Ohio Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
Instructor Practice Exam Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2025|2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. As an AHA ACLS Instructor candidate, which step is required before
teaching your first official AHA ACLS course?
A. Obtain state medical license
B. Be listed in the National Provider Database
C. Complete the online, in-person, and monitoring portions of the
instructor course and receive an Instructor eCard
D. Publish a peer-reviewed paper on resuscitation
Rationale: Candidates must complete online + in-person + monitoring
and receive their Instructor eCard as per AHA instructor
requirements.
,2. During adult cardiac arrest, what is the recommended initial action for
a witnessed sudden collapse with a monitored VF/pulseless VT?
A. Provide 2 minutes of CPR before analyzing rhythm
B. Deliver immediate defibrillation (unsynchronised shock) as soon
as a defibrillator is available
C. Give 1 mg epinephrine IV/IO immediately then defibrillate
D. Intubate before delivering the first shock
Rationale: For witnessed sudden VF/pVT, immediate defibrillation is
prioritized; CPR should be resumed if defibrillator is not immediately
available.
3. Which of the following is the correct epinephrine dosing during
cardiac arrest?
A. 0.1 mg IV every 3–5 minutes
B. 5 mg IV push once
C. 1 mg IV/IO every 3–5 minutes
D. 10 mg IV/IO every 2 minutes
Rationale: AHA ACLS recommends epinephrine 1 mg IV/IO every 3–5
minutes during cardiac arrest.
4. As an ACLS Instructor, which is the most appropriate objective when
teaching high-quality CPR?
A. Memorize medication doses only
B. Focus only on rhythm recognition
C. Demonstrate chest compressions at proper rate, depth, full recoil
, and minimal interruptions
D. Teach passive oxygenation techniques exclusively
Rationale: High-quality CPR emphasizes rate (100–120/min), depth
(~2–2.4 in adult), full recoil and minimal interruptions.
5. For a patient in pulseless VF/pVT, after delivering the first shock and
immediately resuming CPR, when should you administer the first dose
of epinephrine if indicated?
A. After the third shock only
B. As soon as possible during CPR, usually after the first shock
C. Only if rhythm converts to asystole
D. Epinephrine is contraindicated in VF/pVT
Rationale: Epinephrine should be given as soon as feasible during
ongoing CPR for non-shockable and also in shockable rhythms if
ROSC not achieved.
6. Which medication is recommended for refractory VF/pulseless VT
after unsuccessful shocks and epinephrine administration?
A. Lidocaine 20 mg/kg bolus
B. Amiodarone 300 mg IV/IO bolus (first dose)
C. Adenosine 6 mg IV bolus
D. Procainamide 1 g IV push
Rationale: Amiodarone 300 mg IV/IO is recommended as first
antiarrhythmic for refractory VF/pVT; lidocaine is alternative.
, 7. What is the target oxygen saturation (SpO₂) during post-cardiac arrest
care (after ROSC) according to AHA guidance?
A. 100% at all times
B. 85–90%
C. 92–98%
D. 75–85%
Rationale: Post-ROSC oxygenation target is typically 92–98% to avoid
hyperoxia while preventing hypoxia.
8. As an instructor, when teaching adult bradycardia with signs of
instability (hypotension, altered mental status), which is the
recommended initial therapy?
A. Immediate synchronized cardioversion regardless of rhythm
B. Atropine 0.5 mg IV every 3–5 minutes (up to 3 mg) while preparing
for pacing or dopamine/epinephrine infusion
C. Give adenosine 6 mg IV bolus
D. No treatment is necessary unless asystole develops
Rationale: For symptomatic bradycardia, atropine is first drug
therapy; transcutaneous pacing and infusions
(dopamine/epinephrine) if ineffective.
9. During a simulated ACLS class, a candidate has poor chest compression
technique. The most effective corrective teaching technique is:
A. Give a long lecture about physiology
B. Fail the candidate immediately with no feedback
Instructor Practice Exam Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2025|2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. As an AHA ACLS Instructor candidate, which step is required before
teaching your first official AHA ACLS course?
