First aid training is essential for maintaining workplace safety and meeting your legal obligations. But with different types of courses, varying durations, and numerous training providers, how do you choose the right training for your workplace?
What type of first aid training do you need?
Let's identify the right course for your situation.
Types of workplace first aid training
There are three main types of workplace first aid qualifications, each designed for different circumstances.
First Aid at Work (FAW)
Duration: 3 days (minimum 18 hours of contact time)
Valid for: 3 years
Who needs it:
- Higher-risk workplaces (manufacturing, construction, warehousing, chemical work)
- Workplaces with 50+ employees
- Remote locations far from emergency medical services
- Any workplace where comprehensive first aid skills are needed
What the course covers:
Day 1: Foundation skills
- Role and responsibilities of a first aider
- Assessing incidents and casualties
- Managing an unconscious casualty
- CPR and use of AED (automated external defibrillator)
- Choking and airway obstruction
- Shock
- Minor injuries and wounds
Day 2: Injuries and illnesses
- Chest injuries and breathing problems
- Spinal injuries and suspected fractures
- Head injuries and concussion
- Eye injuries
- Sudden poisoning
- Anaphylaxis
- Heart attacks and angina
- Asthma attacks
- Seizures and diabetes
Day 3: Burns, bleeding and assessment
- Severe bleeding control
- Burns and scalds
- Electrical injuries
- Crush injuries
- Amputations
- Secondary survey and ongoing casualty care
- Multiple casualty incidents
- Practical scenarios and assessment
FAW training includes comprehensive practical assessment. You must demonstrate competence in various scenarios to pass. This ensures first aiders can perform under pressure when real incidents occur.
Cost: Typically £200-£400 per person, depending on location and provider.
Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)
Duration: 1 day (minimum 6 hours of contact time)
Valid for: 3 years
Who needs it:
- Lower-risk workplaces (offices, shops, libraries)
- Smaller workplaces (under 50 employees in low-risk environments)
- As a supplement to FAW provision
- Workplaces close to emergency medical services
What the course covers:
- Role and responsibilities of an emergency first aider
- Assessing incidents safely
- Managing an unconscious casualty
- CPR techniques
- Use of an AED
- Choking management
- Shock recognition and management
- Minor wounds and injuries
- Burns and scalds (basic treatment)
Practical assessment: EFAW also requires practical demonstration of skills, though less extensive than FAW.
Cost: Typically £80-£150 per person.
FAW vs EFAW: Which course should you choose?
Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)
- •Covers basic life-saving techniques
- •Suitable for low-hazard environments
- •More affordable and quicker to train
- •Good for initial coverage or supplementing FAW
- •Valid for 3 years
- •Typically £80-£150 per person
First Aid at Work (FAW)
Recommended- •Comprehensive injury and illness management
- •Required for higher-risk workplaces
- •Better skills for remote locations
- •More confidence and capability
- •Valid for 3 years
- •Typically £200-£400 per person
Bottom line: When in doubt, choose FAW. Even if EFAW meets minimum requirements, FAW provides significantly more comprehensive skills and confidence. Many low-risk employers choose FAW for peace of mind and better employee capability.
Paediatric First Aid (PFA)
Duration: 2 days (minimum 12 hours of contact time)
Valid for: 3 years
Who needs it:
- Nurseries and childcare providers
- Early years settings (Ofsted requirement)
- Schools with early years provision
- Anyone regularly caring for children under 5
- Childminders
What the course covers:
- Infant and child CPR
- Use of AED with children
- Choking in infants and children
- Management of an unconscious child
- Anaphylaxis and severe allergic reactions
- Asthma attacks
- Seizures and febrile convulsions
- Meningitis recognition
- Head injuries in children
- Broken bones and sprains
- Cuts, grazes, and bleeding
- Burns and scalds
- Drowning and water safety
- Poisoning
- Bites and stings
- Common childhood illnesses
Paediatric First Aid is a legal requirement for Ofsted-registered early years providers. At least one person with a full PFA certificate must be on the premises at all times when children are present, and must accompany children on outings.
Cost: Typically £120-£250 per person.
Choosing an approved training provider
Not all first aid courses meet the legal requirements for workplace first aid. Your training provider must be approved by a recognized awarding organization.
What to look for
HSE-compliant training: Training must meet HSE standards for content and duration. Check the provider confirms their courses are HSE-compliant.
