According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, physicians and surgeons held about 862,800 jobs in the US in 2025. Many doctors, as well as nurses, paramedics, and other healthcare professionals, need ACLS training for their jobs.
ACLS stands for Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (often called Advanced Cardiac Life Support). The American Heart Association (AHA) course is designed for healthcare professionals who direct or take part in the management of cardiac arrest, stroke, and other cardiopulmonary emergencies. ACLS training also prepares you for acute coronary syndromes, including myocardial infarction.
To get your ACLS certificate, you must pass the ACLS exam as well as hands-on skills tests. The exam covers a lot of material, and it can be difficult to know the best study methods to help you pass. That is why we are bringing you this guide.
Want to know the best strategies to help you ace your ACLS exam? Then check out our top tips below because this one is for you!
Sign Up for an ACLS Training Course
To earn an AHA ACLS course completion card, you need to complete an AHA ACLS course. You can take a classroom course led by an AHA Instructor, or HeartCode blended learning (an online portion followed by a hands-on skills session). Some locations also offer HeartCode Complete, with hands-on practice and testing at a CPR Verification Station. You can also use ACLS books to self-study for the exam, but the training course will help you get hands-on experience with the topics you learn for the exam. The card is valid for two years.
However, make sure you actually need ACLS certification before you sign up. The AHA course is intended for personnel in emergency response, emergency medicine, intensive and critical care, and surgery, such as physicians, nurses, and paramedics, as well as others who need an ACLS card for their job. Requirements vary by role and employer.
Not sure if you need ACLS certification in your healthcare field? Talk to your supervisor to learn more.
The Best ACLS Books to Help You Study
Are you planning to self-study for the ACLS exam? If so, we recommend checking out our ACLS Provider Manual (2nd edition) on Amazon, which is fully revised to reflect the 2025 guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA). We also have an ACLS Workbook, updated for 2025, with hundreds of practice questions, algorithm drills, and EKG rhythm identification exercises that come in handy when you want to test your knowledge to see if you remember everything.
Study ACLS Algorithms
Algorithms are at the heart of the ACLS exam. But what are they? ACLS algorithms are flow charts that show the appropriate response for specific emergency situations.
The current ACLS course, based on the 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC, covers these key algorithms and topics:
- Acute Coronary Syndromes
- Adult Basic Life Support (which now includes giving an opioid antagonist such as naloxone in a suspected opioid overdose)
- Adult Bradycardia With a Pulse
- Adult Cardiac Arrest
- Suspected Stroke
- Adult Tachyarrhythmia With a Pulse
- Post-Cardiac Arrest Care
- Synchronized cardioversion for unstable tachyarrhythmias
It is important to start studying these algorithms early. They will come in handy not only on test day but also for real-life emergency situations in the field.
H's and T's
H's and T's refer to the potentially reversible causes of cardiac arrest. The ACLS exam will test you on these facts.
H's include hypothermia, hydrogen ion acidosis, hypoxia, hypovolemia, and hyper- or hypokalemia. T's include cardiac tamponade, toxins, thromboses (acute coronary and pulmonary embolus), and tension pneumothorax.
Additionally, make sure you understand electrocardiography (EKG) basics for diagnosis. The AHA lists reading and interpreting ECGs as a prerequisite for the ACLS course: rhythm recognition is essential for the cardiac arrest, bradycardia, and tachyarrhythmia algorithms, and the 12-lead ECG is key to recognizing acute coronary syndromes. If you need an EKG book, you can check out our EKG/ECG Interpretation book.
Medications and Dosages
Finally, make sure you study the medications and medication dosages to use in specific emergency situations. You will have to identify these facts on the ACLS exam.
Take Practice Exams
ACLS practice exams are arguably the best way to study for your certification. These exams can help you pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses. That way, you will know what to study for the actual exam.
Plus, taking practice exams can help you get comfortable with the test's format. An unfamiliar exam format can be a real hurdle for first-time test takers.
If you do not pass the exam the first time, training centers generally give you another attempt. But studying practice tests can help you ace your test on the first try, saving you money and time.
Where to Access ACLS Practice Exams
If you sign up for an AHA ACLS classroom course, you must first complete the online Precourse Self-Assessment, which covers rhythm recognition, pharmacology, and practical application, and score at least 70% before class. Some ACLS books (like our workbook) also contain practice questions to help you study. If you are interested in ordering our ACLS Workbook, you can do so by clicking here.
A third option is to look for practice exams online. Run a simple Google search to find the right practice materials for your needs, and make sure they are updated for the 2025 AHA guidelines.
Tips for Acing the ACLS Training Exam
The ACLS exam is a multiple-choice test, and the AHA has an open-resource policy: you may use the provider manual, your course notes, and the ECC handbook as references, but you may not discuss the questions with other students. Training centers commonly require a score of 84% or higher to pass; ask your training center to confirm its exam rules.
Below, we are talking about our top two tips for acing your ACLS exam the first time around.
Answer Easy Questions First
You have probably heard this test-taking tip before. But the ACLS exam is no exception. Make sure you answer all the easy questions on the test first before coming back to more challenging ones.
Even if you have plenty of time, struggling with difficult questions at the beginning of your exam can wear you out. Saving them for the end prevents you from getting frustrated and making silly mistakes on easy questions.
Take All the Time You're Given
The exam may not have a strict time limit, but the facility where you take it may give you a specific window in which you must complete it. It is important to take all the time you get for the test.
The ACLS exam is a complicated test with highly technical information on it. Some questions describe detailed clinical scenarios. Taking your time can ensure you read questions right the first time, increasing the chance of getting them right.
Looking for ACLS Prep Books?
ACLS training helps you prepare for emergency situations at your job. To get your certification, you must first pass the ACLS exam and skills tests. We hope this guide helps you do just that!
Are you searching for medical textbooks to help you study for the ACLS certification exam? Our textbooks include the ACLS Provider Manual (2nd edition) and the ACLS Workbook, both updated for the 2025 AHA guidelines. Browse our selection today to find the ACLS prep book you've been searching for!