Top online mechanical ventilation courses

Course Selection Criteria

• English language
• Easily accessible online, with no need for a formal application process
• Provide more than a collection of examples, references, and/or practice cases
• Relevant to most healthcare professionals, including physicians, advanced practice professionals, and nurses
• Providers must not prevent UK and EU residents from accessing their website
• Focus on adult critically ill patients (not paediatrics)
• Online (self-paced or live)

We gave top marks to mechanical ventilation courses that were offered online and self-paced, allowing you the flexibility to learn on your own schedule.

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Top Paid Resources

1. Mayo Clinic – Online Self-Paced Course 

The Mayo Clinic is a highly respected organisation in CME, providing a range of educational activities, including online options. They currently offer 1 online self-paced course on mechanical ventilation:

Mechanical Ventilation Online Course 

• Offers in-depth, clinically relevant, physiology-driven mechanical ventilation training. Content includes ARDS management, modes of mechanical ventilation, and VILI prevention.
• Case-based content is included.
• Access available from the date of purchase until expiry on April 20, 2028.
• Designed for an audience of critical care professionals, such as RTs, physicians, PAs, nurses, and NPs.
• 25 lessons covered in 15 hours 
• Jointly accredited by ACCME, ACPE, and ANCC
• 14.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, 14.75 ANCC credits, or 14.75 attendance credits

Although the total cost of the course is higher at 950 USD for 14.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, this amounts to 64.41 USD per CME credit, which is mechanical ventilation-specific and reasonable compared to several other options.

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2. Society of Critical Care Medicine

The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) was founded in 1970 and has offered its Fundamentals training program for over 25 years. The SSCM is a well-respected organisation within critical care medicine. The SCCM offers 2 self-paced online mechanical ventilation courses.

Airway and Mechanical Ventilation for the Critically Ill Patient 

• Provides essential training for a multidisciplinary team involved in the management of mechanical ventilation. 
• 12 online self-paced modules and a comprehensive eBook
• CME credits expire March 1, 2027
• 4.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACCME-accredited 
• Multidisciplinary target audience

Fundamental Critical Care Support Self-Study – Online + eBook, 7th edition

• Allows learners to build skills needed to manage critically ill patients.
• CME credits expire October 1, 2027
• 6.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACCME-accredited 
• This offering is not a dedicated mechanical ventilation course; the topic covers only a small portion of the overall curriculum.
  • 22 modules, but only 2 modules are on mechanical ventilation
• Includes eBook

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3. MedCram

MedCram was co-founded in 2012 by Roger Seheult, MD, and by Kyle Allred, PA-C, a primary care physician assistant. MedCram creates whiteboard-style online self-paced courses, some of which are CME-certified. Their courses are designed for a multidisciplinary audience.

They currently offer 4 mechanical ventilation courses:

Mechanical Ventilation Pearls Explained Clearly

• 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACCME-accredited 
• 5 lessons, 5 quizzes

Mechanical Ventilation Explained Clearly

• 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACCME-accredited 
• 5 lessons

Emergency Medicine/Critical Care “Survival Course”

• Approved for 10 CE credits by the California Board of Registered Nursing. You must check your local requirements to see if you can use this towards CE credits.
• Designed for nurses
• 5 sections covering wide topics in ER medicine, 1 section on mechanical ventilation that includes 5 lessons and 1 quiz

COVID-19 Ventilator Course 

• 4 CE credits 
• 2 sections, 13 lessons, 6 quizzes

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4. Pulmonary and Sleep Academy

The Pulmonary and Sleep Academy (PSA) is an online CME platform developed by physician experts in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine, offering online self-paced courses in speciality training for APPs, resident physicians, RTs, and medical students.

They offer 1 course that includes mechanical ventilation training:

Critical Care Medicine Academy

• Offers a broad review of pathophysiology and management of ICU patients
• Online self-paced lectures
• No expiry date listed for CME.
• Designed for a multidisciplinary audience, including APPs, medical students, residents, or any clinician needing a basic review of critical care.
• 22 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, 22 AAPA credits, and recognised by AANP and ANCC. EACCME has an agreement of mutual recognition of AMA credits. 
• 10 sessions total. One session includes mechanical ventilation training, and a second on pulmonary emergencies. 
• Cases are discussed, but the number of cases is not disclosed. 
• 22 hours of material

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5. Cleveland Clinic SEVA^Ⓡ Program

The Cleveland Clinic created the SEVA^Ⓡ Program (Standard Education for Ventilatory Assistance) to provide essential skills for the management of mechanical ventilation. 

