Desert Education Solutions: Equipping Individuals with Life-Saving Skills

Desert Education Solutions offers a range of courses designed to equip individuals with essential life-saving skills. These courses, adhering to American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines, cater to both lay rescuers and healthcare professionals. From Basic Life Support (BLS) to Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), the organization provides comprehensive training through traditional classroom formats and flexible blended learning options.

Course Offerings

Desert Education Solutions provides a variety of courses to meet different needs and skill levels:

BLS Provider: This course, available in initial and renewal formats, is designed for healthcare professionals and covers essential techniques for team resuscitation efforts, including bag-mask ventilation, support for advanced airways, and multi-rescuer situations. Note that BLS Provider is the new title that replaced the former "BLS for Healthcare Providers".
First Aid: Initial and renewal courses in First Aid are offered in a traditional classroom format.
CPR AED: Similar to First Aid, CPR AED courses are available for both initial certification and renewal, delivered in a classroom setting.

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First Aid & CPR AED: This combined course offers comprehensive training in both First Aid and CPR AED techniques, suitable for initial certification or renewal.

Learning Formats: Traditional and Blended

Desert Education Solutions understands the diverse needs of its students and offers courses in two formats: traditional classroom and blended learning.

Traditional Classroom: These courses involve in-person instruction and skills practice, providing a structured learning environment.
Blended Learning: This option combines online learning with in-person skills sessions. Part 1 of the class is delivered online through the American Heart Association. The online portion can be completed at your own pace, offering flexibility for those with busy schedules. The blended learning options that we offer simply provide you the ability to view the required videos and take your written test online, allowing you to save time and complete the teaching (didactic) portion of the course at your own pace. It is during the skills practice and testing session (done in-person) that you will be coached and evaluated, as well as have the opportunity to ask questions or receive additional instruction. A skills session with a certified AHA instructor is required to demonstrate skills in person.

Both formats result in the issuance of a genuine American Heart Association eCard that is valid for a full two years. Blended learning courses satisfy the requirements for initial or renewal course completion in all AHA courses.

Registration and Course Fees

To register for a classroom-based or blended learning course, individuals can click on Class Registration and scroll down to the class they need. First Aid. First Aid CPR AED, CPR AED, BLS, ACLS, and PALS have classroom-based as well as a blended learning option.

Payment is required in advance to guarantee a place in the class. The registration system accepts registrations up until the class start time, provided that there are still seats available. Students are encouraged to register early, as certain courses tend to fill up faster than others. ACLS and PALS require precourse work to be completed before the class.

Desert Education Solutions does not offer free CPR or First Aid courses, as they are a private company not funded by the American Heart Association or any other organization or governmental entity.

Cash payments should have exact change. For onsite course materials purchases, such as textbooks, accessories, or pocket masks, credit/debit cards are accepted at the facilities.

Payments are processed securely, utilizing 256-bit encryption.

Course Rescheduling and Refund Policies

Information regarding course rescheduling and refund policies can be obtained when changing a registration.

Course Completion Cards

Upon successful completion of a class or skills session, an eCard is issued immediately. For BLS, ACLS, PALS, and PEARS, the eCard is issued after successful completion of the examination and score verification.

The online portion of blended learning courses can be completed from home or work, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The blended learning course format is also an excellent option for travel RNs who might take an assignment that requires advanced training such as ACLS and/or PALS.

eCards are valid through the last day of the month in which they were issued, plus two years. NRP eCards are valid for two years from the issue date.

If a course completion card is lost, it's important to remember that the cards are digital, so they are not lost.

There is absolutely no difference in the course completion cards issued following completion of a course in either format. The AHA requires that either format requires an in-person skills evaluation by an AHA-certified instructor. The AHA does not permit ANY course completion cards to be issued without the in-person component verifying skills mastery. Research conducted by the AHA has actually found that courses taken with the online didactic format result in better learning and retention of the concepts, up to 35%.

Course-Specific Information

Heartsaver vs. Healthcare Provider (HCP) Courses: Heartsaver courses are designed for lay rescuers and are open to all participants, regardless of occupation or background. HCP courses are for people who are (or will be) professionally licensed in a healthcare profession or enrolled in programs leading to licensure.
Heartsaver First Aid-CPR-AED vs. Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid-CPR-AED: Both courses are designed for lay rescuers and cover treatment of adults, children, and infants. The pediatric version goes into a deeper focus on the treatment of infants, children, and adolescents than the standard course. The pediatric version also covers additional material, such as the management of asthma, allergies, and treating a drowning victim, that is only briefly covered in the standard course. The pediatric version is more appropriate for those people who primarily work with children, or for parents and grandparents, as it covers more first aid topics in greater detail as it pertains to pediatric populations. The pediatric version is also certified to meet regulatory training requirements for childcare workers in all 50 states. EITHER course meets the CPR / First Aid training requirements for childcare workers as specified in the Arizona Administrative Code, Title 9, R-5-403(B)(1)(b)(i).
Online CPR Courses: None of the online courses offered are 100%-online, as that option is not permitted per the AHA.
Textbooks: The American Heart Association requires that ALL participants have access to their own provider manual or student workbook before, during, and after the course. BLS, ACLS, PALS, or PEARS courses taught that do not require the students to have their own textbooks are in violation of AHA policy (including those who may provide students with books for use during the class, but do not allow the student to take the book with them when they leave). For BLS, ACLS, PALS, or PEARS, the provider manual is offered for purchase, if needed, at registration or at class check-in time.
Pocket Masks: Sanitary mouth barriers are provided free of additional charge. A personal pocket mask with a case, disposable gloves, and alcohol wipes is also offered for an additional fee.
BLS Renewal during ACLS or PALS: BLS Provider renewal is offered through having the student complete the required skills checks as well as the 25-question written exam for BLS.
Expired ACLS or PALS Card: The renewal (update) course for ACLS or PALS is designed for previous students who have taken the American Heart Association ACLS or PALS class. Generally, if your card has expired more than 2 years ago, you will need to take the initial course for ACLS or PALS.

