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AHA Virtual Certification
Virtual Skills Testing (VST)
Days
Hours
Minutes
The Virtual Skills Testing Option for ACLS & PALS has been discontinued on August 31, 2023.
BLS Virtual Skills Testing continue as usual.
►Even with a huge backlash with the announcement of the end of Virtual Skills Testing for ACLS & PALS, the AHA has decided to discontinue this option.
Virtual Skills Testing Frequently Asked Questions
- We were not given a specific reason why it was discontinued. The consensus among instructors was this was a very effective and easily accessible alternative option, especially for the underserved healthcare providers in rural America.
- We spent a lot of time in discussions with the AHA and provided definitive proof of the success we achieved in the past 2 1/2 years using this option.
- After hundreds of these virtual sessions, our course evaluations received 100% positive reviews.
- After registration, you will receive a welcome email with instructions.
- You may purchase the HeartCode course directly from the AHA at HERE.
- NOTE: We need a copy of the HeartCode completion certificate 7 days prior to your scheduled skills session. Send to info@actnt.com.
- The VST option includes a skills testing session with an AHA instructor during a one on one Zoom meeting.
- You will be shipped a skills testing package with all the required equipment. Prepaid return shipping label is included.
- That is because the “Virtual Courses” they are referencing are the completely online courses that don’t include a physical, monitored skills testing session.
- An AHA instructor will visually (one on one Zoom meeting) monitor your skills testing using the required equipment (we ship to you) to prove competency.
- This is not an all “Virtual Course”. It is still an American Heart Association® course and you will receive an American Heart Association® card upon completion.
- All Providers are required to complete the AHA HeartCode® Course to use the Virtual Certification Option (AHA Mandate).
- You may purchase it directly from the AHA HERE.
- When purchasing from the AHA, you will receive an email with access to the HeartCode® course immediately after purchase.
- Not for the vast majority. Of course, defining difficulty is subjective (experience, prior training), but they no longer use the eSimulations (2015 version) in the HeartCode® Courses.
- Some students found the eSimulations difficult to navigate and had a hard time completing them in a reasonable amount of time.
- The new 2020 HeartCode® courses are designed to use a personalized adaptive algorithm that sets students on the most efficient path to content mastery.
- Students follow a continuously adapting learning path that is personalized by their own inputs: their performance, and their self-reported confidence level related to each probing question.
- The HeartCode® course does not have to be completed in one session. You can stop and start at your convenience.
- The BLS HeartCode® course is usually between 60-90 minutes.
- Your American Heart Association® ecard will be issued on the day of your skills testing session (usually within 30 minutes).
- Every employer can designate what they will accept, but we have been an American Heart Association® Training Center for 30 years and have never had the AHA card not accepted by any entity.
- The American Heart Association® is considered the “Gold Standard” for this type of training.
All providers are required to complete the AHA HeartCode® Course to participate in the Virtual Skills Testing option.
- STEP: 1 Go to Class Calendar Page and register for a VST testing session time & date.
- You may purchase the AHA HeartCode® directly from the American Heart Association® HERE.
- You will receive detailed instructions immediately after registration in your registration receipt email.
- STEP 2: Complete the AHA HeartCode® BLS online course.
- You must send us a copy of the HeartCode® completion certificate at least 7 days prior to your scheduled skills testing session.
- Send to info@actnt.com.
- You must send us a copy of the HeartCode® completion certificate at least 7 days prior to your scheduled skills testing session.
- STEP 3: We will send you a skills testing package with all the required equipment for your Skills Testing Session. NOTE: We do not ship to PO Boxes. Alaska and Hawaii require an additional shipping fee ($45.00).
- STEP 4: Attend your one on one Zoom Virtual Skills Testing Session for demonstration of skills.
- Approximate length of Zoom meetings:
- BLS 30-40 minutes,
- STEP 5: You will be issued your American Heart Association® ecard on the day of your skills testing session (usually within 30 minutes).
AHA Virtual Skills Testing Pricing
AHA BLS Virtual Skills Testing (VST)
*$95.00
BLS Virtual Skills Testing (VST)
VIRTUAL SKILLS TESTING PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE THE American Heart Association® Required HeartCode® ONLINE COURSE.
AHA HeartCode® Online Course:
All revenue for the AHA HeartCode® course(s) goes directly to the American Heart Association®.
YES! This is an authorized American Heart Association® option. There is only 1 card that is issued when you complete the American Heart Association® courses. There is not one if you do the online course, or a classroom course, or a Virtual course. They are all identical.
- You will not be required to provide mouth to mouth ventilations during your skills testing. You will be provided with a disposable barrier device to use during your skills testing if you choose to provide ventilations.
- All equipment is cleaned in excess of AHA guidelines and packed for shipping with extreme care intended to maintain cleanliness.
- Approximate times for the Zoom meeting skills session:
- BLS VST: 2o-30 minutes.
- ACLS VST: 50-60 minutes.
- PALS VST: 60-70 minutes.
- This may be different for varying levels of experience & knowledge. If you are prepared, it will probably be a little shorter time.
- On the date & time of your appointment, you will receive an email with a link (approximately 10 minutes prior to session) to join the meeting.
- Click on the link in the email and you will be joined to the Zoom Meeting.
- Upon completion of the AHA HeartCode® online course, we will send you the skills testing package with all the required equipment. This includes a pre-paid return label.
- NOTE: We do not ship to PO Boxes. Alaska & Hawaii require an additional shipping fee.