To receive a certificate, learners must complete both online and in-person sessions. We will focus on the standalone online mechanical ventilation course option, which does not provide certification. You can receive CME credits (AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™) if you choose to enrol in a certification track later (e.g., by attending in-person sessions). The online-only option is self paced (no CME credits). 

This program is designed for a multidisciplinary audience, including students, APPs, nurses, and ICU physicians. The online portions of the program include:

• SEVA^Ⓡ basic: covers basic concepts of mechanical ventilation
• SEVA^Ⓡ theory: covers physics and physiology of mechanical ventilation, as well as a review of the modes of mechanical ventilation
• SEVA^Ⓡ lab: allows you to practice concepts and waveform analysis using a simulator 

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6. BMJ Learning

BMJ Learning offers online courses on a range of topics to help learners expand their knowledge throughout their careers. Their courses are accredited, and the BMJ is a trusted source in medicine. They offer 1 online mechanical ventilation course:

Introduction to mechanical ventilation

• Short, online basic mechanical ventilation course to provide introductory and basic principles
• Designed for medical students, residents, hospital physicians, and nurses
• Provides 1 UK CPD point. Always check with your local regulatory body to see if UK CPD credits are accepted. 
• No expiry date listed for CPD credits. Their website states the course was updated Feb. 27, 2023.
• 1 hour of content

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7. Creighton University

Creighton University, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is known for its health sciences programs. They offer 2 online self-paced courses, 1 of which is a mechanical ventilation course.

Mechanical Ventilation Essentials: Principles, Modes, and Patient-Centered Strategies

• 1-2 hours of content, including a discussion of modes of mechanical ventilation
• 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, 2 hours of nursing CE, or 2 hours pharmacy CE
• Price: 25 USD

Advanced Critical Care Therapeutics

• 16 self-paced online modules
• Focus is on the pharmacologic management of acute diseases like stroke, ACS, etc
• 30 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, 30 hours of nursing CE, or 30 hours pharmacy CE
• If you’re looking for a dedicated mechanical ventilation course, note that this topic makes up only a small portion of the curriculum.
• Only 1 out of 18 sections covers mechanical ventilation, but you can purchase this section on its own as above (Mechanical Ventilation Essentials)

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8. Mechanical Ventilation Training Institute

The Mechanical Ventilation Training Institute (MVTI) was founded in 2022 and specialises in mechanical ventilation education. 

They offer 3 courses. The Prehospital Ventilator Life Support (PHVLS) course is an in-person course designed for EMS professionals. The Advanced Ventilator Life Support (AVLS)™  is another in-person advanced mechanical ventilation course designed for multidisciplinary clinicians working in the Emergency Department. 

The Basic Ventilator Life Support (BVLS) course is the only online course offered by MVTI, and is a basic mechanical ventilation course providing: 

• A comprehensive foundation on mechanical ventilation
• Self-paced online format
• 6 h of lessons
• Quizzes and downloadable study guide
• 8 hours of CE for EMS and nurses
• 3-year certification

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9. Oakstone CME

Oakstone CME has provided CME through partnerships with renowned institutions, including Harvard and the Cleveland Clinic, for over 45 years. They focus on providing CME in self-paced formats with 24/7 access. Currently, they offer 1 online course that includes mechanical ventilation training: 

The Brigham Board Review and Comprehensive Update in Critical Care Medicine

• Scoping review of critical care topics
• Online self-paced, video-based
• Created by faculty at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston 
• 26.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
• 12 sections total, each with a few lessons. Only 1 section (Respiratory Failure) covers mechanical ventilation training.

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10. Hospital Procedures Consultants

Hospital Procedures Consultants (HPC) offers evidence-based procedural education designed for healthcare professionals working in emergency departments, hospitalist services, and ICUs. This company was founded by 2 physicians, Joseph Esherick and Richard Rutherford, who have been teaching this material for a combined 35+ years. 

