situations

  • Hands-on class format to reinforce skills proficiency

  • Co-branded with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

PALS Testing and Exam Requirements

PALS Provider Course Estimated Time

  • Participation in the classroom course, including completion of all learning stations

  • Completion of the open-resource written exam with a minimum score of 84%

  • Passing the 1- and 2-Rescuer Child BLS With AED and 1- and 2-Rescuer Infant BLS Skills

  • Tests

  • Passing 2 PALS core case scenarios (1 cardiac and 1 respiratory or shock) as a team leader, providing appropriate medical treatment and demonstrating effective team dynamics

Approximate course completion times are listed below.
Times are based on a recommended ratio of 6 students to 1 Instructor to 1 manikin or station (NOTE: the CPR and AED and Management of Respiratory Emergencies stations require 1 Instructor and 2 manikins for 6 students per station). Using different ratios will result in increased course completion times.

PALS Full Course: 12.5 hours with breaks; 10.5 hours without breaks
PALS Update Course: 8 hours and 45 minutes with breaks, 8 hours and 15 minutes without breaks
PALS Traditional Full Course: 17 hours and 15 minutes with breaks; 16 hours and 45 minutes without breaks
​Successful completion is based on achievement of the core learning objectives rather than a prescribed instruction time.

PALS Provider Card

The PALS Provider class is a credentialed course. Providers who successfully complete the PALS course receive a course completion card valid for two years.

Concepts and skills covered in the PALS Provider course include:

Mandatory Precourse Self-Assessment and Precourse Work Requirements

  • review of BLS and AED for infants and children

  • systematic approach to the seriously ill or injured child

  • recognition and management of cardiac arrest

  • effective resuscitation team dynamics

  • recognition and management of respiratory distress and failure

  • bag-mask ventilation, suctioning, and other airway management techniques

  • recognition and management of shock

  • circulatory emergencies

  • recognition and management of arrhythmias

  • post-cardiac arrest care.

  • All students must complete the Precourse Self-Assessment and achieve a score of at least 70% before taking the PALS Course.

  • Once a student has passed the Precourse Self-Assessment, they will gain access to the Precourse Work video lessons.

  • All video lessons must be reviewed before entering the classroom.

  • Students must print their successful Precourse Self-Assessment completion certificate and bring it with them to class.

​Who Needs PALS Provider Certification?

Safeguard CPR’s PALS Provider course is designed for healthcare professionals who either direct or participate in the management of respiratory and/or cardiovascular emergencies and cardiopulmonary arrest in pediatric patients.

These requirements are driven by state licensing board regulations and detail which particular healthcare agencies or individual healthcare license holders that are required to maintain PALS Provider certification. This class can also be taken by medical professionals or students in a medical program who are interested in expanding their knowledge.

Individuals that usually require an PALS Provider certification are:

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