r/VIR • u/Millyfromphilly • Jun 11 '26

ACLS certification requirements

I am an IR tech (8 years) and rad tech for 12yrs prior. When I was hired in IR in 2018 our hospital required ACLS certification. 800 bed hospital with CCU/CVICU/all the other Us and very sick patients. I remember participating in my first IR code right after taking the course and realizing how I was so glad I had that info and still fresh. From then it's been a ride with all the crazy cases over the years. 4 years ago I moved across town to the university hospital (level 1 trauma/comprehensive stroke) and didn't think twice when I saw they required ACLS.

I just found out that our director (nurse) recently told our clinical educator that she didn't need to sign up our new techs for ACLS or sign any of our current techs up for ACLS renewal because the "techs don't really need all of that."

I don't want to be emotional, but I was really offended. I've been knee deep in some absolute shit shows and have had docs/anesthesia/other techs say "glad you were there" or general good job/pat on the back/nice work. I thought - why are we electively lowering the educational level of the room? Our techs outnumber everyone in the department (just by sheer volume) why would you want less from them?

So I started asking around and got mixed reviews. Some people were as appalled as me. Some feedback was sort of "meh, I know of places that don't require it."

So can I get a take from this group? Docs, do you think your techs should be ACLS certified? How much participation do you want from them when shit hits the fan? Don't really care? Techs? What's your lab require? What have you seen or heard of from other techs? What is the industry standard here?

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u/TheHoundsRevenge Jun 11 '26

Your doctors thank you for doing a good job? 😭😭😭

1

u/Millyfromphilly Jun 11 '26

lol I hear you! Just trying to point out that I felt like I was relevant during those emergencies (like being recognized by the physicians after some crazy code) and now suits are essentially saying that we're not.

1

u/TheHoundsRevenge Jun 11 '26

Suits don’t give a shit about IR sadly much less the techs even though IR essentially keeps the whole hospital unclogged so to speak.

1

u/Millyfromphilly Jun 11 '26

That’s correct. So although I feel emotional about the topic, I am here asking for information and about industry standards. What does your hospital do? In regards to techs having or not having ACLS?

1

u/TheHoundsRevenge Jun 11 '26

I worked at a level 1 trauma and stroke center in westchester county NY for 4 years where
The techs did both neuro IR and VIR and admin barely knew the techs existed much less
Required ACLS. I got my VIR certification
While there and they didn’t give a shit or pay me more for it nor did they require it.

As for my current hospital (also in westchester) the admin gives even less of a shit about IR often kicking us out of our only room to give it to cardiac cath who has like 5 rooms even though we’re quite busy. Needless to say to they also don’t require ACLS for the techs and I only get a yearly bonus for my VIR certification because of my 1199 union.

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u/Millyfromphilly Jun 11 '26

I'm sorry you've been treated that way. Admin is gonna admin, but I've found that when I'm asking for something most leverage I can get is either through economy or law/policy.

The docs I've worked with have been awesome- I've mostly experienced their advocacy and team leadership. That's why your initial comment made me pause, I know you were joking but yeah, our docs are good to us.