ALS is Resuscitation Council UK’s longest running course and has been used to train healthcare professionals for over 25 years. We have used our evidence-based Guidelines to create an ALS programme that targets key areas of resuscitation and will help build the confidence needed to take the lead in an emergency.

Over two days, you’ll enhance your practical skills with simulations and workshops, and broaden your understanding of ALS with lectures and skill stations. 

During the course, you will develop the knowledge and skills required to:

  • Recognise and manage the deteriorating patient using a structured ABCDE approach;
  • Deliver standardised CPR in adults;
  • Manage a cardiac arrest by working with a multidisciplinary team in an emergency situation;
  • Become an effective and confident team member and leader by utilising non-technical skills.

Who is the course for?

The ALS provider course is designed for healthcare professionals who need skills in Advanced Life Support as part of their clinical duties, as well as those who teach these skills on a regular basis. This includes doctors, paramedics and nurses working in acute care areas (e.g. ED, CCU, ICU, HDU, operating theatres, acute medical admissions units) or on resuscitation/medical emergency/Critical Care Outreach teams.

All applicants must hold a professional healthcare qualification or be in training for a professional healthcare qualification. Medical students in their final year of training can be accepted as Candidates if this is an established local arrangement.

The Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) Advanced Life Support (ALS) course is relevant to healthcare professionals, including foundation and specialist trainees, nursing staff and allied health professionals.


This curriculum map has been produced by the RCUK to illustrate the potential key capabilities that may be achieved when undertaking or instructing on an ALS course. 


  indicates a capability highly likely to be achieved and ( ) indicates a capability that might be achieved by attending or instructing on the relevant RCUK course. Any capability achieved during a RCUK course will need to be accompanied by appropriate supporting evidence, and this responsibility lies with the individual. 


This list is not exhaustive and other capabilities may be achieved based upon individual experiences. 


Please click on the relevant curriculum or training programme to download how the RCUK ALS course may support the acquisition of key capabilities within specialist learning objectives for career or training progression. 

Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RECM) 2021 Curriculum 

Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) 2021 Curriculum

The Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine (FICM) 2021 Curriculum

Nursing and Midwifery Council

This is a two day face-to-face course, and it will take place in a Resuscitation Council UK Course Centre. 

All of our Course Centres are approved and certified by Resuscitation Council UK. Courses are run by dedicated and qualified Instructors, who have taken an RCUK Instructor course to guarantee that our courses are uniform and the content remains the same across our Course Centres.

Pre course preparation:

Before your course, you will be registered on our Learning Management System (LMS). Here, you can access course modules and a pre-course multiple choice question (MCQ) paper.

You will receive your course manual one month before the course. Candidates are expected to read the manual in preparation for the course and submit a completed pre-course MCQ paper before the course begins. 

Programme:

Over the two days, you will take part in lectures, interactive workshops, skill stations and cardiac arrest simulations (CASTeach).

Download the full programme

Assessment and certification:

During the course, Candidates will be continuously assessed based on their performance in clinical simulations. You will be expected to show competency in the core skills of the course, including airway management, high quality CPR and defibrillation, and cardiac arrest management.

At the end of the course, theoretical knowledge will be formally tested with an MCQ paper and practical components tested in a cardiac arrest simulation.

This course is recognised as continuing professional development (CPD) by the Medical, Dental and Nursing Royal Colleges and Health Care Professional Council. Please contact your registering body for further information.

The first step is to find a Course Centre near you. Below, you’ll find an area where you can search for local courses and find out how to get in touch with the organiser. 

Course fees are decided locally by the Course Centre; Resuscitation Council UK only charges the Course Centre £26 per Candidate registration and £29 per ALS manual.

Courses often book quickly, so we would advise planning your attendance well in advance of when you wish to attend a course.

Advanced Life Support [ALS] course:

If you are a healthcare professional who would be expected to apply the skills taught as part of your clinical duties, or to teach them on a regular basis, you are eligible to participate on the ALS course. Appropriate applicants include doctors, nurses working in critical care areas (e.g. ED, CCU, ICU, HDU, operating theatres, acute medical admissions units), paramedics, ICU outreach teams or in the resuscitation/medical emergency team.


All applicants must hold a current clinical appointment and professional healthcare qualification or be in training for a professional healthcare qualification.


Medical students, student nurses and other healthcare providers not covered in the groups above should be encouraged to complete the Immediate Life Support [ILS] course. Those with a particular interest in resuscitation should then consider attending an ALS provider course, where appropriate. Medical students in their final year of training can be accepted as candidates on an ALS course if this is an established local arrangement


Advanced Resuscitation of Newborn Infant [ARNI] course:

You are eligible for the ARNI course if you hold a current RCUK Newborn Life Support provider certificate and are involved in care of the pre-term and sick newborn infants in a role more advanced than that of first responder. Candidates include specialist medical staff (ST3 level and above or about to commence a 2nd tier role), neonatal nurses with a qualification in the specialty or Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioners. You may also be eligible for the ARNI course if you are an experienced paramedic working extensively with newborn transfer teams, a resuscitation officer with a significant regular newborn workload or an anaesthetist with a newborn or PICU practice.


