Question 1

What is ATLS and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

ATLS, developed by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, offers a systematic, concise, and reliable approach to the early management of injured patients. It emphasizes treating the most life-threatening issues first, without waiting for a definitive diagnosis, using the universal xABCDE algorithm for primary survey.

Question 2

Who is the ATLS course intended for?

Accepted Answer

Primarily designed for physicians, including emergency, trauma, and critical care specialists, ATLS is also applicable to advanced practice providers (APPs). Some courses may allow limited auditing by experienced non-physician practitioners like nurse practitioners or paramedics, depending on local regulations.

Question 3

What types of ATLS courses are available?

Accepted Answer

Traditional Course: 2 to 2.5 days, fully in-person with interactive lectures and hands-on skills stations.

Hybrid Course: 1.5 days; theoretical content delivered online, followed by in‑person skills training.

Refresher Course: Half-day or 1-day format for clinicians wanting to update their verification status, including skills practice and assessments.

Instructor Course: Offered for participants identified with instructor potential, spanning 1 to 2 days, combining didactic and practical teaching modules to qualify new ATLS instructors.

Question 4

How long is ATLS verification valid, and what happens when it expires?

Accepted Answer

ATLS verification remains valid for four years. The ACS allows a six-month grace period post-expiry during which providers may take a Refresher course—but they are not considered verified until completion.

Question 5

What is the format of the ATLS MCQ exam?

Accepted Answer

The written component typically consists of multiple-choice questions that assess candidates’ theoretical knowledge across all ATLS course domains.

The ATLS exam comprises 40 questions of single best answer and lasts 1 hour.

The passing threshold generally ranges between 75% and 80%, though this may vary based on the provider or region.

Question 6

What happens if you fail the MCQ component?

Accepted Answer

Typically, candidates must pass both the written MCQ exam and the practical skills stations to obtain ATLS certification. If you fail one portion (written or practical), many programs allow you to retake only the failed component instead of repeating the entire course.

Question 7

How much does the ATLS course including the MCQ exam cost in the UK?

Accepted Answer

A provider ATLS course typically costs around £900 for non-residents in the UK, inclusive of all exam components—written and practical.

At Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd), fees are:
- £910 standard.
- £820 for RCSEd members and affiliate members.

Question 8

Does payment recur as a subscription?

Accepted Answer

No. Payment is taken once for the duration chosen. If you would like to continue beyond the end of this period please choose to renew towards the end of your allocated time. We do this to ensure no one is charged for time they do not want to use.

Question 9

What languages can you interact with instructors in?

Accepted Answer

Many of our instructors and question writers speak Spanish or Arabic, having worked in major trauma centres across Latin America and the Middle East. So you can interact in English, Spanish, or Arabic.

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