The answer is yes, but with important conditions regarding how many hours you receive and which category they fall under. To maintain your certification, you must register 50 hours of CME every two years, with at least 40 of those hours being Category I (anesthesia-specific).
Here is everything you need to know about using ACLS and PALS for your NCCAA submission.
ACLS and PALS as Category I (Anesthesia-Related) Credit
According to NCCAA guidelines, ACLS and PALS instruction is tabulated as anesthesia-related content. This means these hours are eligible to help fulfill your 40-hour Category I requirement rather than just counting as general Category II hours.
The Accreditation Requirement
For these courses to be eligible as anesthesia-related (Category I) content, the instructional course must be approved by:
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AAPA (American Academy of Physician Associates)
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ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education)
Note: To be eligible for registration, the practitioner must obtain and submit a formal certificate of CME credit awarded for the ACLS/PALS course.
The 4-Hour CME Credit Cap
It is a common misconception that a full-day certification course provides 8 or more hours of credit for your NCCAA registration. The NCCAA enforces a strict limit:
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Maximum Credit: A maximum of four (4) hours of CME credit will be recognized for any single ACLS or PALS course.
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No Exceptions: This 4-hour cap applies regardless of the number of credits printed on your provider certificate.
Example: How to “Stack” Your Credits
While each individual course is capped at 4 hours, you can earn credit for both types of certifications within the same two-year cycle.
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1 ACLS Course = 4 Category I Credits
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1 PALS Course = 4 Category I Credits
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Total Earned: 8 anesthesia-related hours toward your 50-hour requirement.
How to Register Your Credits via the NCCAA App
The NCCAA requires all CAAs to submit their CME through the official mobile app. To register your ACLS or PALS hours:
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Open the NCCAA App: Log in to your account.
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Upload Documentation: Select or upload your certificate. Ensure it clearly shows the accrediting body (AAPA or ACCME).
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Enter Activity Details: * Document Name: e.g., “ACLS Provider Course”
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Credit Type: Select “Anesthesia Hours”
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Enter Credits: Manually enter 4 hours as the credit amount (the maximum allowed).
Need More Category I Credits?
While ACLS and PALS provide a combined 8 hours of credit, you still need to secure 42 additional hours to complete your cycle.
We are here to help you bridge that gap. We offer a variety of NCCAA-accepted, self-paced Category I courses designed specifically for the needs of CAAs. Our platform is the most efficient way to meet your requirements so you can stay focused on providing excellent patient care.