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Advanced Trauma Life Support® (ATLS®)

Demand for ATLS® currently exceeds availability. Please check back regularly for new course openings or contact your local delivery centre (details below). Kindly note, we do not maintain waiting lists for courses.

ATLS® is a global course, teaching a systematic process of trauma care for patients with life-threatening injuries.

Throughout this two-day interactive course, you will learn a range of comprehensive and adaptable trauma management skills relevant to all specialities.

The Royal College of Surgeons of England is the only provider of ATLS® in the UK, teaching a safe and reliable method of immediate management of severely injured patients. The ATLS® programme has been adopted in over 80 countries around the world.

The format of this hybrid course includes a state-of-the-art and interactive e-learning tool which will enhance your learning experience and reduce the number of days attending the practical sessions from three to two. The pre-course e-learning is a mandatory requirement for this course and must be completed by 7am the day before the face-to-face course. It will take approximately 20-30 hours to complete.

Due to demand and limited availability of course places, you must work in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to be eligible to attend ATLS.

View a list of our current ATLS® course centres (correct as of February 2023)

Please note, you cannot book regional course places through this website.

  • £910.00
  • 2 days
  • 34.00 CPD Points
£910.00
2 days
34.00 CPD Points
Course Options

Suitability

This course is only suitable for doctors at FY2 grade and above, equivalent staff grades, eligible advanced clinical practitioners (ACP) and eligible hospital-based dentists.
ACPs can check their eligibility for the course with their local ATLS® centre or the RCS.
A hospital-based dentist must check their eligibility for the course with the RCS.

FY2 GP SAS Core trainees Specialty trainees Consultants

Learning Outcomes

After attending this course, you should be able to:

  • Demonstrate the concepts and principles of the primary and secondary patient assessments.
  • Establish management priorities in a trauma situation.
  • Initiate primary and secondary management necessary for the emergency management of acute life-threatening conditions in a timely manner.
  • In a given simulation, demonstrate the skills related to ABCD which are often required during the initial assessment and treatment of patients with multiple injuries.

Format

ATLS® is a highly interactive course, taught using a variety of practical techniques including simulated patient scenarios, unfolding scenarios stations, group discussions and tutorials. 

Mandatory, pre-course e-learning

Before the course, you will be required to complete the pre-course e-learning consisting of an overview chapter, 13 modules and quizzes, and pre and post-module MCQs. It takes approximately 1-2 hrs to complete each module and may take up to 30 hrs to complete the e-learning. Full completion of the e-learning is a mandatory requirement to attend the course. Participants who have not completed the e-learning in full by 7am the day before the course will not be allowed to participate in the course and will forfeit their course fee.  

Course participants will receive access to the pre-course e-learning resources on the RCS VLE via notification with login details four weeks before the course at the latest.

Course participants are also required to read the ATLS® participant course manual in full to prepare for the assessments on the course.

Assessment

You will be assessed throughout the course and must pass all assessed sessions to pass the course and be awarded ATLS® provider status.

There are interactive sessions and clinical scenario stations and your performance of practical skills and contribution to discussions which test participants’ core knowledge will be assessed throughout these sessions.

On the final day of the course, you will take an MCQ test consisting of 40 questions with a pass mark of 30/40. If you are unsuccessful on the course you can take up to two resits within three months of the course. You will not be given your answer sheet or told which questions you answered incorrectly. Reading the ATLS® participant manual prior to the course is the best preparation for the MCQs - there are no lectures in the face-to-face component of the course; you must arrive with a high level of clinical knowledge. 

Moulage assessment will also take place on the last day of the course. You will be given a simulated clinical scenario and you will be assessed on the initial assessment and management of a patient according to objective assessment criteria. If you are unsuccessful in your first attempt on the course you will be given the opportunity to repeat the moulage assessment on the course using a different scenario. If unsuccessful, at the course director’s discretion, you might be given a final resit on another course. 

If you have not met the minimum standard to pass the course you will not be given the opportunity to re-sit failed sessions and you will have to successfully complete another provider course to gain ATLS® provider status.

Additional Information

Course content

The ATLS® course consists of the following sessions

  • Interactive discussions
    • Initial Assessment
    • Revision of the Core Content
    • Trauma at Extremes of Age
    • Trauma Team
  • Scenario stations
    • Airway (basic and paediatric, advanced and surgical)
    • Breathing
    • Circulation
    • Disability
    • Adjuncts
    • Restriction of the Cervical Spine Motion (ROCSM)
    • Secondary Survey
  • Moulage practice and testing
  • MCQs
  • Triage/Transfer and Handover
  • Interactive sessions and demonstrations

How to reverify your ATLS® Provider status

ATLS® provider status lasts for four years. To reverify, you can take our one-day ATLS® reverification course at any point within six months of your Provider status expiry date. 

How to become an ATLS® Instructor

While participating in an ATLS® course, you may be nominated as having Instructor Potential (IP).

Faculty are looking for participants who demonstrate excellent core knowledge, a commitment to the ATLS® principles and the skills and attitude necessary for the role of an ATLS® instructor. You must also work at ST 4 level (or equivalent) or above.

If you have been nominated as an ATLS® IP, you will need to attend an ATLS® Instructor course. Please take a look at our list of ATLS® Instructor courses

Becoming an ATLS® instructor is a fulfilling way to further your professional development while sharing your trauma management knowledge with motivated course participants and colleagues. Alongside this, we are always keen to hear from people interested in becoming faculty for other RCS courses.

