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1.1 Current Exam Facts

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AHA PALS Provider Pediatric Advanced Life Support

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1 Chapter 1: Course Overview & Exam Logistics

1.1 Current Exam Facts 1.2 Audience, Prerequisites & Study Plan

2 Chapter 2: Systematic Pediatric Assessment

2.1 Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT) 2.2 Evaluate–Identify–Intervene Sequence 2.3 Primary Assessment: ABCDE 2.4 Secondary Assessment, SAMPLE & Vitals by Age

3 Chapter 3: Respiratory Distress & Failure

3.1 Respiratory Distress vs Failure 3.2 Recognition & Immediate Intervention Priorities 3.3 Oxygen Delivery & Basic Airway Support

4 Chapter 4: Airway Problems & Ventilation Strategies

4.1 Upper Airway Obstruction 4.2 Lower Airway, Lung Tissue Disease & Disordered Control 4.3 Bag-Mask Ventilation & Advanced Airways During CPR

5 Chapter 5: Shock Fundamentals & Hypovolemia

5.1 Compensated vs Hypotensive (Decompensated) Shock 5.2 Hypovolemic Shock 5.3 Isotonic Fluid Bolus 10–20 mL/kg & Reassessment

6 Chapter 6: Distributive, Cardiogenic & Obstructive Shock

6.1 Distributive & Septic Shock Pathway 6.2 Cardiogenic Shock 6.3 Obstructive Shock

7 Chapter 7: Pediatric BLS & High-Quality CPR

7.1 High-Quality CPR Metrics 7.2 Compression-Ventilation Ratios 7.3 CPR Quality Monitoring: ETCO2 & Diastolic BP

8 Chapter 8: Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Algorithm

8.1 Arrest Recognition & Systematic Approach 8.2 VF/pVT & Defibrillation Energy 8.3 Asystole & PEA 8.4 Epinephrine in Arrest: Dose & Timing

9 Chapter 9: Bradycardia & Narrow-Complex Tachycardia

9.1 Bradycardia with Poor Perfusion 9.2 Sinus Tachycardia vs SVT 9.3 Stable SVT: Vagal Maneuvers & Adenosine

10 Chapter 10: Unstable Tachycardia & Wide-Complex Rhythms

10.1 Unstable Tachycardia & Synchronized Cardioversion 10.2 Wide-Complex Tachycardia & VT with Pulse 10.3 Antiarrhythmics for Tachycardia with Pulse

11 Chapter 11: Reversible Causes & Special Circumstances

11.1 Reversible Causes: The H's and T's 11.2 Special Circumstances at Exam Level 11.3 Extracorporeal CPR (ECPR) Overview

12 Chapter 12: Post–Cardiac Arrest Care

12.1 Post-ROSC Oxygenation & Ventilation 12.2 Post-Arrest Hemodynamic Support 12.3 Temperature Control & Glucose 12.4 Neuroprognostication & Transport

13 Chapter 13: Vascular Access & Core Pharmacology

13.1 IV and Intraosseous Access 13.2 Epinephrine Dosing in Depth 13.3 Amiodarone, Lidocaine & Adenosine 13.4 Weight-Based Dosing Aids & Drugs to Avoid Routinely

14 Chapter 14: Team Dynamics & Megacode Readiness

14.1 High-Performance Team Roles 14.2 Closed-Loop Communication 14.3 Constructive Intervention, Debriefing & Exam Integration

1.1 Current Exam Facts

Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI

AHA PALS Provider is a co-branded American Heart Association / American Academy of Pediatrics course for healthcare professionals who respond to pediatric respiratory emergencies, shock, and cardiac arrest.

In 2025 instructor-led training, learners complete an open-resource written exam with a minimum score of 84%, pass infant and child BLS skills tests, and pass two core cases: one cardiac and one respiratory or shock, as a team member or leader.

HeartCode PALS uses an adaptive online cognitive path followed by a hands-on skills session; HeartCode Complete uses an approved CPR Verification Station. Requirements differ by pathway, so do not transfer the ILT written-exam rule to every format.

The AHA PALS Provider course completion eCard is valid for two years. Course duration and local fees vary with format and provider.

ExamFinch questions support knowledge review. An official AHA course and the required practical assessment are needed for a Provider eCard.

Last updated: September 2026

What AHA PALS Provider Is

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) is the American Heart Association course for healthcare professionals who respond to pediatric respiratory emergencies, shock, arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest. The course is co-branded with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) . It teaches a systematic approach to pediatric assessment, intervention, and team resuscitation. Current course materials use the 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care .

