Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I obtain a copy of the student manual?

All participants in a Student or Student Refresher course will receive a copy of the current ATLS Student Manual. If you do not take an ATLS course, manuals can still be be purchased. Visit this ACS online publications catalog at http://web4.facs.org/ebusiness/ProductCatalog/product.aspx?ID=230.

2. How does the hospital I work for become an ATLS course site?

All prospective course sites must be visited and approved by the Committee on Trauma State/Provincial Chair. For information on how to contact your S/P Chair, please contact your Regional Program Coordinator: http://www.facs.org/trauma/atls/staff.html.
Training of ATLS faculty (course directors, instructors, and coordinators) will be required if there are no local ATLS faculty on site.

3. How do I know who to contact at the ATLS program office if I have a question?

A list of staff members is available at http://www.facs.org/trauma/atls/staff.html.

Questions asked by Students
Questions asked by ATLS Faculty
Questions asked by ATLS Educators

Questions asked by Students

1. How do I find an ATLS course?

You can search for upcoming courses online: http://web2.facs.org/atls/existing.htm.

2. How do I locate courses that are coordinated by the United States military?

Contact the Military Training Network at 301-295-1468 or e-mail: mtnatls@usuhs.mil.

3. How many continuing medical education (CME) credits can be awarded following the completion of an ATLS course?

2 ½ day Student course – 19.5 credits
2 day Student course – 19 credits
1 day Student Refresher course – 7.5 credits
½ day Student Refresher course – 5 credits
Instructor course – 15 credits

4. For how long is an ATLS student status current?

After the successful completion of the ATLS Student or Student Refresher course, your ATLS status is current for four years from the last date of the course. Students have up to six months after their status expires to take a Student Refresher course.

5. How do I find out if I have a current ATLS provider status?

Please contact your Regional Program Coordinator: http://www.facs.org/trauma/atls/staff.html.

6. I have not received my ATLS provider card yet. Who do I contact?

Please contact the site coordinator with whom you registered for the course.

7. How do I obtain a new student card if mine has been lost or damaged?

Please contact your Regional Program Coordinator: http://www.facs.org/trauma/atls/staff.html.

8. How do I become an ATLS instructor?

If you are identified as having instructor potential in an ATLS Student or Student Refresher course, you may take an ATLS Instructor course. Upon successful completion of the Instructor course, an ATLS course director or state faculty member will critique you as you teach a lecture, skill station, and initial assessment station in an ATLS Student course.

9. How do I know who to contact at the ATLS program office if I have a question?

A list of staff members and the geographic areas they manage is available at http://www.facs.org/trauma/atls/staff.html.

Questions asked by ATLS Faculty

1. For how long is an ATLS faculty status current?

An ATLS instructor status is current for four years. Instructors have up to six months after their status expires to complete the reverification process.

2. How do I find out if I have a current ATLS faculty status?

Please contact your Regional Program Coordinator: http://www.facs.org/trauma/atls/staff.html.

3. How do I obtain a new instructor card if mine has been lost or damaged?

Please contact your Regional Program Coordinator: http://www.facs.org/trauma/atls/staff.html.

4. How do I obtain a copy of the ATLS Faculty manual?

ATLS Faculty manuals are only available to current ATLS faculty and Instructor course participants. If you have a current ATLS faculty status and need a new manual, please contact the site coordinator of the location where you teach most of your courses.

5. I sent in my Instructor Status Notification (ISN) form and have not received my test. Who do I contact?

The reverification process has changed for ATLS faculty. Please contact your Regional Program Coordinator: http://www.facs.org/trauma/atls/staff.html.

6. How many CME credits do I receive for teaching in an ATLS course?

Due to changing criteria in the awarding of CME credits, the ACS will not be offering CME credits for faculty members teaching the ATLS course. The American Medical Association will also not approve Direct Credit Applications submitted by faculty for teaching in an ATLS course.

7. I recently moved to another state. What steps do I take to continue my involvement in the program?

Please contact your new Regional Program Coordinator: http://www.facs.org/trauma/atls/staff.html.

8. How do I transfer my information from a society to a chapter?

Please contact the Regional Program Coordinator for the country you are moving from. It is important that you have information regarding the courses you have taken, and if you are an instructor, please have documentation of the different courses in which you have taught. A list of Regional Program Coordinators is available at http://www.facs.org/trauma/atls/staff.html.

9. How do I know who to contact at the ATLS program office if I have a question?

A list of staff members and the geographic areas they manage is available at http://www.facs.org/trauma/atls/staff.html.

Questions asked by ATLS Educators

1. How do I become an educator?

Information about the requirements and training process for educators can be found in this document: Educator Guidelines.

2. What is the role of an educator?

The educator’s first responsibility in an Instructor course is the planning stage. The educator is responsible for the following:
- Corresponding with the coordinator and course director before the course and submitting any additional materials for mailing to Instructor course participants.
- Disseminating information about teaching and learning, principles of adult education, and teaching strategies for the lecture and skills stations.
- Observing and evaluating the teaching qualities of each participant during the lecture microteaching sessions and skills-teaching sessions.
- Acting as a a role model of a successful teacher and effective communicator.
- Demonstrating successful teaching strategies through interaction with course participants.
- Conducting microteaching sessions while offering constructive, critical analysis of each candidate’s teaching effectiveness.
- Suggesting areas of improvement and future development of the instructor candidate.

3. Do educators have to reverify?

Yes. Educator status is valid for four years from the last date of the course in which they were successfully critiqued as an Educator Candidate. An educator must teach in four Instructor courses and audit one Student course in four years. A reverification packet will be e-mailed or mailed to educators six months before their Educator status expiration date.

4. Do educators have to update on the 8th edition?

Yes. All ATLS educators with an e-mail address on file will receive a link to the online update. If you do not receive an e-mail to update, please contact your Regional Program Coordinator. A list of Regional Program Coordinators is available at http://www.facs.org/trauma/atls/staff.html.

5. How do I know who to contact at the ATLS program office if I have a question?

A list of staff members and the geographic areas they manage is available at http://www.facs.org/trauma/atls/staff.html.

ATLS

Revised April 3, 2009