Do the New Life Support Guidelines Mean You Have To Take a New ACLS Test? Questions and Answers

Every five years, the American Heart Association releases new guidelines for first aid and life support courses. As new 2010 guidelines are incorporated into ACLS modules and ACLS test questions, certification courses and online classes will undergo some changes. But the question is…if you were certified under the 2005 guidelines, do you need to recertify right now?

Michael Huckabee, PhD, PA-C, director of the Union College Physician Assistant program and curriculum developer for Health Education Solutions, explains it here:

Do I have to recertify and prepare for new ACLS test questions right now?

If you were certified under the 2005 guidelines, you won’t be required to recertify until your two-year ACLS certification expires. Course completion cards will continue to be valid for two years, regardless of changes to guidelines. Continue to perform ACLS according to the 2005 standards until you receive training under the new 2010 guidelines.

Are the ACLS test answers and course materials still accurate?

The new recommendations are simply more up-to-date; they don’t mean that earlier guidelines and ACLS test questions were ineffective or unsafe. According to Dr. Huckabee, the new guidelines represent the state-of-the-art of resuscitation science today. ACLS routine protocols have undergone significant scrutiny during the review process, and the new guidelines’ evidence-based approach is refreshing and relevant.

The previous standards remain acceptable, however, it’s reasonable to conclude that the new guidelines stress a more informed quality of care in life-threatening situations. As healthcare professionals become trained in the new standards, it is more likely that medical teams can efficiently respond to emergencies with effective treatment.

When will instructors begin incorporate the new guidelines in the ACLS test? Answers here.

Instructors will teach 2005 guidelines until they have received training on the 2010 guidelines. Health Education Solutions has already updated its ACLS online courses and ACLS test answers; 2011 ACLS, PALS and BLS courses now reflect the new guidelines.

Health Education Solutions offers ACLS certification and ACLS recertification online, online PALS training, and a variety of other life support and first aid certifications, which can be valuable tools for healthcare professionals and other individuals looking to be prepared in an emergency situation. ACLS and PALS courses were developed in partnership with Union College.