You need to maintain your airway management course for nurses skills, earn CPD hours, and meet your credentialing requirements. The problem is finding a course that fits your schedule, location, and clinical setting. Some courses focus on theatre nurses, others on emergency or critical care. Some offer hands-on training while others provide online theory. Searching through dozens of providers to compare content, accreditation, and pricing takes hours you don’t have.
This article breaks down seven CPD-accredited airway management courses available to Australian nurses. You’ll discover what each course covers, who it suits best, where you can take it, and what you’ll pay. Whether you need paediatric airway skills, advanced difficult airway techniques, or foundational emergency airway management, you’ll find options that match your clinical needs and professional goals.
1. Parasol Medical Training ALS airway support for nurses
Parasol Medical Training runs nationally accredited Advanced Life Support courses that include comprehensive airway management modules for nurses across Australia. The training combines emergency airway theory with hands-on simulation practice, delivered by experienced instructors who work in critical care and emergency settings. You’ll gain practical skills you can apply immediately in your clinical role.
Course overview
The ALS 1 and ALS 2 courses both cover airway assessment, basic and advanced airway techniques, and the management of failed airways. Your training follows Australian Resuscitation Council guidelines and uses scenario-based learning to build your confidence in high-pressure situations. Each course delivers evidence-based content aligned with current ILCOR standards.
Key airway skills you will learn
You’ll practice bag-valve-mask ventilation, oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airway insertion, and supraglottic airway device placement. The course teaches you to recognise airway obstruction, perform cricothyroidotomy assistance, and manage difficult airway scenarios using standardised algorithms. Simulation sessions let you apply these skills in realistic emergency scenarios.
Who this course suits
This airway management course for nurses suits emergency department, critical care, and theatre nurses who need to maintain or upgrade their airway management competencies. You’ll benefit most if you work in settings where airway emergencies occur or if you’re preparing for credentialing requirements that demand documented ALS training.
Delivery format and locations
Parasol offers blended learning with online theory and face-to-face practical sessions in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. You complete pre-course modules at your own pace, then attend a full-day workshop for hands-on practice. Regional courses run throughout the year in areas like Newcastle, Wollongong, and the Gold Coast.
Flexible delivery means you can fit advanced airway training around your shift work without taking multiple days off.
CPD hours and pricing
Each ALS course delivers 10 CPD hours recognised by nursing boards and colleges. Pricing starts at $495 for ALS 1 and $550 for ALS 2, with group discounts available for hospital bookings.
Pros and considerations
Pros: Nationally recognised accreditation, experienced clinical instructors, comprehensive hands-on practice, and iSimulate technology for realistic scenarios. Considerations: Full-day attendance required, limited to major cities and select regional locations.
2. Australian College of Nursing perioperative airway
The Australian College of Nursing offers a specialised online course in perioperative airway assessment and monitoring that targets nurses working in surgical and anaesthetic environments. This self-paced digital program focuses on the theoretical foundations of airway management rather than hands-on technical skills, making it ideal for nurses who need to strengthen their assessment and monitoring knowledge. You can complete the training entirely online from anywhere in Australia.
Course overview
The Perioperative Airway Assessment and Monitoring course delivers comprehensive education on airway anatomy, preoperative assessment techniques, and intraoperative monitoring strategies. Your learning covers difficult airway prediction tools, patient positioning, and the recognition of airway complications during surgical procedures. The course emphasises clinical decision-making and patient safety protocols aligned with perioperative best practice.
Key airway skills you will learn
You’ll develop expertise in systematic airway assessment using standardised scoring systems like the Mallampati classification and thyromental distance measurements. The program teaches you to identify risk factors for difficult intubation, understand anatomical variations that affect airway management, and apply monitoring techniques to detect early signs of airway compromise. Knowledge-based content prepares you to collaborate effectively with anaesthetists during perioperative care.
Who this course suits
This airway management course for nurses suits theatre nurses, recovery room staff, and perioperative coordinators who need theoretical knowledge to support their clinical practice. You’ll gain the most value if you work in surgical settings where understanding airway assessment improves your ability to prepare patients and anticipate potential complications.
Delivery format and locations
The fully online format allows you to access course materials through the ACN member portal at any time. You complete modules at your own pace without scheduled sessions or location restrictions.
Online delivery gives you the flexibility to study between shifts without travel requirements.
CPD hours and pricing
The course provides educational CPD hours through the Australian College of Nursing. Pricing and specific CPD hour allocation require ACN membership to access through their professional development centre.
Pros and considerations
Pros: Flexible online access, specialised perioperative focus, professional college recognition. Considerations: Theory-only without practical skills training, requires ACN membership for enrolment, no hands-on simulation component.
3. Critical Care Airway Management CCAM course
The Critical Care Airway Management course delivers intensive two-day training specifically designed for doctors and nurses who manage complex airway emergencies in critical care environments. This advanced-level program focuses on anticipated difficult airways and unanticipated emergency situations that demand rapid decision-making and technical expertise. You’ll develop systematic approaches to airway crises through scenario-based learning and hands-on practice.
