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How long does a first aid certificate last?

A practical reference for planning and record keeping. Confirm current scheme and employer requirements before booking training or authorising work.

Three years. HSE says First Aid at Work (FAW) and Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificates are valid for three years from the date the course was completed. After that the person no longer counts as a workplace first aider until they requalify.

FAW and EFAW at a glance

Course Minimum length (HSE) Valid for How to renew
First Aid at Work (FAW) 18 hours of training, over at least 3 days 3 years FAW requalification: at least 12 hours over at least 2 days
Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) 6 hours of training, over at least 1 day 3 years Repeat the EFAW course (same length and content)
Annual refresher HSE doesn't set a length Doesn't extend the certificate Strongly recommended, but not a legal requirement

The hours don't include breaks. An FAW course can be spread out, for example over four days, as long as it takes at least three days and no more than ten weeks.

Before the certificate expires

HSE's guidance is that employers should arrange requalification before certificates run out. In practice, book it about three months ahead. Courses fill up, and if one of your first aiders can't make the date, you could end up with less cover than your first aid needs assessment says you need.

If a certificate has already expired

From the expiry date, the person is no longer considered competent to act as a workplace first aider, so they shouldn't be counted in your cover.

HSE's guidance (L74) says someone whose FAW has lapsed can still take the two-day requalification course. It adds that the full course may be the more sensible choice, especially if more than a month has gone by, and that the employer decides which course to use. Some awarding bodies and training providers set their own cut-off for the shorter course, often about a month, so check before you book.

Annual refreshers

HSE strongly recommends a refresher each year in between, so skills don't fade. A refresher doesn't extend the three-year certificate. You still need to requalify before it expires.

How many first aiders do you need?

There's no fixed number. It depends on your first aid needs assessment, which looks at your hazards, how many people you have, shift patterns, how remote the work is, and cover for holidays and absences. For higher-hazard work, which HSE says includes construction, its suggested starting point is:

People at work Suggested minimum (higher-hazard work)
Fewer than 5 At least one appointed person
5 to 50 At least one first aider trained in EFAW or FAW, depending on the type of injuries that might happen
More than 50 At least one FAW-trained first aider for every 50 people (or part of 50)

These are suggestions only. HSE's own examples go further on some sites. In its case study of a remote wind farm, construction sites have at least two FAW first aiders on every shift.

Choosing a training provider

HSE stopped approving first aid training providers on 1 October 2013. It's now up to you to check a provider is competent. HSE suggests looking at:

  • the qualifications of the trainers and assessors
  • how the provider monitors and quality-assures its courses
  • the standards of first aid practice it teaches
  • the syllabus
  • the certificate it issues

Blended learning (part online, part in person) is accepted. HSE strongly recommends that practical skills are assessed by direct observation.

What changed in 2024

HSE updated its first aid guidance (L74) in 2024. Two changes are worth knowing:

  • Mental health: employers should consider their employees' mental health in the first aid needs assessment. There's no specific legal requirement to appoint mental health first aiders, but it's one of the options HSE mentions.
  • Life-threatening bleeding: the guidance now uses this term instead of "catastrophic bleeding". It suggests extra training, such as haemostatic dressings and tourniquets, in sectors like construction and in remote locations.

What this means for your training matrix

Record whether each first aider holds FAW or EFAW, the date they completed the course and the expiry date (three years later). Add the date of their last annual refresher. Set a reminder three months before expiry, and check your cover against each shift and site, not just your headcount.

Prefer a spreadsheet for now? Get our free training matrix template.

Common questions

Is there a grace period for first aid certificates? HSE doesn't set one. From the expiry date the person doesn't count as a workplace first aider. HSE allows the two-day requalification after expiry, but suggests the full course may be wiser if more than a month has passed. Training providers may set their own limits.

Does an annual refresher extend my first aid certificate? No. Refreshers keep skills fresh. You still need to requalify before the three years are up.

How long is a first aid requalification course? FAW requalification is at least 12 hours over at least two days. EFAW is renewed by repeating the one-day EFAW course.

Can first aid at work training be done online? Blended courses are accepted. HSE strongly recommends that practical skills are assessed by direct observation. Employers should do extra due diligence too, for example making sure the provider has a robust system to prevent identity fraud in the online part, and a proper way of assessing it.

Do I need HSE-approved first aid training? No. HSE stopped approving providers in 2013. The exception is specialist first aid training for offshore installations, which HSE still approves. Employers now carry out their own checks on providers.

Last checked against official sources: October 2026.

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