Healthcare professionals need practical, current training to respond effectively to cardiac arrest, respiratory emergencies and other life-threatening situations. In the UAE, healthcare organizations may use internationally recognized training programs such as American Heart Association (AHA) courses and American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI) programs administered through the Health & Safety Institute (HSI).
AHA offers healthcare-provider courses including Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). Its current course portfolio also includes Heartsaver programs for workplace and community learners. AHA states that its healthcare-professional courses are designed around evidence-based resuscitation education, while its current course materials reflect the 2025 CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care updates. Learn more about AHA healthcare-professional courses.
ASHI is one of HSI’s emergency-care training brands. HSI provides CPR, AED and first aid programs for healthcare professionals, workplaces and communities, with course options that can include classroom, blended and remote skills formats depending on the program. Learn more about HSI/ASHI training.
AHA and ASHI training in the UAE
For healthcare facilities, clinics, hospitals, medical centers and other organizations, choosing the appropriate CPR and emergency-care course depends on the learner’s role, employer requirements, scope of practice and the credential required.
Medcare Hub provides access to healthcare and workplace training programs in the UAE, including AHA and ASHI-related courses. Training availability, delivery format and certification requirements should be confirmed for the specific course and learner category before registration.
AHA BLS training for healthcare professionals
Basic Life Support (BLS) is designed for healthcare professionals and other personnel who need to respond to cardiac arrest and other life-threatening emergencies. AHA describes BLS training as covering high-quality CPR, AED use, ventilation and team dynamics, with tracks for prehospital and in-facility environments.
AHA also provides HeartCode BLS and other blended-learning options in which the learner completes the cognitive portion online and then completes the required hands-on skills component. View Medcare Hub training courses.
AHA ACLS training
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) is intended for healthcare professionals involved in the management of cardiopulmonary emergencies. The AHA ACLS program addresses advanced life-support skills and the management of conditions such as cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, acute dysrhythmias, stroke and acute coronary syndromes.
Depending on the available course format, learners may complete classroom training or a blended pathway that combines online learning with a practical skills session. Contact Medcare Hub for current ACLS course availability.
AHA PALS training
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) is intended for healthcare professionals who respond to emergencies involving infants and children. The course focuses on pediatric assessment, recognition of deterioration and emergency management within the scope of the AHA PALS program.
AHA currently lists PALS among its healthcare-professional courses and provides both instructor-led and blended learning options. See the AHA healthcare-professional course information.
ASHI CPR, AED and First Aid training
ASHI programs administered through HSI cover CPR, AED and first aid training for workplace, community and healthcare audiences. HSI states that its emergency-care programs reflect current resuscitation science and treatment recommendations published by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR).
ASHI course options can include CPR/AED, First Aid, CPR/AED/First Aid combination training and other emergency-care programs. The appropriate course depends on whether the participant is a healthcare professional, workplace responder or community learner.
AHA vs ASHI: which training should you choose?
AHA and ASHI are different training programs and brands. The correct choice should be based on the specific credential requested by the employer, healthcare facility, licensing body or other organization.
| Training need | Potential course pathway | Typical audience |
|---|---|---|
| Basic emergency response for healthcare staff | AHA BLS or an appropriate ASHI/HSI program | Healthcare professionals and designated responders |
| Advanced cardiac emergency management | AHA ACLS | Qualified healthcare professionals |
| Pediatric emergency care | AHA PALS | Healthcare professionals involved in pediatric care |
| Workplace CPR, AED and First Aid | ASHI/HSI or AHA Heartsaver pathway, depending on requirements | Workplace and community responders |
The table is a general guide rather than a substitute for checking the exact course requirement. Employers and facilities should confirm which provider, course version and completion credential they require before booking.
Classroom and blended learning options
Training delivery can vary by course. AHA offers instructor-led classroom courses as well as blended learning, where the learner completes an online cognitive component followed by hands-on skills training with an instructor. HSI also provides different delivery options depending on the program.
For healthcare organizations with multiple employees, group training can also be arranged where the course and instructor requirements permit it. This can help organizations coordinate staff training and maintain records of course completion.
Who should consider AHA or ASHI training?
- Doctors and physicians
- Nurses and nursing teams
- Paramedics and emergency personnel
- Dental professionals and dental clinic teams
- Healthcare assistants and clinical support staff
- Medical center and clinic staff
- Workplace first-aid and emergency-response teams
- Organizations that require documented CPR, AED or First Aid training
How to choose the right healthcare training course
- Identify your professional role and scope of practice.
- Check the exact training requirement from your employer or facility.
- Confirm whether BLS, ACLS, PALS, First Aid, CPR/AED or another course is required.
- Check the course provider and credential requested by the organization.
- Confirm the course format, skills-session requirements and completion process.
- Keep the course completion record and renew the credential according to the applicable course requirements.
Healthcare training in Abu Dhabi and the UAE
Medcare Hub supports healthcare and workplace training requirements in the UAE. Our training portfolio includes ASHI-related courses and healthcare-focused training pathways, with course availability depending on the current schedule and instructor authorization.
For organizations planning staff training, we can also help coordinate group requirements and identify the appropriate course pathway based on the participants’ roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AHA BLS training?
AHA BLS is a healthcare-professional training program covering basic life-support skills such as high-quality CPR, AED use, ventilation and team response.
What is AHA ACLS?
AHA ACLS is an advanced cardiovascular life-support program for healthcare professionals involved in managing cardiopulmonary emergencies.
What is AHA PALS?
AHA PALS is a pediatric advanced life-support program for healthcare professionals who respond to emergencies involving infants and children.
What is ASHI training?
ASHI is an emergency-care training brand within Health & Safety Institute. Its programs include CPR, AED, First Aid and other emergency-care training for different audiences.
Can companies arrange group CPR and First Aid training?
Yes. Depending on the course and provider requirements, group training can be arranged for healthcare facilities, companies and other organizations.
Book healthcare training in the UAE
If your clinic, hospital, dental center, medical center or organization needs BLS, ACLS, PALS, CPR, AED or First Aid training, contact Medcare Hub to check the appropriate course, schedule and delivery format.
Contact Medcare Hub to discuss your healthcare training requirements.