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The American Academy of CPR and First Aid is accredited by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine who is jointly accredited by the

Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education® (ACCME) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.        

American Academy of CPR & First Aid, Inc.®

CPR Hands-On Skills Evaluation Checklist For Candidates

Checklist For Adult:
Skill Tested Completed
Yes No
Establish scene safety   
Assess patient responsiveness (check for pulse/breathing, no longer than 10 sec)   
Activates emergency response (calls for help/AED)   
Correct CPR hand placement and positioning   
Correct CPR rate (100-120/min.) and depth (2 inches)   
Allows for complete recoil of chest between compressions   
Airway opened appropriately (head tilt/chin lift, jaw thrust)   
Delivers 2 breaths (each over 1 second) with visible chest rise   
Correct AED placement without disrupting compressions   
Clear of patient for rhythm analysis and shock   
Compressions immediately resumed after shock   


Checklist For Child:
Skill Tested Completed
Yes No
Establish Scene Safety   
Assess Child Responsiveness (Check for pulse/breathing, no longer than 10 sec)   
Activates Emergency Response (Calls for help/AED)   
Correct Child CPR Hand Placement and Positioning   
Correct Child CPR Rate (100-120/min.) and Depth (2 inches)   
Allows for Complete Recoil of Chest Between Compressions   
Airway Opened Appropriately for Child (Head tilt/Chin lift, Jaw thrust)   
Delivers 2 Breaths (Each over 1 second) with Visible Chest Rise   
Correct AED Placement Without Disrupting Compressions   
Clear of Patient for Rhythm Analysis and Shock   
Compressions Immediately Resumed After Shock   


Checklist For Infant:
Skill Tested Completed
Yes No
Establish Scene Safety   
Assess Infant Responsiveness (Check for pulse/breathing, no longer than 10 sec)   
Pulse Check (Brachial artery location, inner part of the upper arm)   
Activates Emergency Response (Calls for help/AED)   
Correct Infant CPR Hand Placement and Positioning   
Correct Infant CPR Rate (100-120/min.) and Depth (About 1.5 inches)   
Allows for Complete Recoil of Chest Between Compressions   
Airway Opened Appropriately for Infant (Head tilt/Chin lift, Jaw thrust)   
Delivers 2 Breaths (Each over 1 second) with Visible Chest Rise   
Correct AED Placement Without Disrupting Compressions (If applicable, use of infant/child pads)   
Clear of Patient for Rhythm Analysis and Shock   
Compressions Immediately Resumed After Shock   

ACLS Hands-On Skills Evaluation Checklist For Candidates



Skill Tested Completed
Yes No
Assigns roles   
Ensures high quality CPR (rate, depth, recoil, ventilation)   
Demonstrates good communication   
Primary assessment:
Skill Tested Completed
Yes No
Places monitor leads properly   
Recognizes hypoxemia and administers oxygen   
Places intravenous access   
Bradycardia:
Skill Tested Completed
Yes No
Identifies symptomatic bradycardia   
Assesses for other underlying causes   
Determines the presence of hypotension or shock symptoms   
Administers correct dose of atropine (1mg, q 3-5 minutes)   
Prepares for transcutaneous pacing   
Ventricular fibrillation:
Skill Tested Completed
Yes No
Identifies ventricular fibrillation   
Clears the patient before analysis and shock   
Resumes CPR immediately after shock   
Administers epinephrine 1mg q3-5 minutes   
Demonstrates appropriate drug, shock and CPR cycles   
Advanced airway is placed with capnography   
Post Cardiac Arrest Care:
Skill Tested Completed
Yes No
Identifies ROSC   
Optimizes oxygenation (>94%) and ventilation (10 breaths/min)   
Obtains a blood pressure   
12-lead ECG   
Considers targeted temperature management