Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS®) Reverification Programme

ATLS® is a globally recognised course teaching a systematic process of trauma care for patients with life-threatening injuries. This one-day revision course allows clinicians to reverify their ATLS® Provider status as an alternative to re-taking the full two-day ATLS® course. ATLS® Provider status is valid for four years, and reverification must occur within six months of status lapsing (if more than six months have passed since expiry, the full two-day course must be retaken).

The course is delivered as a hybrid programme combining mandatory pre-course e-learning (1–2 hours, including videos and MCQs) with an in-person or regional centre face-to-face component. Participants must complete the mandatory e-learning in full by 7am the day before the course to be permitted attendance. The course emphasises interactive discussions, clinical scenarios with embedded practical skills, and demonstrations. Participants are encouraged to share knowledge and experience with peers throughout, and faculty create a supportive environment for refreshing practical, theoretical, and personal skills essential for trauma management.

Throughout the interactive course, highly knowledgeable faculty help you refresh your practical, theoretical and personal skills essential for the management of trauma patients.

The course is designed for ATLS® providers who regularly manage severely injured patients. Participants must have taken the ATLS® course within the last four and a half years to be eligible. Providers who do not regularly manage severely injured patients should attend the full two-day ATLS® Provider course instead, as the one-day reverification requires a high degree of familiarity with trauma resuscitation and uses participants' own experiences to illustrate important principles.

Assessment includes interactive sessions, clinical scenario stations, and an MCQ test (40 questions, pass mark 30/40). Initial assessment of trauma patient management takes place on the last day. If unsuccessful, participants may resit failed sessions within three months. Completion of all assessed sessions is required to pass the course and maintain ATLS® provider status.

Eligibility: You must provide proof of valid ATLS® Provider status when applying. Applicants from outside the UK/Ireland/Malta/British Overseas Territories will have provider status verified through the American College of Surgeons. Some regional centres may use animal tissue; the Bjorn Saven Centre at RCS England does not.

Learning outcomes:
• Demonstrate refreshed knowledge of all principles of ATLS® and its safe, reliable method for immediate management of the injured trauma patient
• Effectively use the standardised language of trauma care