HPC offers both live in-person and online self-paced courses. Their current course offerings related to mechanical ventilation training include: 

Hospitalist and Emergency Procedures Online CME Course, 4th edition

• 23 online modules covering the 20 most common bedside procedures in the ER, ICU, and hospital wards
• 16 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACCME-accredited
• Procedures covered include mechanical ventilation and noninvasive ventilation as part of the 20 topics
• Includes HPC Procedure Video bundle featuring 27 videos, PDFs of all lectures, a handout summarising airway management, a primer on POCUS exams, Adult Critical Care and Emergency Drug Reference Card, and a PDF of all 600 references cited in the course

Noninvasive and Mechanical Ventilation Course On-Demand

• Mechanical ventilation course online
• Video course
• No CME credits

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10. CHEST

CHEST, or the American College of Chest Physicians, is a well-respected professional association that provides education to pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine healthcare professionals.

They offer 1 relevant online course related to mechanical ventilation training:

Essential Critical Care Concepts for APPs

• An on-demand lecture series to provide an understanding of critical care medicine concepts, covering a wide variety of topics. Target audience: APPs
• Offers 23.25 credits for AANPCB points, RN credit, PA credit, or CME/CE credit. Over 23 hours of content 
• 9 topics total with over 23 hours of content. Course description mentions respiratory failure and mechanical ventilation as included content 

CHEST also offers a ventilator simulation game called Alarmed! A Ventilator Game. 

• This game is available as part of the CHEST e-Learning Library subscription.
• Allows you to practice mechanical ventilation theory, interpret ventilator waveforms, and compare physiologic changes across modes of mechanical ventilation
• No CME credit. Online, on-demand format.

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11. American Seminar Institute 

The American Seminar Institute (ASI) has been around for over 40 years, offering accredited continuing education in a self-paced format. 

They offer 1 course that includes mechanical ventilation training:

Pulmonary Medicine course

• Audio format, self-paced
• Audience: pulmonologists, emergency physicians, family practitioners, paediatricians, internists, general practitioners, APPs, and nurses
• 2 course length options are offered: full 14 days or short 7 days (2 versions of short option are offered, A or B)
• Covers multiple pulmonary topics, which include a discussion of mechanical ventilation (included in the full version and Short – Part A). There are 10 topics in the full version, and Short – Part A has 5 topics.
• The full course provides 20 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, while Short – Part A provides 10 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
• Price: 735 USD for the full course, 580 USD for the short course 

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12. Mayo Clinic – Online Live Course

The Mayo Clinic offers 1 live mechanical ventilation course online.

Mayo Clinic Mechanical Ventilation Conference 2026

• A mechanical ventilation conference on adult, paediatric, and neonatal management of mechanical ventilation. Also includes advanced topics. Happening from December 8-11, 2026, in Snowbird, Utah, USA.
• Attendance options include live in-person or live online 
• Designed for a varied audience, including physicians, RTs, mid-level providers, NPs, nurses, and PAs working in critical care
• Lasts 3.5 days
• If you missed the latest conference, it appears this has been an annual event since 2019 and should continue as such. 
• Jointly accredited by ACCME, ACPE and ANCC.
• You can earn up to 29.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, 29.25 AANA credits, 29.25 AAPA Category 1 credits, 29.25 ANCC credits, or 29.25 ABIM –  Medical Knowledge credits.

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13. Mechanical Ventilation Course

The Mechanical Ventilation Course provides a broad review of invasive and noninvasive ventilation, physiology, best practices, and disease-specific considerations. It is presented by the Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, from the University of Toronto, a highly respected institution in medical education. 

This mechanical ventilation course can be attended in person (in Toronto, Canada) or live virtually. The last iteration of the course was held in April 2026. This course has been offered annually since 2020 and will presumably continue to be offered annually. 

For those seeking a mechanical ventilation course online, the virtual attendance option makes it accessible regardless of location. 

• 24 sessions and 4 case discussions, over 3 days
• Audience: ICU interprofessional team, including physicians, RTs, nurses, PTs
• Focuses solely on adult mechanical ventilation training
• Hands-on mechanical ventilation workshop sessions available for in-person attendance only 
• Offers CME credits: Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and Canadian Critical Care Society (17.5 hours in person, 13 hours virtual); Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists CPD credits (17.5 CPD credits in-person, 13 CPD credits virtual). 
• The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons has international CPD agreements for physicians outside Canada. Always check with your local governing body regarding CME requirements.

