This guide walks you through the pediatric life support certification process, from confirming you need PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) to holding a valid American Heart Association (AHA) provider card. The steps are in the order that saves the most time, because the most common delays come from skipped checks rather than from the course itself. Before you start, gather your current BLS (Basic Life Support) Provider card, your employer's or licensing board's requirements, and a rough idea of which days you can set aside for training.
Step 1: Confirm PALS Is the Right Course for Your Role
Start with the people who set your requirement. Ask your unit manager, your employer's education or HR department, or your state licensing board whether PALS is required for your position. It is commonly expected for pediatric nurses, emergency department and ICU clinicians, paramedics, and respiratory therapists, but requirements vary by facility and by unit, so do not rely on what a colleague in another department was told.
Next, make sure you are looking at the right course. PALS is not the same as pediatric-focused BLS, which covers CPR and AED use for infants and children. It is also different from PEARS (Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization), a separate AHA course aimed at recognizing and stabilizing pediatric emergencies. PEARS is a legitimate AHA course, but it may not satisfy a requirement written as PALS. If your employer's wording is unclear, ask directly: "Does PEARS count, or do I need PALS?" If you are weighing your options, this overview of pediatric emergency response certification can help you match a course to your role.
Then decide whether you need initial certification or renewal. If you have never held a PALS card, or yours has expired, you will generally take the initial course. If your card is current, you may qualify for a renewal course, which differs in length and content. Check your card's expiration date before you register.
Mistake to avoid: assuming any card will be accepted. Many employers require AHA certification specifically, and a card from another organization may be rejected. Ask whether AHA is required before you pay for anything.
Step 2: Verify and Refresh Your BLS Provider Card
PALS builds on BLS. AHA expects students to arrive already proficient in BLS skills, including high-quality infant and child CPR and AED use. The PALS course moves quickly into assessment, rhythm recognition, and team-based resuscitation, and instructors will not have time to teach compressions from scratch.
Check the expiration date on your BLS card now. If it is expired, or will expire soon, consider taking BLS first. A card that lapses between your PALS class and your employer's verification can create paperwork problems you do not need. Best Emergency Services Training offers AHA BLS, so you can complete it before moving on to PALS. If your card has already lapsed, this guide on what to do when your BLS certification has expired walks through the next steps.
Beyond the card itself, check the skills behind it. If it has been a while since you practiced, review these before class:
- Compression rate and depth for infants and children, with full chest recoil
- Correct hand placement for an infant (two fingers or two thumbs with encircling hands) and for a child
- Bag-mask ventilation with an effective seal and appropriate breath delivery
- AED pad placement and operation, including pediatric pads or a pediatric dose attenuator where applicable
Mistake to avoid: arriving unable to perform compressions and ventilations at the proper rate and depth. Weak BLS skills can hold up your skills testing and take time away from the advanced content you came to learn. A short practice session at home or at work, ideally with a feedback manikin, is usually enough to correct this.
Step 3: Choose Your Course Format
You generally have two AHA-recognized paths. The first is an instructor-led classroom course, where lectures, practice, and testing all happen in person. The second is AHA blended learning, where you complete an online portion at your own pace and then attend an in-person, hands-on skills session with an AHA instructor.
The hands-on session is not optional. A valid AHA card requires a skills test with an AHA instructor, so a fully online-only course does not produce AHA certification, no matter how it is advertised. If a provider offers a card with no in-person component, confirm with your employer before paying.
Matching format to your situation
Classroom courses suit first-time students who want more time to practice and ask questions. Blended learning suits experienced clinicians with tight or unpredictable schedules, since the cognitive material can be completed around shifts and only the skills session needs a fixed time. You can compare more formats in this roundup of pediatric life support training options.
Options at Best Emergency Services Training
Best Emergency Services Training offers several ways to complete AHA training:
- Offsite locations, for individuals who want a convenient place to attend
- Onsite group training, which brings an instructor to hospitals, clinics, and other organizations so a whole team can certify together
- One-on-one instruction, for those who want focused, personalized attention
Accommodations are available for physical limitations, so let the team know your needs when you register.
Course length and pricing change over time and differ between initial and renewal formats. As of 2026, check the current Best Emergency Services Training schedule for exact class durations, fees, and locations rather than relying on figures from older listings. For a closer look at what drives the fee, see this breakdown of PALS certification price.
Step 4: Register and Prepare Before Class Day
When you register, select your date and location, then confirm what to bring. Typically that means your BLS card, a photo ID, and any required materials. Ask what happens if your BLS card is not in hand on the day, since some providers will not let you test without it.
Ask about study materials too. Students are generally expected to have the current PALS Provider Manual or the student materials the provider supplies. Providers handle this differently: some include materials in the course fee, others sell them separately. Confirm which applies so you are not scrambling the night before.