Instructor Information

The instructors have completed instructor training by the American Heart Association. BLS Instructor classes are offered about once a month. As a TC, all instructors are required to complete a BLS Instructor course as a prerequisite to taking an ACLS or PALS instructor course.

Commitment to Quality and AHA Guidelines

Desert Education Solutions is committed to adhering to all AHA policies and regulations to protect the integrity of the certification cards issued. The American Heart Association strongly promotes knowledge and proficiency in all AHA courses and has developed instructional materials for this purpose. Use of these materials in an educational course does not represent course sponsorship by the AHA.

Course Details

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS): ACLS is designed to highlight the importance of team dynamics and communication, systems of care, and immediate post-cardiac-arrest care. Airway management and related pharmacology are also covered. Basic ECG rhythm identification is reviewed as it pertains to ACLS algorithms and treatment.
HeartCodeÂ® ACLS: HeartCodeÂ® ACLS is a web-based, self-directed, adaptive comprehensive eLearning program from the American Heart Association (AHA).

Additional Information

Guarantee: Desert Education Solutions guarantees that your institution will accept your course completion or Provider card (or eCard) for BLS, ACLS, PALS, and Heartsaver First Aid, regardless of whether the course is taken in traditional classroom or blended learning format.
Hands-on Training: Hands-on training is far superior than just watching a video.
Authorized Training Center: As an authorized training center (TC ID: AZ 20967), Desert Education Solutions is considered worldwide to be the "gold-standard" for First Aid, CPR/AED, BLS, and Advanced Life Support training in providing these AHA courses.
Corporate Clients: Direct invoicing for corporate clients is available - no contracts required with flexible options for training smaller or larger groups of employees. Corporate discounts are available without having to train your entire group at once.
Locations: Convenient Goodyear or Scottsdale locations are less than 30 minutes from central Phoenix or from Sky Harbor International Airport.
Service Area: Desert Education Solutions serves Phoenix, Goodyear, Scottsdale, Buckeye, Waddell, Litchfield Park, Glendale, Avondale, Laveen, Peoria, Paradise Valley, El Mirage, Youngtown, Surprise, Waddell, Wickenburg, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Fountain Hills, New River, and Gilbert.

Heartsaver Program

The Heartsaver program includes the fundamental concepts of providing high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using an automated external defibrillator (AED). The course is designed for participants who are not healthcare providers and who would like to gain the basic skills needed that might save a life in the case of sudden cardiac arrest.

This course is open to all participants, and does not require any prior medical knowledge or healthcare background. The course also meets or exceeds the requirements of many insurance companies that require basic training in CPR in the workplace.

Heartsaver First Aid

The Heartsaver program includes the fundamental concepts of providing high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), using an automated external defibrillator (AED), and rendering basic first aid as needed for selected medical emergencies (breathing, choking, allergic reactions, stroke, seizure, etc.), injuries (wounds, burns, broken bones, etc.), and environmental emergencies (animal / insect bites, heat / cold, poison, etc.). The course is designed for participants who are not healthcare providers and who would like to gain the basic skills needed that might save a life or prevent further injury.

This course is ideal for all people who work with children of any age, such as:

Camp counselors
Child care workers
Coaches
Foster care workers
Others responsible for children including parents, grandparents, babysitters and guardians
Teachers
Youth group leaders

Course Prerequisites and Completion

There are no prerequisites to the classroom-based Heartsaver courses, and the digital workbook is included. The blended learning versions require that the online course must be completed prior to the in-person skills session. Basic Life Support (BLS) also has no prerequisites.

For ACLS and PALS courses, participants must be proficient in BLS skills AND complete the ACLS/PALS Precourse Self-Assessment and Precourse Work module (code is sent with your registration). Successful completion of the ACLS/PALS Precourse Self-Assessment and Precourse Work is required for admission to the in-person component of the course.

The ACLS/PALS Provider eCard is issued when the student completes the examination. There are 2 attempts allowed to score 84% or better to pass the final assessment.

Provider Manuals and Study Materials

All BLS, ACLS, and PALS courses require the student to have the current AHA Provider Manual (print or eBook) in order to attend class. Blended learning courses do NOT require a provider manual, as it is included in the course fee and is available in an eBook format in Part 1 Online of the course.

The print provider manuals necessary for BLS, ACLS, PALS, & PEARS are available for receipt at class check-in, and optionally, book shipping is available for an additional charge for registrations made at least 10 business days in advance. The equivalent eBook versions of the provider manuals are also offered.

Participants are also welcome to purchase the provider manual on their own from another source, if desired, but it must be the latest edition for the course they are taking (BLS, ACLS, and PALS require the 2025 edition - these have the 2025 Guidelines). PEARS is currently the 2015 version.

If you plan on using a digital version (eBook) of the Provider Manual, please be aware that we do not provide device charging stations or WiFi services. You must ensure that your material is accessible and downloaded to your charged device and can be used offline.

The ECC 2025 pocketbook reference includes BLS, ACLS, PALS, and NRP references, including the algorithms, drug dosages, and related procedural descriptions along with convenient tabs to quickly reference material in critical situations. It is spiral-bound, durable, and contains 103 full pages of reference material. It is a must-have for healthcare professionals working in emergency, intensive care, or critical care departments, and it is easily carried as a pocket-reference. It may also be used as a reference during skills evaluation.

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