The Australian Resuscitation Council adult advanced life support courses are standardised national courses teaching evidence-based resuscitation guidelines and skills to healthcare professionals. These courses are regulated by the Australian Resuscitation Council and the course credentials are cross-recognised by the Resuscitation Council of UK (RCUK), New Zealand Resuscitation Council (NZRC) and the European Resuscitation Council (ERC). Advanced life support (ALS) certificates provided by the RCUK, NZRC or ERC are recognised by the Australian Resuscitation Council. The Australian Resuscitation Council ALS course teaching material, program and assessment processes are aligned with the RCUK and the ERC.

The Australian Resuscitation Council ALS courses are held in every State and Territory of Australia by centres that are approved and certified by the Council. Course manuals, teaching and administrative materials are made available to approved centres by the Council to ensure a consistently high-quality approach to the courses that conform to the Council’s resuscitation guidelines. This all ensures a uniformity of content and standard regardless of the organisation delivering the course or the location in which the course is held. The ALS courses include core lectures and interactive workshops and face-to-face teaching is mainly delivered in small groups with hands-on practical skill stations and clinically based simulations.

The Australian Resuscitation Council credentials all its instructors delivering the advanced life support programs. Australian Resuscitation Council Instructors follow a prescribed development pathway to ensure the maintenance of high standards. All Instructors on the Australian Resuscitation Council Courses have undergone training and development in order to be registered by the Council as an Instructor as set down in the course regulations.
Candidates on the courses are derived from the medical, nursing, paramedical and allied healthcare professions to teach best available evidence-based approach. The Australian Resuscitation Council Courses provide the opportunity for interprofessional education to promote the knowledge, skills, attributes and attitudes to work together in an effective collaborative fashion.

Continuous assessment of candidates occurs throughout the ALS courses, including using clinical simulations that allow candidates to demonstrate the core competencies that have been taught on the course. These include airway management, initial assessment, and resuscitation and cardiac arrest scenarios.
The ALS courses are recognised for continuing professional development by many colleges and organisations. As the systems vary between professional colleges, state, and individual organisations, candidates should check with their respective professional bodies for the latest requirements.

Certification for the courses is recognised by the Australian Resuscitation Council for up to 4 years (Revalidation periods may vary based on the requirements of credentialling bodies or employers). Recertification courses are available for both the ALS1 and ALS2 courses at Australian Resuscitation Council Course Centres. The recertification face-to-face component of each course is approximately half the length of the initial course.

It is not essential to complete the ALS1 prior to the ALS2.  However, the ALS2 course does have a higher level of expected knowledge and recent clinical exposure to critical/crisis events at the commencement of the course. Both advanced life support courses are widely accepted by government and private hospitals, healthcare organisations, Australian Defence Force, rural and remote health including the resource industry. 

Currency of Course Materials

The Australian Resuscitation Council, through its educational programmes, is committed to ensuring that course content reflects contemporary evidence and best practice. However, given the continuous nature of scientific discovery, evidence review, guideline development, publication, and educational resource revision, it is recognised that course materials may not always immediately reflect the most recently published evidence or guideline updates. Participants and instructors should therefore regard current ANZCOR Guidelines as the authoritative source of clinical guidance. Where any discrepancy exists between course materials and current ANZCOR Guidelines, the ANZCOR Guidelines shall take precedence while course resources are reviewed and updated.

ALS1 & ALS2 Course Manual Addendum and Correction Notice