Your ACLS card has an expiration date, and most hospitals, clinics, and EMS agencies in Houston expect it to stay current. Renewing on time keeps you compliant with your employer, refreshes your skills under the latest guidelines, and usually lets you take a shorter update course instead of the full provider class.

This guide explains how to check your expiration date, prepare for renewal, complete the required course steps, and understand your options if your ACLS card has already expired. 

How Long Does ACLS Certification Last?

An American Heart Association (AHA) ACLS Provider course completion card is valid for two years through the end of the month in which it expires. The American Red Cross Advanced Life Support (ALS) certifications are also valid for two years from the completion date. Although both programs cover advanced life support training, they issue separate credentials.

ACLS training also changes as resuscitation guidelines are updated. The AHA released its 2025 Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care on October 22, 2025. As of March 1, 2026, AHA Training Centers must use the updated course materials. If you are renewing your certification, your course will follow the updated AHA training content.

Step 1: Check Your Expiration Date

Find your current card and note the exact date. If you received an AHA eCard, you can access it through the AHA eCards website. Note the expiration month and year so you know when to renew. Set a reminder 60 to 90 days ahead.. This gives you time to complete any required course preparation and find a class that fits your work schedule.

Step 2: Confirm Which Card Your Employer Requires

AHA ACLS and Red Cross ALS cover similar material, but they come from different organizations and are not interchangeable. Check with HR or your education department before you book, so you renew the credential they actually recognize.

If your employer requires Red Cross, KT Global CPR offers ARC ALS Certification Renewal. The steps below focus on the AHA ACLS path.

Step 3: Choose Your Renewal Format

The AHA offers two main paths for ACLS recertification:

• Classroom update course. An instructor-led renewal class for providers who hold a current card. The AHA lists the ACLS update course at about 6 to 7 hours, not counting breaks.

• HeartCode ACLS (blended learning). You complete an adaptive online portion at your own pace, then attend a hands-on skills session with an AHA instructor. The AHA estimates the skills session at about 6.75 to 7.75 hours, including breaks.

Either way, hands-on testing is required. The AHA issues an ACLS eCard only after you complete both the learning portion and an in-person skills session, so an online-only course will not produce an AHA card.

Step 4: Complete Your Precourse Work

For classroom ACLS, the AHA requires a precourse self-assessment with a score of at least 70%. You can retake it as many times as you need, and you bring your score report to class. It covers areas such as rhythm recognition and pharmacology, so use your results to target weak areas.

It also helps to review the ACLS algorithms and make sure your BLS skills are solid, since ACLS builds on high-quality CPR. If your BLS card is also coming due, consider renewing it at the same time through AHA BLS Certification Renewal.

Step 5: Attend and Pass Your Skills Session

Expect hands-on practice, team-based resuscitation scenarios, and a megacode, where you lead or work within a team through a simulated cardiac emergency.  This exercise tests your ability to manage a resuscitation scenario, either as the team leader or in an assigned role.

Your instructor will assess your performance and confirm that you have met the required skills criteria. All required course activities must be completed before your AHA ACLS Provider eCard can be issued.

Step 6: Save and Share Your eCard

After you pass, you receive your AHA ACLS eCard, valid for two years. Download a PDF copy, send it to your employer or credentialing office, and set your next renewal reminder right away.

What If Your ACLS Card Has Already Expired?

If your ACLS card has expired, contact an AHA Training Center before registering for a renewal course. The AHA does not offer a standard grace period, and eligibility for an update course depends on the Training Center's policy. Your employer may also have separate requirements for maintaining current certification.

AHA instructor guidance has allowed students with an expired card to take an update course, but without the option of remediation. If they don't pass testing on the first attempt, they need to complete the full provider course. If your card lapsed a long time ago, the full ACLS course may be the better choice. Call your training center before you book so you sign up for the right class.

ACLS Certification and Renewal Classes in Houston, TX 

If you have been searching for "ACLS certification near me," KT Global CPR's training center is located at 400 N Sam Houston Pkwy E, Suite 280, Houston, TX 77060. We offer AHA ACLS Certification Renewal for current card holders, as well as the full AHA ACLS course for first-time students and anyone who needs to start fresh.

Booking takes a few minutes. Choose your course, complete payment through the matching link on the course page, submit your booking request, and our team will follow up with confirmation. Questions about eligibility or class dates? Call us at (832) 262-4622.

For more information on why staying current matters, read Don't Delay: Why Renewing Your AHA Certification Is Vital.