e-ALS launched in 2012 and covers the same course content as ALS. It involves one day of e-learning, which is done in your own time, before attending a one-day face-to-face course, providing increased flexibility and reducing the need for time away from work.
 
e-ALS has been developed using our evidence-based Guidelines and decades of experience in delivering effective resuscitation courses for healthcare professionals, and will help build the confidence needed to take the lead in an emergency. 

During the course, you will develop the knowledge and skills required to:

  • Recognise and manage the deteriorating patient using a structured ABCDE approach;
  • Deliver standardised CPR in adults;
  • Manage a cardiac arrest by working with a multidisciplinary team in an emergency situation;
  • Become an effective and confident team member and leader by utilising non-technical skills.

Who is the course for?

The e-ALS course is designed for healthcare professionals who need skills in advanced life support as part of their clinical duties, as well as those who teach these skills on a regular basis. This includes doctors, paramedics and nurses working in acute care areas (e.g. ED, CCU, ICU, HDU, operating theatres, acute medical admissions units) or on resuscitation/ medical emergency/ Critical Care Outreach teams.

All applicants must hold a professional healthcare qualification or be in training for a professional healthcare qualification. Medical students in their final year of training can be accepted as Candidates if this is an established local arrangement.

The Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) Advanced Life Support (ALS) course is relevant to healthcare professionals, including foundation and specialist trainees, nursing staff and allied health professionals.


This curriculum map has been produced by the RCUK to illustrate the potential key capabilities that may be achieved when undertaking or instructing on an ALS course. 


  indicates a capability highly likely to be achieved and ( ) indicates a capability that might be achieved by attending or instructing on the relevant RCUK course. Any capability achieved during a RCUK course will need to be accompanied by appropriate supporting evidence, and this responsibility lies with the individual. 


This list is not exhaustive and other capabilities may be achieved based upon individual experiences. 


Please click on the relevant curriculum or training programme to download how the RCUK ALS course may support the acquisition of key capabilities within specialist learning objectives for career or training progression. 

Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RECM) 2021 Curriculum 

Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) 2021 Curriculum

The Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine (FICM) 2021 Curriculum

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Candidates do a day of e-learning followed by a day of face-to-face learning at one of our Course Centres.

All of our Course Centres are approved and certified by Resuscitation Council UK. Courses are run by dedicated and qualified Instructors, who have taken an RCUK Instructor course to guarantee that our courses are uniform and the content remains the same across our Course Centres.

Pre course preparation:

Before the course, you will be registered on our Learning Management System (LMS). Here, you can access pre-course course modules that will prepare you for your face-to-face session and a pre-course multiple choice question (MCQ) paper.

You will receive your course manual one month before the course. Candidates are expected to read the manual in preparation for the course and submit a completed pre-course MCQ paper before the course begins.
 
Programme:

As part of your e-learning you will read through modules that cover all core components of the course. These modules will help you learn at your own pace and test your knowledge before attending a face-to-face day where you will develop your practical skills with the help of our Instructors, and participate in cardiac arrest simulations (CASTeach).

Download the full programme

Assessment and certification:

During the course, Candidates will be continuously assessed based on their performance in clinical simulations. You will be expected to show competency in the core teachings of the course, including airway management, high quality CPR and defibrillation, and cardiac arrest management.

At the end of the course, theoretical knowledge will be formally tested with an MCQ paper and practical components in a cardiac arrest simulation.

Candidates who successfully complete the course will be awarded with a Resuscitation Council UK ALS provider certificate, which is valid for four years and recognised in healthcare settings in the UK, Europe and Australia.

This course is recognised as continuing professional development (CPD) by the Medical, Dental and Nursing Royal Colleges and Health Care Professional Council. Please contact your registering body for further information.

The first step is to find a Course Centre near you. Below, you’ll find an area where you can search for local courses and find out how to get in touch with the organiser. 

Course fees are decided locally by the Course Centre; Resuscitation Council UK only charges the Course Centre £29.90 per Candidate registration and £33.35 per ALS manual.

Courses often book quickly, so we would advise planning your attendance well in advance of when you wish to attend a course.

If you are a healthcare professional who would be expected to apply the skills taught as part of your clinical duties, or to teach them on a regular basis, you are eligible to participate on the ALS course. Appropriate applicants include doctors, nurses working in critical care areas (e.g. ED, CCU, ICU, HDU, operating theatres, acute medical admissions units), paramedics, ICU outreach teams or in the resuscitation/medical emergency team.

 

All applicants must hold a current clinical appointment and professional healthcare qualification or be in training for a professional healthcare qualification.

 

Medical students, student nurses and other healthcare providers not covered in the groups above should be encouraged to complete the Immediate Life Support (ILS) course. Those with a particular interest in resuscitation should then consider attending an ALS provider course, where appropriate. Medical students in their final year of training can be accepted as candidates on an ALS course if this is an established local arrangement.

 

Category

Yes, CPD points are available according to the table below.  If you have any further queries regarding CPD points, please contact the Royal Colleges directly.


CPD points

Provider course 

Candidates 

Faculty 

ALS (two day course)

10

5 (max 10 in any one year)

e-ALS (one day course)

5

5 (max 10 in any one year)

ALS recertification (one day course)

5

5 (max 10 in any one year)

EPALS (2-day)

10

5 (max 10 in any one year)

NLS (one day course)

5

5 (max 10 in any one year)

ARNI (one day course)

10

5 (max 10 in any one year)

ILS (one day course)

5

5 (max 10 in any one year)

PILS (one day course

5

5 (max 10 in any one year)


For accreditation of other healthcare staff, please see ‘continuing professional development statement' in ‘related documents.’ 

Category

For more FAQs visit our online support system

Course Availability

You can book one of the many courses in the UK shown in the list below by contacting the Course Centre organiser. The cost for a Candidate place will vary based on the Course Centre.

Start date
GeoData » LatLong Pair
Within
miles of
Course centre town Course centre Start date Organiser Availability
Runcorn Warrington & Halton Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust Thursday
20 Mar. '25
Lynette Bewley
01928753043
whh.rcukcourses@nhs.net

Candidates: places available

Belfast Belfast Health & Social Care Trust Thursday
20 Mar. '25
tara o'reilly
02896156095
resuscitation.services@belfasttrust.hscni.net

Candidates: places available
Faculty: required

London Academy of Life Support Saturday
22 Mar. '25
Gemma Hooper
07908200306
gemma@academyoflifesupport.com

Candidates: places available

Glasgow Centre for Health Education Saturday
22 Mar. '25
Centre for Health Education
07563514846
admin@clinical-training.co.uk

Candidates: places available
Faculty: required

Glasgow Centre for Health Education Sunday
23 Mar. '25
Centre for Health Education
07563514846
admin@clinical-training.co.uk

Candidates: places available
Faculty: required