Frequently asked questions

On this page you can view answers to common questions about our site and courses. If you have suggestions for additional questions we could add to this page (and answer), please let us know through our contact us page.

1. Are your courses accepted nationwide?

Yes, our courses are accepted throughout the US and internationally. Most of our customers are located within thecUnited States, but we also have customers in Canada, the UK, Europe, and South America.

Our Pacific Medical Training branded training courses are sold proudly, under contract, to the U.S. Department of the Army and NASA .

2. How fast will I receive my certificate?

Right away! You will be able to download your instant provider eCard as soon as you pass your exam. If requested, your hard copy certificate will be mailed within 1 business day after you pass your exam.

3. Can I enroll in more than one course?

Yes, you can enroll in up to 3 courses (1 for ACLS, 1 for PALS and 1 for BLS). Plus, you can save an extra 10% when you enroll in 2 courses and 15% when you enroll in 3! You may enroll in any of our job training courses in addition to our ACLS, BLS, and PALS courses.

4. Do your courses include online training material?

Yes, each course includes complete online training material so you won’t need anything else to prepare for your exam. Our ACLS, PALS & BLS courses follow the latest science guidelines for CPR and ECC. For your convenience, our online training material is also available in PDF form so that you can study it from your computer or easily print it out and prepare away from the computer.

5. Can I take your courses for my initial certification?

Yes. Our certification courses are designed for medical professionals in need of initial certification. Each certification course includes complete online training material, online exam with instant grading, 3 free exam takes, instant provider eCard, hard copy provider certificate (if requested), and free shipping for your requested hard copy provider certificate for customers in the United States.

6. Can I take your courses if I have been certified in the past?

Yes. Our recertification courses are designed for medical professionals who have already been certified in the past. Each recertification course like ACLS recertification online includes complete online training material, online exam with instant grading, 3 free exam retakes, instant provider eCard, hard copy provider certificate (if requested) and free shipping for your requested hard copy provider certificate for customers in the United States. Note that the online exam for recertification courses is shorter than the exam for corresponding certification courses.

7. Can I take your course(s) if my certification has expired?

Yes. You can take our recertification courses whether your previous certification is active or expired.

8. Do your courses make me use a login or password?

No, our online courses are designed to be as quick and convenient as possible so we do not use logins or passwords, which often cause problems for people depending on their computer/Internet setup and knowledge.

As soon as you enroll in one of our courses you will be provided with access to the online training material and exam for the course so you can begin preparing right away. We will also send you an email with the training material and exam links in case you’re not able to begin immediately. As soon as you pass the exam you will be able to download an instant provider eCard so you have immediate proof of certification 24/7/365. If requested we will mail out your hard copy certificate.

9. How do I submit my answers for the exam?

All exam questions are multiple choice, with one correct answer per question. Once you’ve selected all your answers on the exam page and submitted them, your answers will be graded automatically by our exam system. You will then be directed to an exam results page where you can see a list of any questions answered incorrectly and whether or not you passed the exam.

If you do not pass on your first attempt, you can review the questions you missed so you can study for them using the online training material and pass the exam on your next attempt.
If you do pass, then you will be able to immediately download an instant provider eCard so you have instant proof of certification. If requested, we will mail out your hard copy provider certificate.

10. Is there a time limit for taking the exam?

No. You can spend as much time on the exam as you need. In fact, we encourage you to not rush through the exam too quickly, but to answer each question methodically and then double-check your answers.

11. How quickly will my answers be graded?

Your answers will be graded automatically as soon as they have been submitted.

12. What happens if I don’t pass the exam?

If you do not pass on your first attempt, you can study for the questions you missed using the online training material and pass the exam on your next attempt. Each course includes 3 total attempts to pass your exam.

13. How long will my certification be good for?

Your certification will be good for 2 years from the date you passed the exam.

14. What are your business hours?

Monday through Friday 8AM to 5PM Pacific Time (PST).

15. How do I contact you?

See our contact us page for phone, email, and mailing contact information.