European Paediatric Advanced Life Support [EPALS] course:

If you are a healthcare professional who would be expected to apply the skills taught as part of your clinical duties, or to teach them on a regular basis, you are eligible to undertake this course. Eligible participants include doctors, nurses or paramedics working in direct contact with children.


All applicants must hold a current clinical appointment and professional healthcare qualification or be in training for a professional healthcare qualification. Medical students, student nurses in their final year of training and other healthcare providers not covered in the groups above should be encouraged to complete the Paediatric Immediate Life Support [PILS] course. Those with a particular interest in the management of acute deterioration and resuscitation in children should then consider attending an EPALS provider course, where appropriate.


Medical students in their final year of training can be accepted as candidates on an EPALS course if this is an established local arrangement.


Focused Echocardiophay in Emergency Life Support [FEEL] course:

The FEEL course is intended for healthcare professionals who are involved in the care of the critically ill patient and does not require any previous echocardiography or ultrasound experience. FEEL is intended as an adjunct to the Advanced Life Support course and as such knowledge of the current ALS algorithm is required.


Generic Instructor Course [GIC]:

To attend a GIC course you must be recommend as having ‘Instructor Potential’ either on an RC (UK) course or one of the Advanced Life Support Group [ALSG] recognised courses e.g. APLS. Please follow the RC (UK) GIC link for further information.


Immediate Life Support [ILS] course:

If you are a doctor, medical student, nurse, nursing student, midwife, ODP, cardiac technician, resuscitation officer, healthcare provider (such as a physiotherapist, radiographer, occupational therapist), dental nurse, dentist, paramedic/ ambulance technician, healthcare assistant or nursing associates are eligible for this course. It may also be suitable for you if you are a fire service technician, police personnel prison officer or cabin crew.


Paediatric Immediate Life Support [PILS] course:

You are eligible to undergo the pILS course if you are a doctor, nurse, health visitor, school nurse, midwife, ODP, cardiac technician, resuscitation officer, medical student (final year), nursing student (final year), physiotherapist, dentist, dental nurse, ambulance technician/paramedic, healthcare assistant or nursing associate, occupational therapist, radiographer, fire service technician, police officer or cabin crew. The pILS course addresses the needs of staff who need more advanced skills than those taught during Basic Life Support [BLS], but who do not require the more comprehensive two-day European Paediatric Advanced Life Support [EPALS] course.


Newborn Life Support [NLS] course:

You are eligible for the NLS course if you are a healthcare professional who is regularly involved in the delivery and care of the newborn infant. This includes both junior and senior medical and nursing staff, midwives, paramedics and resuscitation officers. All applicants must hold a professional healthcare qualification or be in training for a professional healthcare qualification.

Category

Yes, CPD points are available according to the table below.  If you have any further queries regarding CPD points, please contact the Royal Colleges directly.


CPD points

Provider course 

Candidates 

Faculty 

ALS (two day course)

10

5 (max 10 in any one year)

e-ALS (one day course)

5

5 (max 10 in any one year)

ALS recertification (one day course)

5

5 (max 10 in any one year)

EPALS (2-day)

10

5 (max 10 in any one year)

NLS (one day course)

5

5 (max 10 in any one year)

ARNI (one day course)

10

5 (max 10 in any one year)

ILS (one day course)

5

5 (max 10 in any one year)

PILS (one day course

5

5 (max 10 in any one year)


For accreditation of other healthcare staff, please see ‘continuing professional development statement' in ‘related documents.’ 

Category

For more FAQs visit our online support system

Course Availability

You can book one of the many courses in the UK shown in the list below by contacting the Course Centre organiser. The cost for a Candidate place will vary based on the Course Centre.

Start date
GeoData » LatLong Pair
Within
miles of
Course centre town Course centre Start date Organiser Availability
Birmingham Birmingham Children's Hospital Thursday
21 Mar. '24
Jaswinder Kaur
0121033308613
bwc.neonatalcourses@nhs.net

Candidates: course full
Faculty: required

Runcorn Warrington & Halton Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust Saturday
23 Mar. '24
Resuscitation Team
01928753198
whh.rcukcourses@nhs.net

Candidates: places available

Blackpool Blackpool Victoria Hospital Monday
25 Mar. '24
Samantha Salisbury
01253957778
samantha.salisbury@nhs.net

Candidates: places available

Manchester 2222 Training Ltd Monday
25 Mar. '24
Angela Brownbill
2222training@gmail.com

Candidates: places available
Faculty: required

* Select A to E Training Solutions Ltd Wednesday
3 Apr. '24
A to E Trading and Solutions Ltd
admin@atoetrainingandsolutions.co.uk

Candidates: places available
Faculty: required