CPR and ACLS license in California

[Elizabeth19]

How do you get CPR and ACLS in california for the first time? are there particular agencies authorized/ recomended by the American Heart association? how about those in the internet? thanks for your time reading, im a new grad and about to take the nlex-rn, hopefully if i pass, this will be the next requirement i will be working on towards my career.

[TazziRN, RN]

All hospitals have both courses; if you can't get one in time in the hospital in which you work, you go to another facility and take the course there. I don't know of any agency, except perhaps the fire department, that would offer AHA courses.

[Elizabeth19]

so do you mean when you are applying for an rn job, you can go ahead and apply even if you dont have the cpr / acls license yet thinking that you can take the course at the hospital you are applying in, like while you're in training or something?

[Super_RN, BSN, RN]

Depends on the hospital. Where I work I had 6 months to complete my ACLS after switching to ICU.

:) Super

[MsDemeanor]

I am surprised that your nursing program did not require you to have BLS.

Usually if they want ACLS for the job, you can get it within one year or 6 months of hire.

Here is a list of places where you can get the training:

Hospitals in your area (You do not have to work there)

Ambulance companies

Fire departments

sometimes the community center but be careful that it is not the heartsaver class.

The on line stuff is relatively new, AHA has it so you do the test on line and then come in and do the pumping and coding. I liked doing it on line as I learned a lot. But a lot of those companies are not accepted by all hospitals.

Also and FYI: ACLS and BLS are not licenses, they are certifications.

[Elizabeth19]

I am a foreign graduate so I am getting my cpr certification here for the first time. what is the heartsaver? thanks for your advice

[Dorito, ASN, RN]

I am a foreign graduate so I am getting my cpr certification here for the first time. what is the heartsaver? thanks for your advice

I believe that Heartsaver CPR is mainly geared for the lay person. If you are a nurse or heathcare provider you would want "Healthcare Provider" CPR- Recognition course (if it is your first certification in CPR)

[NurseGreta]

If you want a job in the hospital you need your BLS usually from the American Heart Association (AHA). Heartsaver is the lay provider CPR for AHA. What big city are you near in California? You can also use this: American Heart Association

Just remember if a company can get you certified strictly over the internet it is not an AHA certification. The AHA does require a certified training center to do in person skills evaluations, for BLS and ACLS.