Your Stroke Journey Starts Here
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability across the globe. Improving outcomes requires more than isolated training—it demands a unified pathway built on research, evidence-based training, and rigorous quality standards. The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association have created a comprehensive journey that equips every level of provider and every type of hospital to deliver faster, more coordinated, and more effective stroke care.
This journey begins with foundational science, advances through specialized clinical training, and culminates in system-wide excellence through certification.
Essential Stroke Life Support® (ESLS®): Build Foundational Skills
Early recognition. Rapid triage. Confident first response.
The Essential Stroke Life Support® (ESLS®)(link opens in new window)(link opens in new window)(link opens in new window) course introduces healthcare professionals—especially those outside advanced stroke care settings—to the critical skills needed to identify and evaluate stroke emergencies. Through self‑paced eLearning and virtual simulation, ESLS strengthens the ability to recognize stroke quickly and initiate timely care.
ESLS® empowers:
- Nurses, EMS personnel, and clinicians who may be first to encounter a stroke patient
- Faster, more accurate stroke recognition
- Improved triage and early decision‑making
ESLS® is the first step toward building a strong, system‑wide foundation for stroke care.
Advanced Stroke Life Support® (ASLS®): Elevate Clinical Expertise
Advanced assessment. Evidence‑based management. Coordinated response.
The Advanced Stroke Life Support® (ASLS®)(link opens in new window)(link opens in new window)(link opens in new window) Blended Learning Course prepares in‑hospital and pre-hospital professionals to identify, evaluate, and manage acute stroke with greater precision. Updated for global relevance, ASLS® integrates online learning with in‑person skills assessment to ensure clinical readiness.
ASLS® strengthens:
- Clinical decision‑making for emergency, neurology, ICU, and stroke‑unit teams
- Alignment with international guidelines and treatment pathways
- Competency for hospitals pursuing Stroke Center Certification
ASLS® equips teams to deliver consistent, high‑quality care when every second counts.
Stroke Center Certification: Achieve System-Wide Excellence
Standardized care. Continuous improvement. Global recognition.
The International Stroke Center Certification(link opens in new window)(link opens in new window)(link opens in new window)(link opens in new window) represents the pinnacle of stroke care quality. Built on the latest science and global guidelines, certification helps hospitals standardize care across the entire patient journey—from EMS to rehabilitation.
Certification supports hospitals by:
- Integrating stroke care across departments and disciplines
- Reducing variation and treatment delays
- Strengthening coordination with emergency services
- Providing tools, benchmarking, and ongoing quality improvement
- Earning recognition from trusted global health leaders
Certification signals a hospital’s commitment to delivering the highest standard of stroke care.
A Complete Science to Certification Pathway
The Heart Association/Stroke Association’s stroke care journey reflects a powerful cycle:
Every course, guideline, and certification standard is grounded in the latest scientific research. This ensures that healthcare professionals and hospitals worldwide have access to the most current, evidence based tools to save lives and improve recovery.
Take the First Step
Whether you are an individual clinician seeking to strengthen your skills or a hospital striving to elevate system wide stroke care, your journey begins today.
Together, we can create a world where every person experiencing a stroke receives the highest standard of care—everywhere, every time.