AHA PALS Classes in Jacksonville

Pediatric advanced life support

AHA PALS Classes in Jacksonville, FL

Strengthen your ability to assess and manage respiratory emergencies, shock, arrhythmias and cardiopulmonary arrest in infants and children. Train with experienced instructors in a supportive, hands-on environment.

American Heart Association PALS Provider training
View PALS Classes & Pricing Call (904) 551-0918

Select the correct initial, renewal or HeartCode skills-session option on the registration calendar.

Advanced emergency training for professionals who care for children
AHA PALS eCardValid for two years
Hands-On SkillsPediatric team scenarios
2025 ScienceAHA and AAP course content
Jacksonville631 Cassat Avenue

Who needs PALS?

Designed for professionals who respond to pediatric emergencies.

PALS is intended for healthcare professionals who assess or manage respiratory and cardiovascular emergencies involving infants and children.

Registered Nurses

Pediatric, emergency, critical-care, procedural and other nurses who may respond to a pediatric emergency.

Physicians & Advanced Practitioners

Pediatricians, emergency physicians, hospitalists, nurse practitioners and physician associates.

Paramedics & EMS

Advanced prehospital professionals who assess and manage ill or injured pediatric patients.

Respiratory Therapists

Clinicians who manage pediatric oxygenation, ventilation and airway emergencies.

Clinical Students

Students whose nursing, medical, EMS or allied-health program specifically requires PALS.

Other Pediatric Professionals

Healthcare professionals whose employer or clinical assignment requires a PALS Provider card.

Choose your course

Select the PALS option that matches your requirement.

Availability varies by date. Review the live registration description before enrolling, especially when choosing between a full provider course, update course and HeartCode skills session.

New or expired

PALS Initial Provider

For healthcare professionals earning PALS for the first time or completing the full provider-course pathway.

  • Systematic pediatric assessment
  • Respiratory emergencies and shock
  • Arrhythmias and cardiac arrest
  • Team scenarios and evaluations
View Initial Classes
Current providers

PALS Renewal / Update

For experienced providers refreshing knowledge and completing the applicable AHA update-course requirements.

  • Review of current PALS science
  • Weight-based medications
  • High-performance team practice
  • Course evaluations for renewal
View Renewal Classes
Blended learning

HeartCode PALS Skills

For students who completed the required AHA HeartCode PALS online portion and need an instructor-led skills session.

  • Bring the required completion certificate
  • Hands-on skills practice and testing
  • Pediatric team scenario evaluation
  • Confirm prerequisites before arrival
Find a Skills Session
Not sure which option to choose? Send us the exact wording from your employer or school before registering. Course fees, required online components and included materials can differ by option.

What the course covers

Build a systematic response to a seriously ill or injured child.

PALS builds on strong pediatric BLS skills. Students practice rapid assessment, early intervention and effective teamwork across respiratory, circulatory and cardiac emergencies.

  • Pediatric Assessment Triangle and systematic assessment
  • Recognition of respiratory distress and respiratory failure
  • Recognition and management of compensated and hypotensive shock
  • Pediatric bradycardia and tachyarrhythmias with a pulse
  • Shockable and nonshockable pediatric cardiac arrest
  • Post–cardiac-arrest care and patient reassessment
  • Closed-loop communication and high-performance teams

Before class

Prepare before you arrive.

PALS is an advanced course. Complete the assigned preparation and arrive ready to apply pediatric assessment, BLS, medications and algorithms during team scenarios.

1

Confirm Your Course

Verify whether you need initial, renewal or HeartCode skills testing.

2

Complete Prework

Finish all assigned AHA prework or online modules before the deadline.

3

Review Core Skills

Refresh pediatric BLS, assessment, rhythms, weight-based doses and algorithms.

4

Bring Documentation

Bring required completion certificates and items listed in your confirmation.

Related healthcare training

Need adult advanced life support?

ACLS focuses on cardiac arrest, stroke and adult cardiopulmonary emergencies.

View ACLS Classes

Need healthcare-provider CPR?

BLS provides the high-quality CPR, AED and team-response foundation required for advanced courses.

View BLS Classes

Frequently asked questions

PALS class questions

Who should take a PALS course?

PALS is designed for healthcare professionals who respond to emergencies involving infants and children, including nurses, physicians, paramedics, respiratory therapists and other clinicians in emergency, intensive-care and critical-care settings.

Is PALS the same as Pediatric CPR?

No. Pediatric CPR teaches foundational CPR, AED and emergency-response skills. PALS is an advanced healthcare-provider course covering systematic assessment, respiratory emergencies, shock, arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, medications and pediatric resuscitation teams.

Do I need a current BLS card?

PALS assumes proficiency in pediatric BLS. Your employer, school or selected course option may require a current BLS Provider card. Review the registration description or contact us before enrolling.

How long is an AHA PALS card valid?

The AHA PALS Provider course-completion eCard is valid for two years after successful completion.

Can PALS be completed entirely online?

HeartCode PALS combines online learning with an approved hands-on skills session. Completing only the online portion does not complete the full blended-learning course or produce the final provider eCard.

What should I study before class?

Review pediatric BLS, the systematic assessment approach, respiratory emergencies, shock, bradycardia, tachyarrhythmias, cardiac arrest, weight-based medications and team communication. Use the study sheets below as a review—not as a replacement for your official course materials.

Where are Jacksonville PALS classes held?

Florida Training Academy is located at 631 Cassat Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32205. Check your confirmation for the exact arrival time and course instructions.

