What you need to know about ALS Courses

ALS (Advanced Life Support) courses are a critical component of medical training for healthcare professionals in Australia. These courses teach medical professionals the skills and knowledge necessary to provide advanced medical care in cardiac emergency situations.

If you are thinking about doing locum work in Australia, it is vital to think about enrolling in ALS courses early due to limited course availability. The majority of jurisdictions will only accept GP locums or permanent GPs with ALS2 certification and Medrecruit advise to focus on completion of only ALS2.

ALS 2 / Advanced Life Support Course:

The ALS2/ALS course is a 2-day course for healthcare professionals who are expected to use advanced skills in managing deteriorating patients and cardiac arrest. Ideal participants include critical care doctors, nurses, and paramedics in resuscitation/medical emergency teams.

The course covers a range of topics including advanced resuscitation skills, leadership, and team management of life-threatening emergencies, including cardiac and respiratory arrest, airway management, use of advanced medical equipment, arrhythmias, post-resuscitation care, and end-of-life decision making. The course also includes a structured ABCDE approach to recognizing and managing deteriorating patients.

Are ALS courses cross-recognised in Australia?

In Australia, all co-badged ALS courses are regulated by the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) and are cross-recognised by the RC (UK), New Zealand Resuscitation Council (NZRC) and the European Resuscitation Council (ERC). The ARC and RC collaborate to provide standardised adult life support courses with the same evidence-based resuscitation guidelines and skills.

Where can you take ALS courses?

ARC-approved and certified course centres offer adult ALS courses in all of Australia, ensuring consistent, high-quality content and standards. The course include lectures, interactive workshops, and practical skill stations with clinical simulations. All instructors are ARC-credentialed and follow a prescribed training and development pathway in order to be registered by the ARC.

The best way to find course date information in your territory is using the ARC’s online resource at www.resus.org.au. If you’re looking for an online course assessment, read into the Crana ALS Online course.

What are the updated regulations in Australia and how does continuous assessment work?

Australia's Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has updated their requirements for General Practitioners (GPs) relocating to Australia. New GPs require Advanced Life Support (ALS) and early management of trauma training completed within 4 years before joining the RACGP's Specialist Recognition Pathway, and CPR training completed within 12 months. Relocating GPs who completed training over 3.5 years ago should consider updating their training. To provide proof of completion, RACGP requires certificates and a signed agreement. Booking early is recommended due to limited course availability. In general, most colleges and organisations recognise ALS course certifications as valid for up to 4 years.

If you are a doctor who is thinking of pursuing locum work in Australia, it is vital that you start looking early into completing an ALS course due to the limited course availability. By doing so, you’ll set yourself up for more opportunities and also do provide the best advanced medical care in emergency situations.