ILS, ALS or PILS? Choosing the Right Resuscitation Course
10 September 2026 · Updated 10 September 2026
Confused by the alphabet soup of UK resuscitation courses? A plain-English guide to what ILS, ALS, PILS, EPALS and NLS cover, who each is for, and how long the certificates last.
ILS, PILS, ALS, EPALS, NLS. If you have ever stared at a list of resuscitation courses trying to work out which one your rota coordinator actually meant, you are not alone. This guide explains what each course covers, who it is aimed at, and how long the certificate lasts — so you can book the right one first time.
Why the names are so confusing
Most UK resuscitation courses are run to Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) standards, and the naming follows a pattern once you know it. Two things vary: how advanced the course is, and which patient group it covers.
- Basic — recognising an arrest and starting CPR
- Immediate — first responder skills until a resuscitation team arrives
- Advanced — leading and being part of that team
Add the patient group on top — adult, paediatric, or newborn — and the whole list starts to make sense.
BLS — Basic Life Support
Who it is for: Everyone in a clinical setting, and often non-clinical staff too. Frequently a mandatory training requirement rather than a career choice.
What it covers: Recognising cardiac arrest, chest compressions, rescue breaths, using an AED, and the recovery position.
Typical length: Half a day.
If you are a doctor, BLS alone is rarely enough for a clinical post. It is the foundation the other courses build on.
ILS — Immediate Life Support
Who it is for: The most commonly required course for foundation doctors, nurses, and anyone likely to be first on scene at an adult arrest but not leading the resuscitation.
What it covers: The ABCDE approach, recognising the deteriorating patient, starting resuscitation, defibrillation, and working as part of a team until the crash team arrives.
Typical length: One day.
Certificate validity: Usually one year. This catches people out — ILS needs renewing annually, so it will come round again during most training posts.
If your job description says "life support training required" without specifying, ILS is usually what is meant for a junior clinical role.
ALS — Advanced Life Support
Who it is for: Doctors and senior nurses who will lead a resuscitation attempt or form part of the cardiac arrest team. Frequently a requirement for core and higher specialty training, and often expected before applying.
What it covers: Everything in ILS plus reversible causes, rhythm recognition and management, airway adjuncts, drugs during arrest, post-resuscitation care, and — significantly — team leadership. The leadership component is what most candidates find hardest.
Typical length: Two days, usually with pre-course reading and an online assessment to complete beforehand. Do not leave the pre-course material until the night before; the course assumes you have done it.
Assessment: Continuous assessment plus a cardiac arrest simulation and a written paper.
Certificate validity: Typically four years, with recertification required after that.
PILS — Paediatric Immediate Life Support
Who it is for: Anyone who may be first responder to a seriously unwell or arresting child. Common in paediatrics, emergency medicine, general practice and community settings.
What it covers: The paediatric equivalent of ILS — recognising the deteriorating child, the structured approach, and starting resuscitation.
Typical length: One day.
Adult ILS does not cover you for paediatric practice. Children are not small adults, and the recognition thresholds, drug doses and equipment sizing are all different.
EPALS — European Paediatric Advanced Life Support
Who it is for: Those leading paediatric resuscitation — paediatric trainees, emergency medicine trainees, and paediatric intensive care staff.
Typical length: Two days.
Certificate validity: Typically four years.
NLS — Newborn Life Support
Who it is for: Anyone attending deliveries — obstetrics, paediatrics, neonatal units, and midwifery.
What it covers: Resuscitation at birth, which is a genuinely different clinical problem to arrest at any other age. The physiology of transition, airway management in the newborn, and the newborn resuscitation algorithm.
Typical length: One day.
Choosing quickly
| If you... | You probably need |
|---|---|
| Work with adults and may be first on scene | ILS |
| Will lead an adult arrest, or are applying for specialty training | ALS |
| Work with children in any setting | PILS |
| Lead paediatric resuscitation | EPALS |
| Attend deliveries | NLS |
Three things worth knowing before you book
1. Check the accreditation, not just the title
Course names are not protected. A course advertised as "advanced life support training" is not necessarily an RCUK-accredited ALS course, and only the accredited version carries the certificate your employer and your college will recognise. Look for explicit RCUK accreditation on the listing, and ask if it is not stated.
2. Book earlier than feels necessary
ALS and EPALS courses have limited candidate numbers because of the faculty-to-candidate ratio required, and popular centres fill months ahead. If you need it for an application deadline, work backwards from that date rather than from when you would like to attend.
3. Diarise the expiry now
An expired certificate is the same as no certificate at an interview or an appraisal. Put the renewal date in your calendar the day you pass, with a reminder two months before — that is roughly the notice you need to get a place on a recertification course.
Finding a course
Resuscitation courses run all over the UK, and availability varies enormously by region and time of year. Rather than checking provider websites one at a time, you can filter by course type, location and date across every provider listed on Medgateways in one search.