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14. Harvard CME

Harvard’s CME is highly respected in medical education, offering an extensive course catalogue to facilitate lifelong learning.

For those seeking a mechanical ventilation course online, Harvard offers 1 option with enough coverage of the topic to make this list.

Principles of Critical Care for Non-Intensive Care Specialists

• Live online format from September 15-18, 2026.
• Provides an essential review of current critical care medicine for non-intensivists, including mechanical ventilation training. 
• Diverse audience including physicians across multiple specialities (ER, hospitalist, family medicine, ICU, cardiology, OB/GYN, surgeon, anaesthesia), NPs, nurses, pharmacists, and PAs
• Provides 39.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, which are recognised by NCCPA for PAs, AANP for NPs, and ANCC for nurses and also recognised by the European Union of Medical Specialists and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. 
• 76 sessions over 4 days plus 2.25 hours of self-study.
• 10 of these sessions are related to mechanical and noninvasive ventilation

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Final verdict

Every mechanical ventilation course on this list has something unique to offer. The Cleveland Clinic SEVA^® Program is worth considering if you want a simulator-based, hands-on learning experience. If you’re looking for a live, conference-style format with the highest CME credit yield, the Mayo Clinic Mechanical Ventilation Conference or the University of Toronto’s Mechanical Ventilation Course are excellent choices.

That said, our top pick for the best mechanical ventilation course online is the Mayo Clinic Mechanical Ventilation Online Course. It’s self-paced, solely focused on mechanical ventilation, and delivers in-depth, physiology-driven content from one of the most trusted names in medicine. With 14.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and a reasonable cost per CME credit that is specific to mechanical ventilation, it offers strong value, despite a higher upfront price. Access runs until April 2028, giving you plenty of time to work through its 15 hours of case-based content.

If you want a broader review of critical care alongside mechanical ventilation training, the SCCM’s Fundamental Critical Care Support course or the Pulmonary and Sleep Academy’s Critical Care Medicine Academy may be a better fit.

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Free #FOAMed resources on mechanical ventilation

Although we didn’t find any free ultrasound training providers that met 100% of our inclusion criteria, we wanted to ensure you still have some FOAMed resources to get you started. Here are some options:

1. LITFL resources

LITFL’s Critical Care Compendium comprehensively covers core critical care topics. There are 52 articles on ventilation.

2. Internet Book of Critical Care from PulmCrit (EMCrit)

The Internet Book of Critical Care (IBCC) is an online textbook written by Josh Farkas, MD, associate professor of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Vermont. Chapters of interest on mechanical ventilation include:

• ARDS 
• Asthma 
• COPD 

3. Society of Mechanical Ventilation

An organisation dedicated to free medical education on the topic of mechanical ventilation. Their board of directors are a multidisciplinary group of healthcare professionals in Hawaii. They have a free video lecture library.

4. REBEL EM

REBEL EM (Rational Evidence-Based Evaluation of Literature in Emergency Medicine) was founded in 2013 by Salim Rezaie, MD FACEP, an emergency and internal medicine physician, to decrease the gap between the latest research and clinical practice. 

They have several articles on mechanical ventilation, including their series called Simplifying Mechanical Ventilation.

5. Cleveland Clinic SEVA^Ⓡ  VentRounds

Free bimonthly live conference to expand and maintain knowledge of mechanical ventilation. Held every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 2 PM EST, for 30-minute sessions. 

6. ICU Learning

Website created by Sami Safadi, MD, an associate professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine at the University of Minnesota, with a background in internal medicine, nephrology, and critical care. 

Provides an online mechanical ventilation simulator and video tutorials.

7. ATS Breathe Easy Podcast

A weekly podcast from the American Thoracic Society focused on pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. Example, Episode on mechanical ventilation in ARDS 

8. ICU REACH

A platform providing free education on critical care topics. They offer 2 free courses on mechanical ventilation. 

9. ICU OnePager

One-page summaries of critical care topics by Nick Mark, MD. Relevant topics for mechanical ventilation include:

• Overview of Ventilator Modes 
• ARDS 
• Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation 
• Weaning from the Ventilator 

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