[name]

I’ll weigh in with our perspective, with the caveat that others may have a different experience.

Sorry, but it depends.

Progressive hospitals understand that residency trained and board certified Emergency Physicians’ education and experience, along with their required lifelong learning process accomplishes the aims of the American Heart Association courses (PALS and ACLS were mentioned, some require BLS as well) and write an exception for the requirement into their Medical Staff bylaws. Some of those requirements specify that the classes (and cards) are the AHA courses. There are a number of competing certification courses in the marketplace. ACLS isn’t trademarked.

I imagine you can see what’s coming next: Some hospitals do not have an exception for BCEM and BCOEM (we’ll set aside the question of AAPS boards here) and require a current card (or cards, if PALS and/or BLS are required) and that the physician keeps current with recertification (the cards expire in two years and there is no grace period). ACEP and AAEM have position papers on the subject, and “merit badges” (we haven’t included in this consideration ATLS) are generally not thought well of in the profession.

TL; DR: Check the bylaws for a BCEM/BCOEM exception.

I hope this helps,

Paul