Yes. Live virtual ACLS programs are widely accepted across Canada when they are instructor-led, interactive, and competency-based. Live virtual education is very different from self-paced online learning because participants actively engage with instructors, simulations, case discussions, and team-based scenarios in real time.
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Frequently asked questions
Is virtual ACLS accepted in Canada?
Where can I find my certificates?
All of your issued CHA course and N95 certificates are available in the member portal after you sign in.
- Go to https://members.canadianheart.com/login
- Sign in with the email address on your CHA account
- Open My Certificates at https://members.canadianheart.com/certificates
From there you can view and download your certificates. If a certificate you expect is missing, contact our support team.
How do I sign in to the member portal?
Sign in at https://members.canadianheart.com/login using the email address associated with your CHA account. You can use your password or request a magic sign-in link by email.
After signing in you can access your dashboard, registrations, certificates, billing, and messages with our support team.
What is ACLS and who is it for?
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) prepares healthcare professionals who participate in or lead adult resuscitation. You will learn to recognize and manage respiratory arrest, arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and team-based emergency care.
The Canadian Heart Association (CHA) ACLS program is designed for physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, paramedics, dentists, and other professionals who need an ACLS completion card. Our content aligns with the 2026 ILCOR guidelines for CPR and emergency cardiovascular care.
What is the difference between ACLS Provider and ACLS Renewal?
ACLS Provider (full course) is right if this is your first ACLS course, your certificate expired more than six months ago, or you want extra time with algorithms and scenarios.
ACLS Renewal is right if you have taken ACLS before, your card is still valid or expired within the last six months, you use ACLS skills regularly, and you are comfortable with core algorithms, medications, and cardiac rhythms.
How do I choose the right ACLS course?
Head over to our ACLS page and our guided interview will pick the perfect ACLS program for you.
My ACLS certificate expired — what are my options?
If your ACLS card expired within the last six months, you can usually take an ACLS Renewal course under CHA’s grace period.
If it has been more than six months, you should take the full ACLS Provider program.
Some employers and licensing bodies require an unbroken active card even when a training provider allows renewal after expiry. Always confirm with your manager, employer, and licensing body before you register.
Read more: My ACLS certificate expired — what are my options?
What is CHA’s six-month grace period for ACLS renewal?
After your ACLS expiry date, you may still complete an ACLS Renewal with CHA for up to six months. This flexibility supports shift workers, parental leave, illness, rural practice, and busy clinical schedules.
Employer acceptance during a short lapse is not guaranteed. Verify requirements with your manager, employer, and licensing body if your job depends on continuous certification.
Extensions beyond six months may be considered on a case by case basis.
Can I renew with a Heart & Stroke or American Heart Association ACLS card?
Yes. CHA ACLS Renewal accepts prior ACLS certificates from the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada and the American Heart Association, as long as your card is valid or within CHA’s six-month grace period after expiry.
Are there prerequisites for the ACLS Provider course?
No. CHA ACLS Provider (virtual and in-person) has no mandatory prerequisites. Everything you need to complete the program is included in your course fee.
What are the prerequisites for ACLS Renewal?
You should hold prior ACLS certification (CHA, Heart & Stroke Canada, or AHA) that is valid or within the six-month grace period, and be comfortable with core ACLS algorithms: cardiac arrest, post-arrest care, bradycardia, and tachycardia.
In-person renewal: classroom BLS is included — you do not need a current BLS card to attend.
Virtual renewal: issues a CHA ACLS Provider certificate; BLS is not included with the virtual renewal program.
Do I need current BLS before ACLS?
ACLS Provider: no BLS prerequisite is required.
In-person ACLS Renewal: BLS is taught and included in the session — you do not need a valid BLS card before you attend.
In-person ACLS and PALS sessions on our website show when classroom BLS is part of the program.
How long are ACLS Provider and Renewal programs?
ACLS Provider: about 8 hours, often delivered in one day.
ACLS Renewal: about 4 to 8 hours, depending on format and cohort.
CHA programs focus on real-world resuscitation skills rather than long pre-course videos or megacode examination prep.
What is the difference between virtual and in-person ACLS?
Virtual (vACLS): live online sessions with real-time interactive evaluation on your smartphone. No megacode station exam.
In-person: classroom programs in Calgary, Edmonton, and London, Ontario. In-person ACLS Renewal includes classroom BLS and issues both BLS and ACLS renewal certificates.
Both formats meet CHA’s ILCOR-aligned standards and are designed for Canadian healthcare practice.
Where are in-person ACLS courses offered?
CHA advertises in-person ACLS Provider and Renewal programs in:
- Calgary, Alberta
- Edmonton, Alberta
- London, Ontario
See upcoming dates and register on canadianheart.com/acls or the program pages on our new website when sessions are listed.
Is the Canadian Heart Association the same as Heart & Stroke?
No. CHA is an independent not-for-profit resuscitation educator. We are not affiliated with the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada.
Our ACLS programs differ in learner-focused ways — for example, no megacode pass/fail exam, a six-month renewal grace period, no mandatory online pre-tests for Provider courses, and emphasis on real-world team scenarios.
Will employers and schools accept a CHA ACLS certificate?
CHA states that our ACLS programs meet or exceed ILCOR guidelines and the standards used by Heart & Stroke Canada, and that our certificates are accepted by Canadian employers, educational institutions, and regulatory bodies.
Requirements vary by employer, hospital, college, and province. Confirm with your specific workplace or program if certification is mandatory for your role.
How long is my CHA ACLS certificate valid?
CHA ACLS Provider and Renewal completion cards are valid for two years. Plan to renew before your expiry date, or within the six-month grace period if your card has recently lapsed.
What certificate will I receive at the end of ACLS?
Virtual ACLS Provider or virtual renewal: Canadian Heart Association ACLS Provider certificate (valid two years).
In-person ACLS Provider: CHA ACLS Provider certificate (valid two years) and CHA BLS certificate (valid one year).
In-person ACLS Renewal: CHA ACLS Renewal certificate (valid two years) and CHA BLS certificate (valid one year).
After successful completion, access your certificate through your CHA member account when it is issued.
Do you use a megacode exam?
No. CHA does not use the traditional single-learner megacode pass/fail model. Instead, you work through realistic, evolving case scenarios with team communication and clinical decision-making — the way resuscitation happens in practice.
How am I evaluated during the ACLS course?
During your session you use CHA’s integrated real-time online evaluation on your smartphone. Assessment is woven into the program — not a separate megacode station at the end.
Participation, interactive questions, and quizzes are part of successful completion for virtual and in-person ACLS programs.
What is included in my ACLS course fee?
Textbooks and learning materials are included in your course fee. CHA does not charge extra for manuals required to complete the program successfully.
Course pricing varies by city, format, and date — see the fee shown on the specific session when you register.