ACLS vs. CPR
When it comes to life support training, there are multiple certification pathways, and it’s easy to feel uncertain about which course is required for your role. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency intervention technique that acts as the cornerstone of basic life support (BLS) during a cardiac emergency. CPR is important for personnel who want (or need) to take care of someone suffering a cardiac arrest.
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) is a system that builds on the teachings of CPR by integrating more advanced care techniques and coordinated team-based resuscitation. ACLS is specifically designed for healthcare professionals who are responsible for managing cardiac arrest, peri‐arrest conditions, and other life‐threatening cardiovascular emergencies.
While there is some overlap between CPR and ACLS, they are distinct in purpose, audience, and scope. In this article, we’ll explain how these certifications differ, how they build upon one another, and how to decide which one best fits your professional or personal needs.
Understanding ACLS vs CPR Certification in Cardiac Emergencies 
CPR Certification
CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is the foundation of basic life support and the starting point for life‐saving training. It is designed for the general public as well as workplace responders such as teachers, coaches, and fitness instructors, and requires no prior medical knowledge.
Training focuses on delivering first aid, high‐quality chest compressions and rescue breaths, and using an automated external defibrillator to restore a normal heart rhythm. Because it is entry‐level, CPR classes are widely accessible and equip individuals to respond to emergencies in public spaces, schools, gyms, or workplaces.
Advanced Cardio Life Support Certification
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support builds upon CPR and BLS to prepare healthcare professionals to manage complex, in‐hospital cardiac emergencies. It is intended for clinicians such as physicians, nurses, paramedics, and advanced practice providers who regularly care for critically ill patients.
The training expands beyond the basics of resuscitation medicine to include cardiac rhythm recognition and ECG interpretation, intravenous access and pharmacologic interventions, advanced airway management, and the use of structured algorithms for cardiac arrest and peri‐arrest situations. A good ACLS curriculum also devotes time to teaching team dynamics and communication. These often‐overlooked skills are critical in life‐threatening situations where providers need to be able to lead or contribute properly.
Because of its advanced scope, taking an ACLS course requires current BLS training or demonstrated CPR proficiency as a prerequisite. The skills learned through ACLS are typically applied in clinical environments such as hospitals, intensive care units, and emergency medical services.
Key Differences Between ACLS Certification and CPR Certification
The table below highlights the most important distinctions between ACLS and CPR:
| Feature | CPR Certification | ACLS Certification |
|---|---|---|
| Level of Care | Basic life support, sustaining circulation and oxygenation until advanced help arrives | Advanced life support, diagnosing and managing complex cardiac emergencies |
| Key Practitioner | Open to the general public, workplace responders, teachers, fitness trainers, non‐clinical professionals | Healthcare providers such as physicians, nurses, paramedics, and advanced clinicians |
| Key Skills | Chest compressions, rescue breathing, AED use | ECG interpretation, advanced airway management, IV medications, structured algorithms |
| Prerequisites | None; accessible to anyone interested in life‐saving skills | Requires current BLS certification or demonstrated CPR proficiency |
When Do You Need CPR vs ACLS Certification?
CPR certification is designed for anyone who may encounter an emergency outside of a hospital setting. Teachers, fitness trainers, security personnel, and childcare providers such as babysitters often pursue CPR training because they are responsible for the safety of others in schools, gyms, and workplaces. First responders and members of the general public can also benefit from CPR training, since cardiac arrest can happen anywhere — at home, in the community, or in public spaces. The goal is to ensure that bystanders are prepared to act immediately, delivering chest compressions, rescue breaths, and AED support until advanced medical help arrives.
ACLS certification, on the other hand, is required for healthcare professionals who treat patients in high‐acuity environments. Nurses, physicians, and paramedics working in emergency rooms, intensive care units, or cardiology departments rely on ACLS skills to interpret ECG rhythms, administer medications, secure airways, and lead resuscitation teams. For providers in emergency medicine, critical care, and EMS, ACLS is more than a credential — it is a professional necessity that equips them to manage life‐threatening cardiovascular events with precision and confidence.
ACLS vs CPR Certification in the Healthcare Profession
Understanding Healthcare Certification Pathways
Life support training in healthcare follows a structured progression. Most providers begin with CPR, advance to Basic Life Support, and then complete Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support. The skills taught in these courses are more broad, applicable to the majority of patients a provider might encounter.
Depending on your focus in the healthcare field, further certifications such as Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), or Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) may also be required. These pathways helps clinicians build from basic skills to special competencies required in roles working with a specific population, such as newborns and infants.
Certifications Required by Role
- Nurses: CPR and ACLS are both essential, especially for those working in emergency departments, critical care units, or telemetry floors where cardiac emergencies are common.
- Paramedics: BLS and ACLS are required, since paramedics must treat patients in the field before they reach the hospital.
- Medical Assistants: Typically need CPR or BLS certification, depending on employer and scope of practice, to provide immediate support in outpatient or clinical settings.
- Doctors: Expected to maintain BLS and ACLS as a baseline, with additional certifications such as PALS for pediatric specialists or ATLS for those who work in trauma and surgical care.
We trust our healthcare professionals to work with us when we are at our most vulnerable. Whether we are sick or injured, we have to hold them to a high standard if we expect them to give us the proper treatment. That’s why ongoing certifications are so important. Healthcare providers need to keep up with the most current, evidence‐based guidelines for administering care. Regular renewal sharpens both technical skills and non‐technical skills like communication and teamwork under intense pressure.
When providers regularly complete this training, it directly improves patient outcomes. These skills directly reduce response times, improve resuscitation efforts, and help our healthcare workers be confident in critical moments.
Frequently Asked Questions 
Does ACLS cover CPR?
Not always. While ACLS training builds on the foundations of CPR, it does not always include a full CPR course as part of the curriculum. Most healthcare providers complete CPR or Basic Life Support certification first, since it is a prerequisite for enrolling in ACLS. Many people choose bundled training options that include BLS and ACLS together, making it easier to stay current on all required certifications at once.
Is CPR included in ACLS Training?
CPR serves as the foundation of all resuscitation medicine, and ACLS builds directly upon it. However, ACLS training does not typically re‐teach CPR in detail. Instead, it assumes participants are already proficient in the material covered in a CPR certification course and then integrates these skills into more advanced protocols.
Why does ACLS not cover BLS?
ACLS is designed as an advanced course and assumes learners already have a solid grasp of Basic Life Support skills. High‐quality CPR, rescue breathing, and AED use are prerequisites for effective ACLS interventions, but they are not the focus of the training itself. For this reason, many ACLS providers require participants to hold a current BLS certification before enrolling.
What kind of healthcare provider needs ACLS certification?
ACLS certification is appropriate for healthcare professionals who routinely respond to cardiopulmonary emergencies in clinical or prehospital settings. This includes physicians, registered nurses, and paramedics who work in intensive care units, emergency departments, operating rooms, and emergency medical services (EMS). Advanced practice providers such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants may also need ACLS if their role involves critical care or cardiac patient management. Even when ACLS is not explicitly mandated, many employers strongly encourage it.
Choosing the Right Certification to Save Lives
At Advanced Medical Certification (AMC), we make it easier than ever to earn your CPR and ACLS credentials. Our courses are:
- 100% online
- Accredited through the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM)
- Designed by board‐certified physicians to meet the latest ILCOR and JCAHO standards.
With flexible self‐paced modules and unlimited exam retakes, you can use our programs to save time without sacrificing any of the rigor and credibility of in‐person training.
Get your ACLS certification now or, if you’re just getting started with the fundamentals of life support, get CPR certified here.