The APLS medical abbreviation most often means advanced pediatric life support, a training course that teaches doctors, nurses and other clinicians how to assess and treat seriously ill or injured children in the first hours of an emergency. You will see it on job postings, staff credentials and training records.
In a patient's chart, APLS can mean something completely different: antiphospholipid syndrome, an immune disorder that raises the risk of blood clots. That condition is more often written APS, but APLS still appears. Here is how to tell the two apart.
At a glance
Stands for
Advanced pediatric life supportOther meanings
Antiphospholipid syndrome, usually written APSWho takes it
Emergency doctors, nurses, paramedics, pediatric staffDo not confuse with
PALS, a separate pediatric resuscitation courseWhere you see it
Job postings, credential lists, training recordsRelated courses
BLS and ACLS; ALS has its own meanings
What the APLS course teaches
Children are not small adults. Their airways are shaped differently, their normal heart and breathing rates change with age, drug doses are based on weight, and they can look well until they suddenly worsen. APLS training focuses on these differences.
Course topics typically include a structured first look at a sick child, airway and breathing support, recognizing shock, seizures, serious infections, injuries, poisoning and other childhood emergencies. Teaching usually mixes lectures, case discussions and hands on scenarios. Content and format vary by the organization that runs the course and by country.
APLS medical abbreviation on credentials and job postings
Most of the time patients and students meet APLS in a list of training after a clinician's name or in hiring requirements.
Job posting: "Current BLS, PALS and APLS required for pediatric ED staff." The hospital wants staff in its children's emergency department (ED) to hold basic life support plus two pediatric emergency courses.
Like most life support courses, completion is usually time limited, so staff renew it on a schedule set by the course provider or employer.
APLS, PALS and other life support courses
Several courses with similar names cover overlapping ground.
| Course | Full name | Main focus |
|---|---|---|
| BLS | Basic life support | CPR and AED use for all ages |
| ACLS | Advanced cardiovascular life support | Adult cardiac arrest and rhythm problems |
| PALS | Pediatric advanced life support | Resuscitation of infants and children |
| APLS | Advanced pediatric life support | Broader early emergency care of children |
PALS and APLS are separate courses run by different groups, even though the letters look like a reshuffle. Some roles ask for one, some ask for both.
APLS as antiphospholipid syndrome
In a problem list or a hematology note, APLS stands for antiphospholipid syndrome. In this condition, the immune system makes antibodies that make the blood more likely to clot. That can lead to clots in veins or arteries, such as a DVT, and to pregnancy complications.
Diagnosis rests on a history of clots or pregnancy problems plus blood tests for the antibodies, repeated over time. The site's APS page covers the condition in more depth, since APS is the more common abbreviation.
Telling the two meanings apart
- Training clues: certified, course, current, renewal, required, staff, provider card.
- Patient clues: clot, anticoagulation, lupus anticoagulant, pregnancy loss, hematology, problem list.
If APLS appears in your own medical history, it almost certainly refers to the clotting disorder. If it appears after a clinician's name or in a staffing document, it refers to the course. For more about credentials on badges and forms, see the credentials and teams section.
This page is a plain guide to an abbreviation. Questions about a diagnosis such as antiphospholipid syndrome, or about training needed for a job, are best directed to your clinician or employer.
Frequently asked questions
What does APLS stand for in medicine?
APLS most often stands for advanced pediatric life support, a course in emergency care of children. In patient records it can also stand for antiphospholipid syndrome.
Is APLS the same as PALS?
No. Both are pediatric emergency courses, but they are run by different groups and differ in scope. PALS centers on resuscitation, while APLS covers a broader range of early emergency care.
Who needs APLS certification?
Employers may ask for it from emergency physicians, emergency and pediatric nurses, paramedics and others who care for acutely ill children. Requirements depend on the role and the hospital.
Is APLS the same as APS?
When APLS refers to a disease, it means antiphospholipid syndrome, the same condition usually written APS. When it refers to training, it has nothing to do with APS.
How long does APLS certification last?
It is usually valid for a set number of years and then needs renewal. The exact period depends on the course provider, so check the provider card or employer policy.