Approved by a recognized awarding body:
- Qualsafe Awards
- First Aid Awards (FAA)
- Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance (HABC)
- St John Ambulance
- British Red Cross
- ProTrainings
- Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) providers
Minimum course duration:
- FAW: At least 18 hours (usually three full days)
- EFAW: At least 6 hours (one full day)
- Paediatric First Aid: At least 12 hours (two days)
Practical assessment: All courses must include practical, hands-on assessment. Be wary of purely online courses claiming to provide workplace first aid qualifications.
Online-only first aid courses do NOT meet workplace first aid requirements. While some providers offer blended learning (online theory plus in-person practical assessment), the practical component is mandatory and must be face-to-face.
Questions to ask training providers
Before booking training, ask:
- Is your course HSE-compliant and approved by a recognized awarding body?
- What is the trainer-to-student ratio? (12:1 is typical for FAW, maximum 12 students recommended)
- Is the course delivered face-to-face with practical assessment?
- What certificates do participants receive, and are they recognized for workplace first aid?
- Do you offer requalification courses, or must first aiders repeat the full course?
- Can you provide training at our workplace, or is it at your venue?
- What happens if someone doesn't pass the assessment?
- Do you offer annual refresher training? (not mandatory but recommended)
In-house vs public courses
In-house training (at your workplace):
- More convenient for staff
- Can be scheduled around your operations
- Allows training on your specific equipment and scenarios
- Usually more cost-effective for groups of 6-12 people
- First aiders familiar with the workplace layout
Public courses (at training venue):
- Good for training 1-3 people
- Fixed dates available throughout the year
- Meet other first aiders from different industries
- May be cheaper for small numbers
- Less disruption to your workplace
Manufacturing company saved money with in-house FAW training
A 50-person manufacturing business needed to train six first aiders to FAW standard. They initially considered booking staff onto public courses at £350 per person.
- ✗Public course cost: £2,100 for six people
- ✗Staff would need to travel to different locations on different dates
- ✗Time away from work for travel and full-day courses
- ✗Training wouldn't reflect their specific workplace hazards
They arranged in-house FAW training for £1,400 for up to 12 participants. They trained 8 people (two extras for cover) for less than the cost of 6 public course places. The trainer tailored scenarios to their workplace, and staff didn't need to travel.
For groups of 6 or more, in-house training is usually more cost-effective and convenient. You also get training tailored to your specific environment and risks.
Requalification requirements
First aid qualifications expire after 3 years. To remain a qualified workplace first aider, individuals must undertake requalification training.
Requalification vs annual refreshers
Requalification (mandatory every 3 years):
- Full course must be repeated
- FAW requalification: 3 days (18 hours)
- EFAW requalification: 1 day (6 hours)
- Paediatric First Aid requalification: 2 days (12 hours)
- Assessment required to pass
- New certificate valid for 3 years
There are NO shortened requalification courses. You must repeat the full course.
Annual refresher training (optional but recommended):
- Half-day or full-day skills update
- Not a legal requirement
- Helps keep skills current and maintains confidence
- No formal assessment or certificate
- Cost: typically £50-£100 per person
Many employers arrange annual refresher training for their first aiders even though it's not legally required. First aid skills deteriorate without practice, and refreshers help maintain competence and confidence between requalifications.
Managing expiry dates
Create a system to track when first aiders' qualifications expire:
Set up a register:
- Name of first aider
- Type of qualification (FAW, EFAW, PFA)
- Date of training
- Certificate number
- Expiry date (3 years from training date)
- Awarding body
Calendar reminders:
- Set reminders 4-6 months before expiry
- Book requalification training 3 months before expiry
- Allow time for scheduling - courses fill up
Build in contingency:
- Train more first aiders than the minimum required
- Stagger expiry dates so not all first aiders expire at once
- Have backup first aiders to cover during requalification
First Aid Training Management Timeline
Book FAW, EFAW, or PFA courses with approved providers
Consider annual refresher to maintain skills
Continue skills maintenance
Set reminder 3-4 months before expiry
Schedule full requalification course before certificate expires
Attend full course before expiry, receive new 3-year certificate
If a first aider's certificate expires before requalification, they are no longer a qualified workplace first aider. Don't let certificates lapse - book requalification well in advance.
Special and additional first aid training
Beyond standard workplace first aid, you may need specialist training depending on your risks.
