AHA ACLS EXAM 2025: COMPREHENSIVE
CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE WITH PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
SECTION 1: BLS AND HIGH-QUALITY CPR
1. You find an unresponsive patient who is not breathing. After activating the emergency
response system, you determine there is no pulse. What is your next action?
A. Begin chest compressions at a rate of at least 100 per minute
B. Deliver two rescue breaths
C. Apply an AED and analyze the rhythm
D. Check for a carotid pulse for 10 seconds
Answer: A
2. Which action is a component of high-quality chest compressions?
A. Compressing the chest to a depth of at least 3 inches
B. Allowing complete chest recoil after each compression
C. Performing compressions at a rate of 80-90 per minute
,D. Interrupting compressions every 30 seconds to check for a pulse
Answer: B
3. What is the appropriate interval for an interruption in chest compressions?
A. 5 seconds or less
B. 10 seconds or less
C. 15 seconds or less
D. 20 seconds or less
Answer: B
4. What is a common but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management?
A. Delivering excessive ventilation
B. Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions
C. Administering epinephrine too early
D. Using an AED before starting CPR
Answer: B
5. What action is recommended to help minimize interruptions in chest compressions
during CPR?
A. Pause compressions while the defibrillator is charging
,B. Continue CPR while charging the defibrillator
C. Stop CPR to analyze the rhythm every 30 seconds
D. Perform a pulse check after every shock
Answer: B
6. During a pause in CPR, you see a narrow complex rhythm on the monitor. The patient has
no pulse. What is the next action?
A. Administer atropine
B. Perform synchronized cardioversion
C. Resume chest compressions
D. Check for a femoral pulse
Answer: C
7. What is the best strategy for performing high-quality CPR on a patient with an advanced
airway in place?
A. Provide 30 compressions and 2 ventilations
B. Provide continuous chest compressions without pauses and 10 ventilations per minute
C. Provide 15 compressions and 2 ventilations
D. Pause compressions for each ventilation
Answer: B
8. Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular fibrillation?
, A. Providing quality compressions immediately before a defibrillation attempt
B. Administering amiodarone before defibrillation
C. Performing a pulse check after each compression cycle
D. Using a lower energy setting for defibrillation
Answer: A
9. How long should a carotid pulse check last during CPR before resuming compressions?
A. 5 seconds
B. 10 seconds
C. 15 seconds
D. 20 seconds
Answer: B
10. Which action is included in the BLS survey?
A. Administering medications
B. Obtaining a 12-lead ECG
C. Early defibrillation
D. Performing endotracheal intubation
Answer: C
CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE WITH PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
SECTION 1: BLS AND HIGH-QUALITY CPR
1. You find an unresponsive patient who is not breathing. After activating the emergency
response system, you determine there is no pulse. What is your next action?
A. Begin chest compressions at a rate of at least 100 per minute
B. Deliver two rescue breaths
C. Apply an AED and analyze the rhythm
D. Check for a carotid pulse for 10 seconds
Answer: A
2. Which action is a component of high-quality chest compressions?
A. Compressing the chest to a depth of at least 3 inches
B. Allowing complete chest recoil after each compression
C. Performing compressions at a rate of 80-90 per minute
,D. Interrupting compressions every 30 seconds to check for a pulse
Answer: B
3. What is the appropriate interval for an interruption in chest compressions?
A. 5 seconds or less
B. 10 seconds or less
C. 15 seconds or less
D. 20 seconds or less
Answer: B
4. What is a common but sometimes fatal mistake in cardiac arrest management?
A. Delivering excessive ventilation
B. Prolonged interruptions in chest compressions
C. Administering epinephrine too early
D. Using an AED before starting CPR
Answer: B
5. What action is recommended to help minimize interruptions in chest compressions
during CPR?
A. Pause compressions while the defibrillator is charging
,B. Continue CPR while charging the defibrillator
C. Stop CPR to analyze the rhythm every 30 seconds
D. Perform a pulse check after every shock
Answer: B
6. During a pause in CPR, you see a narrow complex rhythm on the monitor. The patient has
no pulse. What is the next action?
A. Administer atropine
B. Perform synchronized cardioversion
C. Resume chest compressions
D. Check for a femoral pulse
Answer: C
7. What is the best strategy for performing high-quality CPR on a patient with an advanced
airway in place?
A. Provide 30 compressions and 2 ventilations
B. Provide continuous chest compressions without pauses and 10 ventilations per minute
C. Provide 15 compressions and 2 ventilations
D. Pause compressions for each ventilation
Answer: B
8. Which action increases the chance of successful conversion of ventricular fibrillation?
, A. Providing quality compressions immediately before a defibrillation attempt
B. Administering amiodarone before defibrillation
C. Performing a pulse check after each compression cycle
D. Using a lower energy setting for defibrillation
Answer: A
9. How long should a carotid pulse check last during CPR before resuming compressions?
A. 5 seconds
B. 10 seconds
C. 15 seconds
D. 20 seconds
Answer: B
10. Which action is included in the BLS survey?
A. Administering medications
B. Obtaining a 12-lead ECG
C. Early defibrillation
D. Performing endotracheal intubation
Answer: C
