CPR certification for physicians in Chicago
AHA-Certified · Same-Day Cards · Physician CME Eligible

CPR Certification for Physicians in Chicago — BLS, ACLS & PALS for Illinois Doctors

AHA-certified BLS, ACLS, and PALS classes designed for physicians. Whether you are a primary care doctor in private practice, an ER physician at a Chicago hospital, a cardiologist, anesthesiologist, or resident preparing for rotations — we deliver the certifications you need with same-day cards and CME-eligible instruction.

AHA-Certified Provider CardsSame-Day CertificationCME Credit EligibleActive Clinicians TeachingAccepted by Every IL Hospital

Illinois medical licensing and every hospital system in Chicago require current AHA BLS certification for all practicing physicians. Many specialties require ACLS (emergency medicine, cardiology, anesthesia, critical care) or PALS (pediatrics, neonatology). Our physician-focused certification classes are taught by active clinicians — ER physicians, intensivists, and pediatric specialists — who understand exactly what you need for your practice, your hospital, and your license.

Who We Certify

CPR Certification Requirements for Every Type of Physician

Different medical specialties require different certifications. Here is what Illinois physicians need based on their practice and hospital privileges.

Primary Care Physicians

BLS required for all clinical settings. PALS if seeing pediatric patients.

Private practice, health systems, urgent care, community clinics

Emergency Medicine Physicians

BLS + ACLS required. PALS for peds ED shifts.

ER departments, trauma centers, freestanding EDs

Cardiologists

BLS + ACLS required for cath lab, stress testing, and hospital privileges.

Cardiac cath labs, hospitals, outpatient clinics

Anesthesiologists & CRNAs

BLS + ACLS required for OR privileges and airway management.

Operating rooms, ambulatory surgery, pain management clinics

Residents & Fellows

BLS required before starting residency. ACLS for EM/ICU/cardiac tracks. PALS for peds.

Rush, UIC, Loyola, Northwestern, UChicago residency programs

Pediatricians & Neonatologists

BLS + PALS required. NICU physicians may also need NRP.

Pediatric clinics, children's hospitals, NICUs, newborn nurseries

AHA-Certified Programs

Physician Certifications Available

BLS for every physician. ACLS for acute care. PALS for pediatric practice. All AHA-certified with same-day card issuance and CME credit eligibility.

BLS for Healthcare Providers
2 hours · $85
🩺AHA Provider

BLS for Healthcare Providers

Required for ALL physicians in Illinois

AHA BLS Provider certification is the baseline requirement for every licensed physician in Illinois. Covers high-quality CPR, AED use, bag-mask ventilation, and two-rescuer team dynamics essential for hospital codes and clinic emergencies.

Required For:

Primary care physiciansSpecialists in all fieldsResidents & fellowsUrgent care physiciansOccupational medicine doctors
ACLS Certification
2 hours · $250
❤️‍🩹AHA Provider

ACLS Certification

Required for ER, ICU, cardiac & anesthesia physicians

AHA ACLS Provider certification is required for emergency medicine physicians, intensivists, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, and any physician who may lead or participate in adult code blue responses. Covers cardiac arrest algorithms, advanced airway, pharmacology, and post-arrest care.

Required For:

Emergency medicine physiciansIntensivists & critical careCardiologistsAnesthesiologistsHospitalists
PALS Certification
2 hours · $255
👶AHA Provider

PALS Certification

Required for pediatricians, PICU & NICU physicians

AHA PALS Provider certification is required for pediatricians, neonatologists, PICU/NICU physicians, and any physician who may encounter pediatric emergencies. Covers pediatric assessment, respiratory failure recognition, and age-appropriate resuscitation.

Required For:

PediatriciansNeonatologistsPICU & NICU physiciansPeds ED physiciansFamily physicians seeing children
Built for Physicians

Why Chicago Physicians Choose Our Certification Classes

Practicing Physicians Teaching

Our ACLS instructors are active ER physicians, intensivists, and cardiologists. They teach clinical reasoning, not just algorithms.

Schedule Around Your Practice

Early morning, evening, and weekend sessions — because physicians don't have predictable schedules. Book between cases or clinic sessions.

Same-Day AHA Cards

Walk out with your official AHA Provider card in hand. No waiting, no mail delays, no compliance gaps before your next credentialing cycle.

Medical Practice Groups

On-site training at your clinic or hospital for your entire medical group. Volume pricing, compliance documentation, and renewal tracking included.

CME Credit Eligible

Many of our courses qualify for AMA PRA Category 1 CME credit. Check with your credentialing office — we provide all documentation.

50+ Chicago-Area Locations

From downtown to the suburbs — find a class within 15 minutes of your practice or hospital, no matter which system you belong to.

Reviews from Medical Staff

What Chicago Physicians Say About Our Classes

5.0 from 1,800+ medical professionals

“This was my second training with Take Action CPR, and it was even better than the first. Bob is incredibly knowledgeable, and I walked away having learned so much, and had a lot of fun in the process!”

Christopher Brooks
Google Review · Local Guide

“I've taken many CPR classes over the years, and none have been nearly as comprehensive as this class. It was thorough, engaging, interactive, and I learned new information!”