A. Obtain state medical license
B. Be listed in the National Provider Database
C. Complete the online, in-person, and monitoring portions of the
instructor course and receive an Instructor eCard
D. Publish a peer-reviewed paper on resuscitation
Rationale: Candidates must complete online + in-person + monitoring
and receive their Instructor eCard as per AHA instructor
requirements.
,2. During adult cardiac arrest, what is the recommended initial action for
a witnessed sudden collapse with a monitored VF/pulseless VT?
A. Provide 2 minutes of CPR before analyzing rhythm
B. Deliver immediate defibrillation (unsynchronised shock) as soon
as a defibrillator is available
C. Give 1 mg epinephrine IV/IO immediately then defibrillate
D. Intubate before delivering the first shock
Rationale: For witnessed sudden VF/pVT, immediate defibrillation is
prioritized; CPR should be resumed if defibrillator is not immediately
available.
3. Which of the following is the correct epinephrine dosing during
cardiac arrest?
A. 0.1 mg IV every 3–5 minutes
B. 5 mg IV push once
C. 1 mg IV/IO every 3–5 minutes
D. 10 mg IV/IO every 2 minutes
Rationale: AHA ACLS recommends epinephrine 1 mg IV/IO every 3–5
minutes during cardiac arrest.
4. As an ACLS Instructor, which is the most appropriate objective when
teaching high-quality CPR?
A. Memorize medication doses only
B. Focus only on rhythm recognition
C. Demonstrate chest compressions at proper rate, depth, full recoil
, and minimal interruptions
D. Teach passive oxygenation techniques exclusively
Rationale: High-quality CPR emphasizes rate (100–120/min), depth
(~2–2.4 in adult), full recoil and minimal interruptions.
5. For a patient in pulseless VF/pVT, after delivering the first shock and
immediately resuming CPR, when should you administer the first dose
of epinephrine if indicated?
A. After the third shock only
B. As soon as possible during CPR, usually after the first shock
C. Only if rhythm converts to asystole
D. Epinephrine is contraindicated in VF/pVT
Rationale: Epinephrine should be given as soon as feasible during
ongoing CPR for non-shockable and also in shockable rhythms if
ROSC not achieved.
6. Which medication is recommended for refractory VF/pulseless VT
after unsuccessful shocks and epinephrine administration?
A. Lidocaine 20 mg/kg bolus
B. Amiodarone 300 mg IV/IO bolus (first dose)
C. Adenosine 6 mg IV bolus
D. Procainamide 1 g IV push
Rationale: Amiodarone 300 mg IV/IO is recommended as first
antiarrhythmic for refractory VF/pVT; lidocaine is alternative.
, 7. What is the target oxygen saturation (SpO₂) during post-cardiac arrest
care (after ROSC) according to AHA guidance?
A. 100% at all times
B. 85–90%
C. 92–98%
D. 75–85%
Rationale: Post-ROSC oxygenation target is typically 92–98% to avoid
hyperoxia while preventing hypoxia.
8. As an instructor, when teaching adult bradycardia with signs of
instability (hypotension, altered mental status), which is the
recommended initial therapy?
A. Immediate synchronized cardioversion regardless of rhythm
B. Atropine 0.5 mg IV every 3–5 minutes (up to 3 mg) while preparing
for pacing or dopamine/epinephrine infusion
C. Give adenosine 6 mg IV bolus
D. No treatment is necessary unless asystole develops
Rationale: For symptomatic bradycardia, atropine is first drug
therapy; transcutaneous pacing and infusions
(dopamine/epinephrine) if ineffective.
9. During a simulated ACLS class, a candidate has poor chest compression
technique. The most effective corrective teaching technique is:
A. Give a long lecture about physiology
B. Fail the candidate immediately with no feedback
