- What This Cheat Sheet Covers
- Course Options and Format at a Glance
- The Two Checkpoints: Precourse Self-Assessment vs. Provider Course Exam
- Course Topics You Must Know Cold
- Rhythm Strips and Megacode Quick Reference
- Pharmacology Cheat Points
- Cost, Course Length, and Renewal at a Glance
- A One-Week Focus Plan Before Class
- FAQ
- The Precourse Self-Assessment requires at least 70% - it's a prerequisite, not the final exam score.
- HeartCode ACLS Online alone does not produce an eCard; you still need an instructor-led skills session or approved hands-on pathway.
- The instructor-led Provider Course Exam is open-resource, but you must work independently without discussing answers.
- HeartCode ACLS Online (product 25-3554) is $178 for the U.S. online component; the hands-on session is billed separately by the Training Center.
What This Cheat Sheet Covers
This is a condensed, one-page-style review of the facts that actually matter for the AHA Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Provider Course - not a generic exam-prep checklist borrowed from an unrelated credential. Everything here reflects the 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC, the 2025 acute coronary syndromes guideline update, and the current AHA ShopCPR course structure. If you want the full walkthrough behind each point, pair this page with the ACLS Study Guide 2026 and the ACLS Exam Domains Guide for deeper context.
Course Options and Format at a Glance
ACLS is delivered through three main pathways, and knowing which one you're enrolled in changes how you should prepare:
- Instructor-led classroom: Full in-person course, roughly 15.5-16.5 hours with breaks.
- HeartCode blended learning: Self-paced online cognitive portion plus a required in-person hands-on session, totaling roughly 13.25-14.25 hours with video prework built in.
- Approved self-guided pathway: Independent study combined with a hands-on skills verification, following the same completion requirements as the other formats.
None of these hour ranges are written-exam time limits - they describe total course length, including video, discussion, and skills practice. If you're deciding which pathway fits your schedule and background, the ACLS Requirements guide breaks down eligibility and prerequisites in more detail.
Prerequisite Reality Check
The AHA does not require a current BLS card just to enroll in ACLS. However, individual Training Centers can and do impose their own prerequisites, including a current BLS card, so always confirm with the specific center before assuming you're eligible.
- Proficiency in high-quality BLS technique is expected coming in
- ECG rhythm recognition should already be familiar, not learned for the first time in class
- Comfort with bag-mask ventilation is assumed, not taught from zero
The Two Checkpoints: Precourse Self-Assessment vs. Provider Course Exam
One of the most confused points among first-time candidates is the difference between two separate checkpoints in the ACLS pathway:
- Precourse Self-Assessment: Mandatory before the course. Requires a minimum score of 70%. This confirms baseline readiness - it is a prerequisite gate, not your final grade.
- Provider Course Exam: Taken during the instructor-led course itself. It is open-resource - you may reference your provider manual and course notes - but you must complete it independently, without discussing answers with other students or the instructor.
Successful course completion requires passing both the cognitive exam and the hands-on skills assessment. For the exact numeric thresholds and what "passing" actually means in practice, see the ACLS Passing Score breakdown.
Key Takeaway
Don't treat the 70% Precourse Self-Assessment score as your target for the actual Provider Course Exam - they are different assessments with different purposes. Use the precourse assessment to identify weak spots before class, not as your finish line.
Course Topics You Must Know Cold
These are the content areas the AHA ACLS course covers. Treat each as a study block, not a single flashcard:
Cardiac Arrest & Post-Cardiac Arrest Care
High-quality CPR mechanics, the sequence of interventions during arrest, and structured care immediately after return of spontaneous circulation.
- Compression fraction and team-role coordination
- Targeted temperature management concepts
Dysrhythmias
Recognizing and managing unstable and stable rhythm disturbances, including when to shock, pace, or medicate.
- Distinguishing narrow vs. wide complex tachycardias
- Bradycardia decision points
Stroke & Acute Coronary Syndromes
Time-sensitive recognition and early management pathways, updated per the 2025 acute coronary syndromes guideline.
- Early identification tools and time targets
- Coordinating rapid transfer and reperfusion decisions
Airway Management & Medication Use
Bag-mask ventilation proficiency and knowing which drug fits which rhythm and clinical scenario.