Course overview
CCAM training provides comprehensive instruction in advanced airway techniques beyond basic airway management skills. Your learning covers systematic airway assessment, decision-making algorithms for difficult airways, and practical application of rescue devices when standard intubation fails. The course emphasises team communication, crisis resource management, and evidence-based protocols drawn from critical care and emergency medicine practice.
A condensed half-day CCAM Essentials option exists for clinicians who need focused updates on core concepts without the full two-day commitment. Both formats deliver structured content that follows international airway management guidelines.
Key airway skills you will learn
You’ll master videolaryngoscopy techniques, flexible bronchoscopy, and supraglottic airway rescue during simulated difficult airway scenarios. The training teaches you to perform front-of-neck airway procedures including cricothyroidotomy when upper airway access fails. Simulation sessions replicate “cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate” situations where you must apply systematic troubleshooting under time pressure.
Who this course suits
This airway management course for nurses suits intensive care nurses, emergency department specialists, and anaesthetic nurses who regularly encounter difficult airway situations. You’ll benefit most if you work in settings where advanced airway interventions occur frequently or if your role requires independent airway management decisions during resuscitation.
Delivery format and locations
CCAM runs as face-to-face workshops in major Australian cities with small group sizes to maximise hands-on practice time. Course locations vary throughout the year based on demand and regional scheduling.
Small group formats ensure you receive individualised instruction and adequate practice time with advanced airway equipment.
CPD hours and pricing
The two-day course provides CPD hours recognised by medical and nursing colleges for continuing professional development requirements. Pricing information requires direct contact with CCAM organisers through their website.
Pros and considerations
Pros: Advanced-level content, intensive hands-on practice, small group instruction, focus on critical care environments. Considerations: Two-day time commitment, higher skill level expected, limited course dates and locations, primarily designed for experienced clinicians.
4. Ausmed difficult airways online lecture for nurses
Ausmed delivers a focused online lecture on difficult airway management presented by clinical nurse educator Tony King. This digital learning resource provides theoretical knowledge about predicting, planning for, and managing challenging airway situations without requiring travel or extended time commitments. You access the content through Ausmed’s online learning platform at your convenience.
Course overview
The lecture concentrates on systematic difficult airway assessment and preparation strategies that help you anticipate potential complications before they occur. Tony King draws on clinical expertise to explain risk stratification tools, patient assessment frameworks, and decision-making approaches for managing airways that present technical challenges. Your learning focuses on developing clinical judgment rather than hands-on technical skills.
Key airway skills you will learn
You’ll gain knowledge about difficult airway prediction methods and the factors that increase intubation complexity. The lecture covers planning strategies for anticipated difficult airways and management algorithms when standard techniques fail. Theory-based content prepares you to recognise warning signs and contribute to airway management teams.
Who this course suits
This airway management course for nurses suits general ward nurses, recovery staff, and procedural area clinicians who need theoretical knowledge to support their practice. You’ll find value if you want to understand difficult airway concepts without advanced technical training requirements.
Delivery format and locations
The entirely online format allows you to watch the lecture from anywhere in Australia through your computer or mobile device. You control your learning pace without scheduled sessions.
Online access means you can fit professional development around your roster without location barriers.
CPD hours and pricing
Ausmed provides CPD hours for completing the lecture as part of their professional development offerings. Pricing varies based on subscription options or individual purchase through the platform.
Pros and considerations
Pros: Flexible online access, expert educator, focused content, no travel required. Considerations: Theory only without practical skills, lecture format limits interactivity, requires Ausmed platform access.
5. HETI NSW emergency airway education
Health Education and Training Institute NSW provides emergency airway education as part of their Step Up Course for registrars preparing to take charge in emergency departments. The 4.5-hour airway module combines ACEM online learning modules with practical components that cover basic through advanced airway management. You access theoretical content through the ACEM learning platform before applying concepts in clinical settings.
Course overview
The program delivers four ACEM modules spanning foundational to advanced airway techniques over two hours of online study. Your learning pathway builds systematically from basic airway assessment through complex interventions. Additional practical components extend the total module time to 4.5 hours, focusing on emergency department airway scenarios that match the realities of acute care environments.
Key airway skills you will learn
You’ll develop knowledge across basic airway opening manoeuvres, adjunct device selection, and advanced rescue techniques through the structured ACEM curriculum. The modules teach systematic approaches to airway assessment, decision-making algorithms for difficult airways, and management strategies when standard techniques fail. Content aligns with emergency medicine best practice standards.
Who this course suits
This airway management course for nurses suits emergency department nurses and registrars transitioning to senior roles where airway management decisions become more independent. You’ll benefit most if you work in NSW emergency departments or need structured airway education that integrates with broader emergency medicine training.
Delivery format and locations
The online ACEM modules provide flexible access through the digital learning platform, available across NSW without location restrictions. You complete theoretical components at your own pace before any practical sessions.
