Life Support Prep

Independent ACLS recertification review study guide

Independent ACLS recertification review, administered by American Heart Association, is mapped here as 3 topic areas; the heaviest are Section 2 — Pharmacology (35%), Section 3 — Practical Application (35%) and Section 1 — Rhythm Recognition (30%).

About this course: Review adult rhythms, medications and resuscitation algorithms with original practice scenarios based on the 2025 AHA Guidelines. Independent knowledge practice for clinicians preparing for the AHA ACLS® course.

Independent ACLS recertification review at a glance

Questions
41
Time allowed
self-paced refresher
Passing standard
AHA requires at least70% on the ACLS Precourse Self-Assessment before the course
Format
Independent self-paced knowledge practice
Standard / edition
2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC
Administered by
American Heart Association

Source: 2025 AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, American Heart Association. Confirm current details with the exam owner before you book.

Topic areas and weights

These percentages are this course's practice emphasis, not an official question distribution.

Topic areaWeightConceptsGuide
Section 1 — Rhythm Recognition30%4Section below
Section 2 — Pharmacology35%6Section below
Section 3 — Practical Application35%7Section below

Study plan in this course

  1. Your Recert: Scope, Card & the 70% Gate — 5 cards · free
  2. Reading the Monitor: The Four Forks — 4 cards · free
  3. Arrest Pharmacology: Epi & the Antiarrhythmics — 3 cards · full course
  4. Peri-Arrest Drugs: Brady, SVT & Stable VT — 3 cards · full course
  5. The Arrest Algorithm & High-Quality CPR — 3 cards · full course
  6. Shocks, Pacing & Post-ROSC Care — 4 cards · full course

Section 1 — Rhythm Recognition

Section 1 — Rhythm Recognition carries 30% of the Independent ACLS recertification review blueprint used in this course, the third-largest of its 3 weighted areas. It spans 4 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Reading the Monitor: The Four Forks.

These percentages are this course's practice emphasis, not an official question distribution.

What Section 1 — Rhythm Recognition covers

  • Shockable vs non-shockable arrest rhythms
  • Tachycardia-with-a-pulse assessment
  • Bradycardia recognition
  • Regular vs irregular, narrow vs wide

How Section 1 — Rhythm Recognition connects to other areas

In the app this area comes with 4 memory cards and 12 module-quiz questions and is part of the free starting modules.

Section 2 — Pharmacology

Section 2 — Pharmacology carries 35% of the Independent ACLS recertification review blueprint used in this course, the largest of its 3 weighted areas. It spans 6 concepts. The course teaches it in 2 study units: Arrest Pharmacology: Epi & the Antiarrhythmics and Peri-Arrest Drugs: Brady, SVT & Stable VT.

These percentages are this course's practice emphasis, not an official question distribution.

What Section 2 — Pharmacology covers

  • Epinephrine dose and rhythm-dependent timing
  • VF/pVT antiarrhythmics: amiodarone or lidocaine
  • 2025 arrest-drug deltas: vasopressin, double-sequential
  • Symptomatic bradycardia drugs
  • Adenosine for regular SVT
  • Stable wide-QRS tachycardia infusions

How Section 2 — Pharmacology connects to other areas

In the app this area comes with 6 memory cards and 14 module-quiz questions in the full course.

Section 3 — Practical Application

Section 3 — Practical Application carries 35% of the Independent ACLS recertification review blueprint used in this course, the second-largest of its 3 weighted areas. It spans 7 concepts. The course teaches it in 2 study units: The Arrest Algorithm & High-Quality CPR and Shocks, Pacing & Post-ROSC Care.

These percentages are this course's practice emphasis, not an official question distribution.

What Section 3 — Practical Application covers

  • Adult cardiac arrest walkthrough
  • High-quality CPR parameters
  • Reversible causes
  • Defibrillation energy and the defib-vs-cardioversion split
  • Synchronized cardioversion energy
  • Unstable bradycardia escalation — AHA 2025 Adult Bradycardia With a Pulse Algorithm
  • Post-ROSC targets

How Section 3 — Practical Application connects to other areas

Official references for Section 3 — Practical Application

In the app this area comes with 7 memory cards and 15 module-quiz questions in the full course.

Official references

Start the free Independent ACLS recertification review modules → · Pricing · FAQ