The EMSLRC is an American Heart Association Training Center for Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) courses. Classes are held in the EMSLRC for UIHC staff and members of the community. The EMSLRC oversees the activities of over 1000 instructors across Iowa and into the bordering states as well as processing their rosters and issuing AHA course completion cards.
Notice for UI Hospitals & Clinics staff:
- All BLS course registration for UIHC staff is located on ERMA.
- Department of Nursing staff who are required to have ACLS or PALS certification as a compliance must register using ERMA.
- ERMA registrations are reviewed by staff to confirm eligibility.
- All registrations on the EMSLRC’s Enrollware site will result in a course fee being charged.
- HeartCode is not an option for Department of Nursing personnel who have their course fee waived.
AHA Course Delivery Options
BLS, ACLS, and PALS courses are delivered either in a face-to-face traditional classroom format or as a hybrid course using the HeartCode family of courses. HeartCode classes present the classroom material in an interactive online format. Once the online course is completed, a skills verification session with an AHA instructor is required. The EMSLRC conducts HeartCode skills testing monthly.
Basic Life Support (BLS or CPR)
Basic Life Support (BLS aka CPR)
The American Heart Association (AHA) BLS Provider (CPR) course is designed to provide a wide health care and public safety professionals the ability to recognize several life-threatening emergencies, provide CPR, use an AED, and relieve choking in a safe, timely, and effective manner. When registering, you will have the option to complete either a full provider course or renewal course; the full provider course will last approximately 2 to 2.5 hours depending on participation, remediation, or additional questions and is dedicated to first time course completers or individuals that may need additional remediation. The BLS renewal course is designed for providers that are currently certified and proficient in CPR and this course will last approximately 1.5 to 2 hours depending on participation, remediation, or additional questions.
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
The goal of Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) is to improve the quality of care provided to adult victims of cardiac arrest or other cardiopulmonary emergencies. The 2020 American Heart Association ACLS course is designed for health care providers who either direct or participate in the resuscitation of a patient, whether in or out of hospital. In this course you will enhance your skills in the treatment of arrest and peri-arrest patients through active participation in a series of simulated cardiopulmonary cases. You must attend all sessions to meet the educational requirements established by the American Heart Association including successful completion of a skills and written test. All participants in an ACLS course must complete a pre-course test with a minimum score of 70% in order to attend the course. The ACLS Provider course is 12 hours in length over two days and is designed for those who do not have a current ACLS certification. The ACLS Renewal course is a four-hour course for those who have current ACLS certification and are approaching the end of their certification period. Recertification in ACLS is recommended every two years.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
The American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Provider Course is designed for health care providers who either direct or participate in the resuscitation of pediatric patient, whether in or out of hospital. In this course you will enhance your skills in the treatment of arrest and peri-arrest pediatric patients through active participation in a series of simulated cases. You must attend all sessions to meet the educational requirements established by the American Heart Association including successful completion of a skills and written test. All participants in a PALS course must complete a pre-course test with a minimum score of 70% in order to attend the course. The PALS Provider course is 12 hours in length over two days and is designed for those who do not have a current PALS certification. The PALS Renewal course is a four-hour course for those who have current PALS certification and are approaching the end of their certification period. Recertification in PALS is recommended every two years.
American Heart Association Instructor Courses
Instructor Renewal Process
Current AHA instructors who are aligned with the EMSLRC will renew their instructor status every two years. To renew instructor status, the instructor must:
- Have a current AHA instructor card and be aligned with the EMSLRC.
- Teach four classes in the discipline in two years.
- Be monitored teaching by an EMSLRC-aligned Training Center Faculty.
- Pass the written examination for the discipline with a minimum score of 84%.
- Complete any required AHA science updates.
AHA Instructor Resources
Enrollware Instructor Roster Submissions: https://enrollware.com
AHA Instructor Network: https://atlas.heart.org/home
EMSLRC Training Center Policies: 
AHA Instructor Acknowledgment .pdf