- Ventilation rate and technique under stress
- Route, dose, and timing of core ACLS medications
Cardioversion, Pacing & High-Performance Teams
Electrical therapy indications plus the team dynamics that make a code run smoothly.
- Synchronized cardioversion vs. defibrillation scenarios
- Clear roles, closed-loop communication, and debriefing
For a full narrative walkthrough of how these topics connect, see the complete guide to ACLS content areas.
Rhythm Strips and Megacode Quick Reference
Rhythm recognition and the megacode simulation are where most candidates feel the most pressure. A few quick anchors to keep in memory:
- ACLS rhythm strips: Practice reading rate, regularity, P-wave presence, and QRS width fast enough that identification becomes automatic, not a slow process under stress.
- ACLS megacode practice: The megacode tests whether you can lead - or function within - a coordinated team response, not just whether you know a single algorithm in isolation.
- ACLS algorithms: Know the branch points (shockable vs. non-shockable, stable vs. unstable) cold, since the megacode moves quickly between them.
Pharmacology Cheat Points
ACLS pharmacology questions and skills stations focus less on memorizing every drug in isolation and more on matching medication to clinical context. Build your review around scenarios:
- Which medications apply during pulseless arrest versus perfusing but unstable rhythms
- How airway management and medication timing interact during a resuscitation sequence
- Recognizing when a rhythm calls for electrical therapy instead of, or alongside, a drug
If you're still deciding how much time this section deserves relative to everything else, the ACLS difficulty guide discusses where candidates commonly underestimate the workload.
Cost, Course Length, and Renewal at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| HeartCode ACLS Online (product 25-3554) | $178 for the U.S. online component (checked Sept. 10, 2026); ACLS Provider Manual eBook included |
| Hands-on skills session | Sold separately; Training Centers set their own fees |
| Full classroom course length | 15.5-16.5 hours with breaks |
| HeartCode blended course length | 13.25-14.25 hours with video prework |
| Precourse Self-Assessment minimum | 70% |
| eCard validity | 2 years |
For a fuller pricing picture across delivery formats, see the ACLS Certification Cost breakdown. And remember: completing ACLS does not automatically renew a BLS card - a combined course must separately satisfy the BLS assessment requirements.
Key Takeaway
HeartCode's online cognitive portion is only half the equation. Budget both time and money for the required instructor-led skills session or approved hands-on verification before you count on having your eCard in hand.
A One-Week Focus Plan Before Class
Generic study techniques only help if they're mapped to what ACLS actually tests. Here's a compact week structured around the course's real checkpoints:
Rhythm Fluency
- Drill rhythm strips daily until identification is fast and automatic
- Review shockable vs. non-shockable branch points
Pharmacology & Airway
- Match medications to clinical scenarios, not isolated flashcards
- Practice bag-mask ventilation technique if hands-on time is available
Precourse Self-Assessment
- Complete the mandatory assessment and aim well above the 70% minimum
- Flag weak topics for a final review pass
Megacode Simulation & Teamwork
- Practice verbalizing decisions as a team leader would
- Review high-performance team communication expectations
Run a few timed rhythm-strip and scenario drills on our ACLS practice test platform throughout the week so the format feels familiar before your instructor-led session.
FAQ
It's open-resource: you can consult your provider manual and course notes, but you must complete it independently without discussing answers with other students or the instructor.
No. The Precourse Self-Assessment requiring 70% is a prerequisite completed before the course. You still need to pass the Provider Course Exam and the hands-on skills assessment.
No. HeartCode ACLS Online covers the cognitive portion, but you must also complete an instructor-led skills session or an approved hands-on verification pathway to receive your eCard.
The AHA itself does not require a current BLS card for ACLS enrollment, though individual Training Centers may set their own additional requirement.
Two years. Renewal requires successfully completing the applicable course and skills requirements again before it lapses.
Use this cheat sheet as a companion, not a substitute, for full preparation - pair it with focused practice on our ACLS practice test tool and the deeper breakdowns linked throughout this page for the most complete readiness picture before exam day.