16. What business name will show up on my credit card statement after I order?

Pacific Medical Training

17. Do you guarantee your courses?

Yes, we guarantee each of our courses for 45 days from the original date of enrollment.

18. Can I still access the course materials after I pass?

Yes. If it’s been longer than an year since you last logged in, you may have trouble logging in. Please send us an email with your order number and we will assist you.

19. How can we confirm for the state of CA If first aid/cpr training certificates are required for youth sports coaching by state law or by the organization or not required? If required, We would like to sign up for your ACLS, PALS, and BLS courses! Where do I start?

I do not know where they would find that information. I don’t have any involvement with sports.

20. What is the difference between ACLS and BLS?

In the realm of emergency medical care, two critical certifications are Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS). If you are uncertain about which course to choose, refer to the article comparing ACLS and BLS to determine which course best suits your needs.

1. One of the course questions has an option:
Option: .96% on room air is listed
should this not be 96%? (an acceptable oxygen saturation)

This was fixed to remove the decimal point.

**2. If the patient was found lying on his face then he was .
I like to sit with my head up a little bit in bed so I can read. I didn’t know, but I was sitting .
I was doing jumping jacks the other day. Now I know that I was ing and ing my upper extremities with every jump!
I could never sleep supine. I just don’t like lying on my _.

Prone, Semi Fowlers, Abducting/abducting, Back.

3. Compression fraction of at least 60% is the goal. This means that compressions should be done at least 60% of the time during arrest to achieve the designed rate of compressions (100-120 per min). This can be compared to a factory worker who is capable of making 100 widgets per hour. However, if he takes a ten minute break the result will be only 90 widgets in an hour. Therefore, the rate of compressions is dependent upon not only the speed of compressions, but also the number of interruptions. This is referred to as compression fraction. This is incorrect. He will make 90 widgets with a 6-minute break. With a 10-minute break he will make only about 83 widgets. Simple math error.

This was used as an example, not as an exact mathematical equation. To use your exact calculation during a resuscitation would result in people standing around with calculators rather than treating the patient. Medicine remains an “art”. It was simply an example.

4. In Shock Chapter 6: Where it lists The body compensates for inadequate… in three basic ways, it includes Nausea and Vomiting, but I don’t think it should; these things worsen the condition. In Bradycardia the atropine dosing described in the text differs from the Braslow tape in that Braslow has a minimum dose of 0.1 mg for very light infants.
In your text’s list of 6H’s and 5T’s, you list Coronary Thrombus, and Pulmonary Emboli (Thrombus) as separate T’s, in doing so you miss one of the important T’s which is Trauma. Hence consider the standard which has one of the T’s as Thrombus and this includes Coronary Artery Thrombus and Pulmonary Embolus.

We can change one of the T’s to Trauma. However, nausea and vomiting is listed in the ECC guidelines and that is what we follow to stay consistent with AHA. The Atropine dose likewise is the AHA Pediatric Advanced Life Support recommendation. In a General PaLs does not deal with neonate and low weight infants as that is the Neonatal Resuscitation Course. HOWEVER, Browslow does.

5. When disposing of contaminated needles, why isn’t it best just to place it in the Sharp’s container without recapping it.

Recap the needle and place in the sharps container.
The only safe method to recap a needle is to place the cap on the table and scoop it up using a single hand. If one uses two hands there is a pretty good chance that you will puncture the second hand as you attempt to recap. Two handed recapping is forbidden by all hospital policy everywhere as it is considered unsafe. Hope this helps.

6. It says that the safest way to dispose of a contaminated needled is to recap it and dispose of it. That puts you at an unnecessary needles stick risk and the right answer is marked wrong.

I would have to see it. I find that hard to believe. Recapping a needle is the UNSAFEST way to dispose of it but if it must be recapped it is recommended that you utilize the one hand recap method.

6. A 56yo male comes to the ED with s.o.b. and shallow labored breathing. Consistent PR between 209-264 with BP ranging from 72/56-70/52. He said it started a few days ago and came in because it was worse this day then the past 2. Never had any issues like this before and not on any medications.

All of the case studies that we list are training studies and meant as a learning tool. We can not give out medical advise.