Digital delivery through ACEM platforms means you can progress through airway theory without disrupting your clinical shifts.
CPD hours and pricing
HETI provides CPD hours as part of the broader Step Up Course structure. Pricing and registration details require direct contact with HETI NSW for current offerings.
Pros and considerations
Pros: ACEM-accredited content, NSW health integration, structured curriculum progression. Considerations: Primarily designed for registrars rather than standalone nursing courses, limited practical component details, requires ACEM platform access.
6. RCH paediatric emergency airway course
The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne runs paediatric-focused airway management training through their online learning platform for healthcare professionals working with children. This specialised course addresses emergency intubation and airway skills specific to paediatric patients, where anatomical differences and age-specific considerations change your approach to airway management. You gain knowledge tailored to the unique challenges of managing airways in infants and children.
Course overview
The RCH course details the hospital’s standardised approach to paediatric airway management with particular emphasis on emergency intubation protocols. Your learning covers age-appropriate equipment selection, sizing considerations for paediatric airways, and RCH-specific protocols that reflect evidence-based paediatric emergency medicine. Content aligns with current paediatric resuscitation guidelines and the institution’s clinical practice standards.
Key airway skills you will learn
You’ll develop knowledge about paediatric airway anatomy differences that affect intubation techniques and equipment choices. The course teaches you paediatric-specific bag-valve-mask ventilation, appropriate sizes for oropharyngeal airways, and endotracheal tube selection based on age and weight. Theory-based content prepares you to understand the physiological considerations unique to managing paediatric emergency airways.
Who this course suits
This airway management course for nurses suits paediatric emergency nurses, children’s ward staff, and retrieval team members who manage airway emergencies in young patients. You’ll benefit most if you work in paediatric settings where understanding age-specific airway management improves your clinical decision-making and emergency preparedness.
Delivery format and locations
The online learning platform provides flexible access to course materials without location restrictions. You complete modules through the RCH digital education system at your own pace.
Digital access allows paediatric nurses across Australia to learn RCH protocols without travelling to Melbourne.
CPD hours and pricing
RCH provides CPD hours through their professional development offerings. Course access and pricing details require registration through the RCH online learning platform.
Pros and considerations
Pros: Paediatric specialisation, RCH protocol standardisation, online flexibility, evidence-based content. Considerations: Theory-focused without hands-on practice, RCH-specific protocols may differ from local practice, requires platform registration.
7. ATTAAC advanced airway management course
ATTAAC delivers intensive two-day airway management training that concentrates on effective strategies for both anticipated and unanticipated emergency airways. This advanced-level program provides comprehensive instruction for clinicians who need sophisticated airway intervention skills beyond basic techniques. You develop systematic approaches to complex airway scenarios through structured learning and hands-on practice sessions.
Course overview
The course focuses on practical decision-making for difficult airway situations that occur in emergency and critical care settings. Your training covers systematic assessment methods, equipment selection strategies, and rescue techniques when standard approaches fail. Content emphasises evidence-based protocols and team-based airway management principles that improve patient outcomes during airway crises.
Key airway skills you will learn
You’ll practice videolaryngoscopy, flexible bronchoscopy, and supraglottic device placement during simulated emergency scenarios. The program teaches front-of-neck airway access techniques and systematic troubleshooting algorithms for cannot-intubate situations. Hands-on sessions replicate high-pressure clinical environments where you must make rapid airway management decisions.
Who this course suits
This airway management course for nurses suits critical care, emergency, and retrieval nurses who manage complex airway emergencies independently. You’ll benefit most if your clinical role requires advanced technical skills and decision-making authority during airway crises.
Delivery format and locations
ATTAAC runs face-to-face workshops at the South Coast Simulation Centre in Wollongong, NSW. The two-day format includes classroom learning and simulation lab practice with small group sizes.
Two full days of training ensure you gain confidence through repeated practice with expert feedback.
CPD hours and pricing
The course provides CPD hours for nursing professional development. Specific pricing and CPD allocation require direct enquiry through the simulation centre.
Pros and considerations
Pros: Intensive hands-on training, advanced skill development, simulation-based learning. Considerations: Two-day commitment required, single location limits accessibility, advanced prerequisite knowledge expected.
Choosing your airway course
Your choice of airway management course for nurses depends on your clinical setting, experience level, and CPD requirements. Emergency and critical care nurses need hands-on training with advanced techniques, while theatre nurses benefit from perioperative-focused programs. Consider whether you need practical simulation time or theory-based knowledge to support your current role.
Check each course’s accreditation status to confirm it delivers recognised CPD hours for your professional college. Location and delivery format matter when you work shifts that limit your availability for multi-day workshops. Online options suit theory learning, but hands-on airway skills require face-to-face practice.
Parasol Medical Training delivers nationally accredited ALS courses across major Australian cities with comprehensive airway modules, expert instructors, and flexible scheduling options. Book your ALS course to develop practical airway management skills you can apply immediately in clinical practice.