Then study the core content. Focus your time on:
- The systematic pediatric assessment approach, including how to recognize a child who is deteriorating
- Respiratory emergencies and how they differ by severity and cause
- Shock, including how to distinguish types and respond
- Cardiac arrest algorithms and the sequence of actions within them
- Rhythm recognition, especially the rhythms that call for defibrillation versus those that do not
- Drug dosing concepts, including why pediatric dosing is weight-based
If your course includes a pre-course self-assessment, complete it before class and bring the results if the provider asks for them. Treat the results as a guide: a weak score on rhythms or algorithms tells you exactly where to spend your remaining study time. A dedicated PALS certification study guide can help you structure that review.
Step 5: Complete the Hands-On Training and Case Scenarios
PALS is built on team-based, case-driven learning. In class, you will work through simulated pediatric emergencies in small groups, rotating between team leader and team member. A typical case might begin with an unresponsive child, and your team must assess, call for help, manage the airway, interpret the monitor, and decide on the next intervention.
Expect to practice airway management and to use a defibrillator or monitor during scenarios. These skills feel different under time pressure than they do when you read about them, which is the point of rehearsing them before the test.
Pay close attention to team dynamics. Resuscitation depends on clear roles and closed-loop communication: the leader gives a direct instruction, the team member repeats it back, and then confirms when it is done. Good teams also speak up when something looks wrong, and good leaders welcome it. Instructors watch for these behaviors, so practice them even in low-stakes drills.
Practical tip: ask questions during practice. Instructors can coach your technique, correct hand placement, and clarify algorithm steps before testing begins. Waiting until the evaluation to discover a gap is the more stressful way to learn it.
At Best Emergency Services Training, small-group instruction and personalized attention mean you get more time with the instructor and more feedback on your own technique, rather than being one face in a large room. You can also read about getting the most out of AHA certification classes before you attend.
Step 6: Pass the Skills Tests and the Written Exam
Skills testing generally includes infant and child CPR with an AED, along with case-based, megacode-style scenarios. A megacode is a simulated cardiac arrest or peri-arrest case in which you lead the team through assessment and treatment from start to finish. Your instructor evaluates how you apply the algorithms, manage the airway, communicate, and direct the team. Specific criteria are set by AHA and your instructor, so ask what the checklist looks like and review it beforehand.
The written exam covers the course content, and AHA requires a minimum passing score. Rather than relying on a number from memory or a forum post, check the current requirement on the AHA website or ask your provider. Exam rules, including whether you may use the provider manual, can also vary by course version, so confirm those details too. This guide to PALS certification requirements covers what providers typically need to demonstrate.
If you do not pass a component, do not assume you must start over. Ask your provider about remediation and retest policy: whether you can retest the same day, whether coaching is offered, and whether there is a fee for a second attempt. Knowing this ahead of time takes some of the pressure off.
Tip: the two things that help most on test day are practicing rhythm strips and being able to recall algorithm steps without looking. Try these before class:
- Review a set of rhythm strips and name each one quickly, then check your answers.
- Write out the cardiac arrest algorithm from memory, then compare it to the manual.
- Talk through a case aloud, stating each assessment and action as if you were leading a team.
Step 7: Receive Your Card and Plan for Renewal
AHA provider cards are typically issued as eCards and are generally valid for two years. Because policies can change, verify the current validity period and the eCard claim process on the AHA website. After you pass, you will usually receive an email from AHA or your training center with instructions to claim your card.
To claim it, follow the link, set up or sign in to your account, and complete any required steps such as a short survey. Then download the card as a PDF, save a copy to your phone and cloud storage, and send it to your employer or licensing contact. Employers can typically verify an eCard through AHA's online verification tool, so ask whether your workplace wants a PDF, a QR code, or the verification link.
Next, protect your certification. Set a renewal reminder several months before the expiration date, which gives you room to find a class that fits your schedule. Renewal courses are generally shorter than initial courses for those with a current card, so renewing on time saves hours.
Mistake to avoid: letting the card lapse. An expired card can mean taking the full initial course again, and you may be unable to work in certain roles in the meantime. Learn more about renewing a lapsed healthcare worker certification if this has already happened. Also remember that your BLS card has its own expiration date, so track both.
Your PALS Card Is Saved: What to Book Next
Once your eCard is saved and your renewal reminder is set, you are ready to book your next step with Best Emergency Services Training. That might be a BLS refresher, an ACLS class to round out your credentials, or a group session for your unit or clinic.
Don't let certification deadlines stress you out. Get your AHA, ECSI or HSI-certified CPR training completed quickly with flexible scheduling that works around your life. Schedule your personalized training session today and join the thousands of individuals and businesses who trust B.E.S.T. for fast, convenient certification with expert instructors.