Stephanie Madden
Google Review

“I highly recommend this CPR training course. Jonathan did a great job and was very informative.”

Davor Tozan
Google Review
For Medical Practice Managers

On-Site Group Training for Chicago Medical Practices & Hospital Departments

Coordinating individual certifications for a medical group or hospital department wastes administrative time and creates coverage gaps. Our on-site group training solves this for Chicago medical practices, clinics, and hospital units of any size.

On-Site at Your Clinic or Hospital

We bring all manikins, AED trainers, airway equipment, and ECG simulators directly to your facility. No travel time for your physicians or staff.

Volume Pricing for Medical Groups

Groups of 6+ receive discounted per-person rates. Practices of 15+ qualify for partner pricing. BLS + ACLS combo packages available.

Schedule Around Clinical Hours

Early morning (6 AM), between cases, evening (7 PM), or dedicated education days. We work around your OR schedule, clinic hours, and call coverage.

Compliance Documentation & Tracking

Complete roster reports, completion certificates, and AHA card tracking formatted for your credentialing office and Joint Commission surveys.

Medical practice group CPR training in Chicago

2,400+ physicians certified annually

Across 35+ Illinois hospitals and medical practices

Common Questions

Physician Certification FAQ

Every licensed physician in Illinois needs AHA BLS for Healthcare Providers as a minimum. ER physicians, intensivists, cardiologists, and anesthesiologists also need ACLS. Pediatricians, neonatologists, and PICU physicians need PALS. Residents need BLS before starting residency, with ACLS or PALS depending on their specialty track.

AHA BLS certification is valid for 2 years from the date of issue. We recommend renewing 60 days before expiration to avoid compliance gaps that can affect hospital privileges, medical staff membership, and insurance credentialing.

BLS (Basic Life Support) is the foundation certification every physician needs. It covers CPR for all ages, AED use, and bag-mask ventilation. ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) is required for physicians managing adult cardiovascular emergencies. It adds cardiac arrest algorithms, advanced airway management, resuscitation pharmacology, and team resuscitation dynamics for code team leadership.

Most primary care physicians do not need ACLS for their daily practice. However, some hospitals require ACLS as a condition of medical staff membership or for privileges in settings where emergencies may occur (urgent care, outpatient surgery centers). Check with your hospital's credentialing office for specific requirements.

Yes — and many residency programs require it. Emergency medicine, internal medicine, anesthesia, and surgery residents typically need ACLS before their first day. Pediatric residents need PALS. We offer same-day BLS + ACLS or BLS + PALS combo packages for incoming residents.

BLS for Healthcare Providers is $85 (initial) or $65 (renewal). ACLS is $250. PALS is $255. Group rates for medical practices start at $75 per person for 6 or more physicians. BLS + ACLS combo packages offer additional savings. Many physicians expense these costs through their practice or hospital education fund.

Yes — we specialize in on-site group training for medical practices and hospital departments of any size. We bring all equipment to your clinic or hospital, schedule around your clinical hours, and provide complete compliance documentation. Volume pricing and CME credit documentation available.

Yes — AHA BLS, ACLS, and PALS cards are accepted by Northwestern Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, UChicago Medicine, Advocate Aurora Health, NorthShore University HealthSystem, AMITA Health, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, and every Illinois hospital system without exception.

Same day — every physician walks out of class with their official AHA Provider card in hand. Digital cards are also emailed within the hour for immediate submission to credentialing offices, privileging committees, and insurance panels.

Many of our ACLS and PALS courses qualify for AMA PRA Category 1 CME credit. We provide all necessary documentation including course description, learning objectives, instructor credentials, and completion certificates. Check with your specific CME provider or credentialing office for credit allocation.

Service Area

Physician Certification Classes Across the Chicago Metro Area

We offer BLS, ACLS, and PALS certification for physicians at 50+ locations across the Chicago metro area — from downtown medical campuses to northwest, west, and south suburbs.

Whether you practice at Northwestern, Rush, UChicago, Advocate Aurora, NorthShore, AMITA, Lurie Children's, or any Illinois healthcare facility, we have a class within 15 minutes of your practice or hospital.

Group Training

Request Group Training for Your Medical Practice or Department

Tell us about your practice size, certification needs, and preferred timing. Our medical training coordinator will respond within 2 hours with a custom quote and available dates.

  • Custom pricing for groups of 6 or more physicians
  • On-site training at your clinic, hospital, or surgery center
  • Flexible scheduling around clinic hours, OR schedules, and call coverage
  • Same-day AHA certification cards for every physician
  • Complete compliance documentation for credentialing offices

Prefer to call?

(312) 761-4859

Medical training coordinator available 7 days a week

Medical Group Training Quote

No commitment required. We will respond within 2 hours.

Max 500 characters

No commitment required. We typically respond within 2 hours during business hours.

Maintain Your Credentials — Your Patients Depend on It

BLS, ACLS, and PALS for physicians across the Chicago metro area. Same-day AHA cards, CME-eligible instruction, and on-site group training for your entire practice.

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