Are you a healthcare professional working in Pediatric emergencies? Then you must be aware that your Pediatric Advanced Life Support(PALS) certificate must be current. Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification(PALS) is an advanced life support training that prepares medical professionals for emergencies involving infants, children, and pediatric patients as a whole.
PALS Certification is usually valid for two years. After that, you need to renew it. If your PALS Certification has expired, it is crucial to renew your AHA PALS certification as soon as possible. Whether changing your jobs or forgetting to get PALS renewal after expiration, you may have many questions about what to do next. Don’t worry; this article will discuss what to do after your PALS Certification expiration and the importance of PALS recertifications.
Understanding the PALS Recertification Process
Before starting your renewal process, it is important to understand the requirements of PALS certification renewal. Most training providers teach PALS courses accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA) under their proper guidelines. At Heart Start CPR, you must take a refresher course to apply for your PALS Recertification. There are several steps you should consider before applying for the recertification.
- Recertification Validity: PALS certification has a validity period of two years to keep the certification up-to-date, making it more effective. After your existing PALS certificate expires, you must apply for the recertification process on time to avoid any lapses in certification.
- Course Content: The training course covers topics like Cardiopulmonary arrest and early interventions, Shock emergencies and early interventions, High-quality CPR (BLS), Pediatric systematic approach, Arrhythmias, Post-cardiac arrest management, Effective respiratory management, Multi-rescuer resuscitation and team dynamics, Systematic approach to pediatric assessment, Recognition and treatment of infants and children at risk for cardiopulmonary arrest, Validation of skills for one-person and two-person CPR and AED skills for infants and children.
- Online Recertification Courses: Heart Start CPR also provides an online course to renew the PALS certification after expiration. The renewal course is fully online, easy to enroll in, and accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA). It is self-paced and convenient, so you can get certified on time. It is best suited to busy healthcare personnel.
- Exam and Passing Score: You will be tested on your knowledge in the final exam that is included in the recertification courses. Recertifying requires a minimum passing score of 80%.
- Provider Card: After completing your recertification exam, you will be issued a digital PALS provider card that is valid for two years. You can receive an actual PALS provider card by mail within 3-5 business days.
To conclude the process in brief, it involves enrolling in a refresher course and completing a recertification exam accredited by reputed organizations like AHA and its guidelines, passing the exam with the required grade, and finally receiving your new PALS provider card.
Related post: How to renew ACLS certificate
When Should I Enroll in a PALS Certification Renewal Course?
As discussed above, AHA needs the PALS certification to be renewed every two years. So you must enroll in PALS certification renewal courses before the current certificate expires. So planning and scheduling your recertification course in advance is important. You can enroll in a course at any time, but enrolling at least several months before your Certification expires is recommended to allow sufficient time to complete and take the exam. It’s important to note that if your Certification expires, you must retake the initial PALS course instead of a refresher course. So, enrolling in a recertification course on time can help you avoid any lapses in Certification and remain up-to-date on the latest PALS techniques and guidelines.
Enrolling in a PALS Refresher Course and Reviewing the Material
You can look for an AHA-certified training center like Heart Start CPR to take the PALS refresher courses. Heart Start CPR offers a PALS renewal classroom course.
You must review the course material before enrolling in the refresher courses. The PALS Renewal course covers the same course materials as the initial one but in fewer details. You should take notes and understand the pediatric BLS Algorithm, key concepts, and techniques multiple times.
Additionally, you can take skills tests and quizzes, which can help you to assess your knowledge and help you to identify the area you need to improve. It’s important to stay engaged and attentive during the refresher course to ensure that you’re up-to-date on the latest PALS techniques and guidelines.
Taking the PALS Recertification Exam
After completing the Pediatric Advanced Life Support(PALS) refresher course, the final step in obtaining the new PALS card is to take the recertification exam. The PALS recertification exam tests your knowledge of PALS techniques and is typically administered online or physically.
To prepare for the PALS recertification exam, you can review the course material thoroughly or take the practice test to assess your knowledge. The exam usually consists of multiple-choice questions and may include scenarios that test your ability to apply PALS skills in real-life situations.
Once you pass the exam, you will receive the PALS certification, valid for two years. It’s important to keep your PALS certifications valid by renewing them every two years and staying updated with the latest PALS guidelines and training with continuing education and training.
Tips for Preparing for the PALS Recertification Exam
Preparing for the Pediatric Advanced Life Support(PALS) exam and staying up to date with the PALS techniques is the key to passing the PALS recertification exam for healthcare providers working in Pediatric units. Here are some of the tips you can follow to prepare for the PALS recertification exam and stay up to date with the latest PALS techniques:
- Review the course materials: Review the PALS course and algorithms thoroughly, take notes, and further identify the areas you may need further improvement.
- Take practice tests: Taking practice tests or quizzes is the best way to prepare for the PALS recertification exam. It will boost your confidence and help you to pass the AHA PALS recertification exam.
- Attend Additional Training: Attending additional PALS Training or workshops can help you stay updated with the latest PALS guidelines and techniques.
- Participate in continuing education courses: You can participate in continuing education courses to stay up-to-date with PALS guidelines and techniques.
- Stay Informed: The American Heart Association (AHA) updates the PALS guidelines frequently. So it would be best if you stay informed about the latest changes in the guidelines. You can do so by reading research articles, attending conferences, or joining professional organizations.
- Use Simulation Techniques: You can practice PALS in real-life scenarios by using Simulation techniques. This can boost your confidence and help you prepare for the PALS renewal exam.
- Stay confident: You need to stay calm and confident during the exam. Read each question carefully, and take your time to ensure you are answering each question correctly.
Get PALS Recertification at Heart Start CPR
Heart Start CPR provides result-oriented Pediatric Advanced Life Support Training. If you seek PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) recertification, you can do so at Heart Start CPR, a training center that offers various CPR, AED, and First Aid courses. To get PALS recertification at Heart Start CPR, complete a course covering the latest American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for pediatric advanced life support.
To this point, we have empowered around 5 million Lifesavers, where we focus on providing the highest quality training program accredited by the American Heart Association with experienced tutors who have considerable experience in this field. Thus, we strongly believe in providing efficient and effective learning.
To enroll in AHA PALS recertification courses at Heart Start CPR, visit our website or call (877) 846-8277. You may need to provide proof of previous Certification, and you may need to complete a pre-course assessment to ensure that you meet the prerequisites for the course.
FAQS about PALS Recertification
How Long Is The PALS Provider Card Valid For?
The validation period of your PALS Certification Card is 2 years from the issued date.
Are online PALS recertification courses valid?
Yes, the online PALS recertification course is valid and accepted by many organizations.
Who Needs PALS Recertification?
Medical personnel, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, CMAs, and PAs complete the PALS certification process. Therefore, experts with an existing PALS Certification must re-certify every two years, as the certification expires after that.
Why Should I Recertify With Heart Start CPR?
With up-to-date course materials, Heart Start CPR is the leading provider of training for various courses, including PALS, BLS, CPR, and ACLS. Our online PALS recertification is convenient and affordable for busy healthcare professionals. HeartCode programs combine online learning with hands-on skills training so learners can complete lessons whenever it is most convenient for them.