How much does the PALS class cost?

Current prices are displayed with each option on the registration calendar. Select a class to review the course details and total before checkout.

Free study resources

PALS Algorithms & Quick-Review Sheets

Open the official 2025 AHA/AAP algorithms, then use the original Florida Training Academy summaries to reinforce high-yield concepts before class.

View All Official Algorithms
Pediatric Cardiac ArrestShockable and nonshockable pathways, defibrillation, medications, CPR quality and reversible causes.Open Official PDF
Pediatric BradycardiaAssessment, ventilation, CPR threshold, epinephrine, atropine and pacing considerations.Open Official PDF
Pediatric TachyarrhythmiaSinus tachycardia, SVT, wide-complex rhythms, adenosine and synchronized cardioversion.Open Official PDF

Florida Training Academy PALS Quick Review

Pediatric advanced life support • Jacksonville, Florida • FLtraining.com

2025 AHA/AAP SCIENCE

1. Systematic Pediatric Assessment

First impression: PAT

  • Appearance: tone, interaction, consolability, look/gaze and speech/cry.
  • Work of breathing: sounds, positioning, retractions and flaring.
  • Circulation to skin: pallor, mottling and cyanosis.

Primary assessment: ABCDE

  • A: Airway
  • B: Breathing
  • C: Circulation
  • D: Disability
  • E: Exposure

Keep reassessing

Identify the life threat, intervene, evaluate the response and repeat the assessment. Use vital signs, history and diagnostic data to refine care.

2. High-Quality Pediatric CPR

  • Rate: 100–120 compressions/min.
  • Depth: at least one-third the anterior-posterior chest depth.
  • Allow full chest recoil and minimize interruptions.
  • Change compressors every 2 minutes or sooner if fatigued.
  • 1 rescuer, any age: 30:2.
  • 2 rescuers, prepuberty: 15:2.
  • 2 rescuers, after puberty onset: 30:2.
  • Advanced airway: continuous compressions and 1 breath every 2–3 seconds.

Defibrillation

First shock 2 J/kgSecond shock 4 J/kgThen ≥4 J/kg

Do not exceed 10 J/kg or the adult maximum dose.

3. Pediatric Cardiac Arrest

Start

Begin CPR, use bag-mask ventilation with oxygen and attach the monitor/defibrillator. Determine whether the rhythm is shockable.

VF / pulseless VT

  • Shock as soon as possible, then resume CPR for 2 minutes.
  • Establish IV/IO access.
  • Give epinephrine every 3–5 minutes and consider advanced airway/capnography.
  • For refractory VF/pVT, use amiodarone or lidocaine and treat reversible causes.

PEA / asystole

  • Give epinephrine as soon as possible.
  • Continue 2-minute CPR cycles, assess rhythm and treat reversible causes.

Key doses

Epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IV/IO, max 1 mgAmiodarone 5 mg/kg, max 300 mgLidocaine 1 mg/kg

4. Bradycardia With a Pulse

Is there compromise?

Look for acutely altered mental status, signs of shock or hypotension.

Support first

  • Maintain the airway and provide oxygen.
  • Assist breathing with positive-pressure ventilation when needed.
  • Attach the monitor and monitor the pulse.

If compromise persists

  • Start CPR when the heart rate is below 60/min.
  • Obtain IV/IO access and give epinephrine.
  • Use atropine for increased vagal tone or primary AV block.
  • Treat the cause; consider transthoracic/transvenous pacing.
  • Check the pulse every 2 minutes.
Epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg, max 1 mgAtropine 0.02 mg/kgAtropine min 0.1 mg; max single 0.5 mg

Atropine may be repeated once.

5. Tachyarrhythmia With a Pulse

Assess and support

Maintain the airway; support breathing with oxygen and positive-pressure ventilation as necessary; attach a monitor; obtain IV/IO access and a 12-lead ECG when available.

Sinus or SVT?

  • Probable sinus: normal P waves, variable RR, infant rate usually below 220/min and child rate usually below 180/min.
  • Probable SVT: absent/abnormal P waves, fixed RR, infant rate usually ≥220/min or child rate usually ≥180/min, often with abrupt rate change.

Compromise?

For altered mental status, shock or hypotension, prepare synchronized cardioversion. Sedate when needed, but do not delay treatment.

Cardioversion 0.5–1 J/kgThen 2 J/kg if ineffectiveAdenosine 0.1 mg/kg, max 6 mgRepeat 0.2 mg/kg, max 12 mg

6. Reversible Causes: Hs & Ts

Hs

  • Hypovolemia
  • Hypoxia
  • Hydrogen ion excess (acidosis)
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Hypokalemia or hyperkalemia
  • Hypothermia

Ts

  • Tension pneumothorax
  • Cardiac tamponade
  • Toxins
  • Pulmonary thrombosis
  • Coronary thrombosis

Team reminder

Use closed-loop communication, confirm weight-based calculations, assign clear roles and reassess the child after every intervention.

Educational use only: These original summaries support course preparation and memory review. They do not replace the official AHA PALS Provider Manual, complete algorithms, clinical judgment, medical direction or your facility's protocols. Medication administration, electrical therapy and patient management must be performed by appropriately trained professionals within their authorized scope of practice. Verify the child's weight, medication concentration and dose before administration, and always follow current official AHA/AAP materials and local policies.

Ready to earn or renew your PALS card?

Choose an upcoming AHA PALS class in Jacksonville and review the course requirements before completing registration.

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