A globally-renowned course

The Royal College of Surgeons is proud to be the exclusive provider of ATLS® in the UK. The course and methodology were developed by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) in 1978 and are now taught in over 80 countries.

Course Options

Regional ATLS Provider Courses

Mon
27
Jan
2025
-
Tue
28
Jan
2025
£750
Craigavon Area Hospital
Fully Booked

27 Jan 2025
-
28 Jan 2025

£750

Pricing notes:

Full price: £750

Course Fees:

Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.

For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.

Craigavon Area Hospital

Location:

Rosspark Hotel
20 Doagh Road
BALLYMENA
BT42 3LZ
United Kingdom
pwilson171@me.com
44 7759158324

Instructions:

Mrs P Wilson, pwilson171@me.com, 44 7759158324
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Fully Booked

Pricing notes:

Full price: £750

Fully Booked

Contact details:

Please contact the coordinator:
Mrs P Wilson
pwilson171@me.com
mailto:pwilson171@me.com

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Wed
29
Jan
2025
-
Thu
30
Jan
2025
TBC
Mid And South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Fully Booked

29 Jan 2025
-
30 Jan 2025

TBC

Pricing notes:

Full price:

Course Fees:

Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.

For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.

Mid And South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Location:

Basildon University Hospital
Nethermayne
BASILDON
SS16 5NL
United Kingdom
mse.atls@nhs.net
01268 598927

Instructions:

Mr W Alvares, mse.atls@nhs.net, 01268 598927
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Fully Booked

Pricing notes:

Full price:

Fully Booked

Contact details:

Please contact the coordinator:
Mr W Alvares
mse.atls@nhs.net
mailto:mse.atls@nhs.net

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Thu
30
Jan
2025
-
Fri
31
Jan
2025
£850.00
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
Fully Booked

30 Jan 2025
-
31 Jan 2025

£850.00

Pricing notes:

Full price: £850.00

Course Fees:

Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.

For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

Location:

Prince Charles Hospital
MERTHYR TYDFIL
CF47 9DT
United Kingdom
Louise.evans3@wales.nhs.uk
01685 728204

Instructions:

Mrs L A L Evans, Louise.evans3@wales.nhs.uk, 01685 728204
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Fully Booked

Pricing notes:

Full price: £850.00

Fully Booked

Contact details:

Please contact the coordinator:
Mrs L A L Evans
Louise.evans3@wales.nhs.uk
mailto:Louise.evans3@wales.nhs.uk

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RCS England Bjorn Saven Centre

Tue
18
Feb
2025
-
Wed
19
Feb
2025
£910.00
LONDON, United Kingdom
Fully Booked

18 Feb 2025
-
19 Feb 2025

£910.00

Pricing notes:

Full price: £910.00
All Current ATLS Instructors: £819.00
All Current Surgical Faculty: £819.00
RCS Affiliates: £819.00
RCS England Members/Fellows: £819.00
RCS England Surgical Associates: £819.00

Course Fees:

Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.

For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.

LONDON, United Kingdom

Location:

RCS - Bjorn Saven Centre for Surgical Education
35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields
LONDON
WC2A 3PE
United Kingdom
education@rcseng.ac.uk
020 7869 6300
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Fully Booked

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Thu
20
Feb
2025
-
Fri
21
Feb
2025
£910.00
LONDON, United Kingdom
Fully Booked

20 Feb 2025
-
21 Feb 2025

£910.00

Pricing notes:

Full price: £910.00
All Current ATLS Instructors: £819.00
All Current Surgical Faculty: £819.00
RCS Affiliates: £819.00
RCS England Members/Fellows: £819.00
RCS England Surgical Associates: £819.00

Course Fees:

Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.

For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.

LONDON, United Kingdom

Location:

RCS - Bjorn Saven Centre for Surgical Education
35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields
LONDON
WC2A 3PE
United Kingdom
education@rcseng.ac.uk
020 7869 6300
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Fully Booked

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Mon
10
Mar
2025
-
Tue
11
Mar
2025
£910.00
LONDON, United Kingdom
Fully Booked

10 Mar 2025
-
11 Mar 2025

£910.00

Pricing notes:

Full price: £910.00
All Current ATLS Instructors: £819.00
All Current Surgical Faculty: £819.00
RCS Affiliates: £819.00
RCS England Members/Fellows: £819.00
RCS England Surgical Associates: £819.00

Course Fees:

Please note, for courses held at the College, we require full payment upon booking. Take a look at our cancellation policy first.

For regional and international course payments and terms & conditions, please contact the relevant centre.

LONDON, United Kingdom

Location:

RCS - Bjorn Saven Centre for Surgical Education
35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields
LONDON
WC2A 3PE
United Kingdom
education@rcseng.ac.uk
020 7869 6300
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Fully Booked

Book online

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Continue to Booking

Further information and queries

Email

Phone us

Call 020 7869 6300 to talk with a member of our team. 

We are available to answer calls during our working hours of 8.30am–5:00pm, Monday–Friday and there is a voicemail outside this time. 

Related

RCS England educational bursaries
Thanks to generous contributions from our donors, we are able to offer a range of education awards every year. Winning an award gives you a sum of money to spend on attending an RCS course.
Information for ATLS Instructors
ATLS is a world-renowned multidisciplinary course, teaching a systematic process of trauma care for patients with life-threatening injuries.