PALS is often required for paramedics, flight crews, emergency department staff and anyone whose role includes pediatric patients. Because pediatric calls are less frequent, PALS is also the card people forget about until a supervisor asks for it.
How long a PALS card is valid
AHA course completion cards, including PALS Provider, are valid for two years through the end of the month in which they were issued.
| Card fact | What the AHA says |
|---|---|
| How long it is valid | Two years, through the end of the month it was issued |
| How the date appears on an eCard | A 2-digit month and 4-digit year, two years from the issue date |
| How an employer checks it | Scan the QR code on the eCard, or enter the eCard code at heart.org/CPR/mycards |
Who usually needs PALS
- Paramedics and critical care paramedics whose protocols include pediatric care
- Flight and critical care transport crews
- Emergency department and pediatric unit nurses and physicians
Your employer or program decides whether PALS is required for your role. Agency role templates in Med-Cert Pro list PALS where it commonly applies, and every requirement can be edited by the agency.
How Med-Cert Pro helps
- Store the card or certificate once, with the expiration date read from the document by on-device scanning.
- See the credential move from Active to Expiring Soon, Critical and Expired, so nothing surprises you on shift.
- Get a reminder before the window closes, and mark a renewal In Progress while you finish it.
- Share a time-limited link or QR packet with an employer instead of emailing photos of your card.
- Your whole professional wallet is $24.99 per year, and agency-sponsored seats cost you nothing.
Med-Cert Pro is not affiliated with or endorsed by the American Heart Association. Always confirm requirements with your employer and the course provider.