Should I have completed ACLS before residency?

[usmlequestion]

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In the residency application which you submit to ERAS one question ask if you have ACLS certification or not. SO do you think its an extra plus to have, will they care about it and prefer a candidate with ACLS over one without? Thanks.

 

[Smurfette]

Wow...I'm surprised you even thought of that--

There is no advantage to this and I highly doubt programs look at this while reviewing your app.

Seriously, programs could care less. I have yet to hear of a program that does not pay for you to do ACLS during orientation (or if they don't offer that, pay for you to do it on your own). Programs don't care b/c they make sure everyone is current with their certifications and would still have to pay for your recertification at some point down the line as well. And few MS4's are ACLS certified anyhow.

 

[retroviridae]

Wow...I'm surprised you even thought of that--

There is no advantage to this and I highly doubt programs look at this while reviewing your app.

Seriously, programs could care less. I have yet to hear of a program that does not pay for you to do ACLS during orientation (or if they don't offer that, pay for you to do it on your own). Programs don't care b/c they make sure everyone is current with their certifications and would still have to pay for your recertification at some point down the line as well. And few MS4's are ACLS certified anyhow.

only advantage of having ACLS is that you get to skip that portion of your residency orientation.

 

[yaah]

I have no idea why they ask that question, as it really doesn't have any bearing on residency selection. In general it's part of orientation anyway, unless you have a school like mine which requires it before you graduate.

 

[doc05]

nobody cares, and virtually every residency program pays for your ACLS training as part of orientation.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Ditto...don't waste your money. Let your future residency program pay for it.

 

[zippy2u]

Back in the day when I went to med school, you got certified in your 4th year or you didn't graduate. --Zippy

 

[DOtobe]

We had to take ACLS before we started our rotations. My certification expired this year, so I am re-doing ACLS now during orientation (in fact, I am trying - emphasis on the word trying - to study for our exam tomorrow).

I thought all schools required ACLS prior to rotations. I guess not? 😕