PALS builds on Basic Life Support (BLS). Learners should be prepared to deliver high-quality infant and child CPR, use an AED, open an airway, and ventilate with a bag-mask device. PALS adds pediatric assessment, weight-based drug and energy decisions, and coordinated treatment of respiratory failure, shock, and arrest. A PALS course completion eCard is valid for two years .

  • Course fact 2025 AHA information
  • Intended learners Healthcare professionals who respond to emergencies in infants and children
  • Instructor-led written exam Open-resource; 84% minimum for course completion
  • Instructor-led BLS testing Pass infant and child BLS skills tests

Instructor-led PALS cases Pass two core cases : one cardiac and one respiratory or shock, as a team member or leader

HeartCode blended route Adaptive online learning, then a structured hands-on skills session

HeartCode Complete route Online learning plus hands-on practice and testing at an approved CPR Verification Station

Provider eCard Valid for two years

AHA's current public course description and 2025 instructor-led FAQ do not establish a universal question count, exam time limit, national course fee, or written-exam topic-weight table for every PALS pathway. Ask the course provider about local scheduling and payment terms. Employers and licensing bodies determine whether your role requires PALS; AHA determines course completion requirements.

  • Assessment Structure Depends on the Course Pathway
  • Instructor-led training (ILT)

The 2025 AHA PALS ILT FAQ specifies participation in classroom learning stations and all of these completion checks:

An open-resource written exam with a minimum score of 84% .

Passing the 1- and 2-rescuer child BLS with AED and 1- and 2-rescuer infant BLS skills tests.

Passing two PALS core case scenarios — one cardiac and one respiratory or shock —as a team member or team leader, including appropriate treatment and effective team dynamics. Acting as team leader in both cases is not required.

In the cases, apply the evaluate–identify–intervene cycle, call weight-based interventions accurately, maintain CPR quality, and communicate clearly. These are performance assessments, not additional questions in the written exam.

HeartCode blended and self-guided routes

HeartCode PALS presents online learning, probes, and cognitive assessment activities through a personalized adaptive path. After the online portion, the learner completes a structured, instructor-led hands-on session that includes practice, team scenarios, and skills testing; a compatible manikin may be used where available. HeartCode Complete combines online learning with hands-on skills practice and testing at an approved CPR Verification Station. Completing the online portion alone does not issue a Provider eCard.

Route Cognitive learning Practical completion

Classroom / ILT Instructor-led course and open-resource written exam Infant and child BLS tests plus two specified PALS core cases

HeartCode PALS blended Adaptive online modules and cognitive assessments Structured hands-on PALS session and skills testing

HeartCode Complete Online cognitive learning Hands-on practice and testing at an approved CPR Verification Station

All listed routes teach AHA science-based PALS skills and lead to a two-year course completion eCard after their respective requirements are met. AHA publishes approximate course durations that vary by route and learner; it does not publish a single current written-exam duration or universal item count on these pages. Confirm your own route, practical location, schedule, and price with the Training Center or course provider.

What the Free Practice Bank Covers

ExamFinch provides selected-response practice on pediatric assessment, respiratory emergencies, shock, CPR and arrest rhythms, vascular access and drugs, post–cardiac arrest care, and resuscitation team behavior. Use it to recall algorithms and calculations, explain why a choice is correct, and identify weak areas before your official course. Practice questions do not issue an AHA credential or replace skills testing.

A useful study sequence is to master the evaluate–identify–intervene framework, then rehearse respiratory failure and shock recognition, CPR and rhythm branches, medication/energy calculations, and post-arrest stabilization. Say decisions aloud and practice role communication with a team or manikin when possible.

Editorial study map, not an AHA exam blueprint

AHA's public 2025 PALS course documents describe course skills and cases but do not publish a current written-exam domain-weight table. The following is ExamFinch's editorial organization for broad preparation; row order and emphasis are not AHA question percentages.

  • Study area What to practice
  • Pediatric assessment PAT, ABCDE, reassessment, age-appropriate findings
  • Respiratory emergencies Distress versus failure, obstruction, ventilation support
  • Shock Perfusion signs, shock type, fluids with reassessment, vasoactive escalation
  • Cardiac arrest and rhythms High-quality CPR, rhythm recognition, shocks, epinephrine
  • Access and pharmacology IV/IO choices and weight-based dosing safeguards
  • Post–cardiac arrest care Oxygenation, ventilation, blood pressure, temperature, neurologic care
  • Team dynamics Role assignment, closed-loop communication, intervention, debrief

For ILT , prepare for the 84% open-resource written minimum and infant/child BLS tests and two core cases (cardiac plus respiratory or shock). For HeartCode, complete the adaptive online work and the practical route specified for that format. Knowledge practice and hands-on rehearsal both matter. The resulting AHA PALS Provider eCard is valid for two years .