Additional first aid modules
Anaphylaxis and auto-injectors: Specific training on recognizing severe allergic reactions and administering adrenaline auto-injectors (EpiPen).
AED training: Focused training on using automated external defibrillators. (Note: AED use is included in FAW and EFAW, but standalone AED training is available for non-first aiders.)
Mental Health First Aid: Separate qualification focusing on mental health crisis support. Not a substitute for physical first aid training, but a valuable complement.
Oxygen administration: For workplaces where oxygen therapy might be needed (diving, altitude work, specific medical scenarios).
Industry-specific first aid training
Outdoor and remote first aid: Extended courses for those working in remote locations where professional medical help may be hours away. Covers extended casualty care and improvisation.
Confined space first aid: Specific to rescue and treatment of casualties in confined spaces.
First aid for hazardous substances: Additional training for chemical burns, poisoning, and exposure to hazardous materials.
Marine first aid: For commercial vessels, offshore work, and maritime industries.
Sports first aid: For coaches, PE teachers, and those supervising sports activities.
Your first aid needs assessment should identify whether standard FAW/EFAW training is sufficient, or whether your workplace hazards require additional specialist training.
Training your first aiders effectively
Sending someone on a first aid course is just the start. Here's how to get the best results.
Before the course
Choose willing volunteers:
- First aiders must volunteer - you can't force staff
- Look for reliable, calm people who work well under pressure
- Choose people who are usually on-site during working hours
- Spread first aiders across different departments and shifts
Inform them what to expect:
- Course duration and format
- Practical assessment requirements
- Physical elements (kneeling, CPR practice)
- Study materials or pre-course reading if provided
Consider any reasonable adjustments:
- Discuss any health conditions that might affect participation
- Inform the training provider in advance of any access needs
- Ensure physical limitations are considered (e.g., CPR can be physically demanding)
During the course
Paid time: First aid training should be during working hours and fully paid. It's for the employer's benefit, not personal development.
Full attendance: Attendance for the entire course is mandatory. Missing even one session usually means no certificate.
Active participation: Encourage staff to engage fully, ask questions, and practice scenarios thoroughly.
Take it seriously: First aid skills are life-saving. The training is not a break from work, but essential workplace safety preparation.
After the course
Recognize and acknowledge:
- Thank first aiders for volunteering
- Announce who the first aiders are to all staff
- Display first aider names and photos prominently
- Consider small recognition (certificate presentation, mention in newsletter)
Provide equipment:
- Ensure well-stocked first aid kits are accessible
- Provide personal protective equipment (gloves, face shields)
- Consider first aid bags or belts for first aiders
- Make sure first aiders know where equipment is
Set expectations:
- Clarify what first aiders should and shouldn't do
- Explain how to summon them in an emergency
- Discuss arrangements for cover during holidays/sickness
- Confirm they understand their role and limitations
Practice and confidence:
- Arrange regular scenario-based practice sessions
- Encourage first aiders to support each other
- Consider pairing experienced first aiders with newly qualified ones
- Keep skills current with optional refresher training
Cost and budgeting for first aid training
First aid training is a necessary business expense. Here's how to budget effectively.
Training costs
Per-person costs:
- EFAW: £80-£150 per person (public course)
- FAW: £200-£400 per person (public course)
- Paediatric First Aid: £120-£250 per person
- Annual refresher: £50-£100 per person
In-house training:
- EFAW: £600-£800 for up to 12 people
- FAW: £1,200-£1,800 for up to 12 people
- Usually breaks even at 6-8 participants
Hidden costs to consider
Staff time:
- FAW: 3 days away from work per person
- EFAW: 1 day away from work per person
- Cover arrangements while staff are training
Requalification every 3 years: Budget for ongoing requalification, not just initial training.
Multiple first aiders: Train more than the minimum required for resilience and cover.
Equipment: First aid kits, AEDs, PPE, and replacement consumables.
Return on investment
While first aid training is a cost, consider the benefits:
- Legal compliance - Avoid enforcement action and fines
- Reduced injury severity - Early intervention prevents minor injuries becoming major
- Faster return to work - Appropriate first aid helps recovery
- Employee confidence - Staff feel safer knowing trained first aiders are present
- Insurance - Some insurers offer lower premiums for good health and safety practices
- Reduced liability - Demonstrating adequate provision reduces legal exposure
- Community benefit - First aiders' skills benefit their families and communities too
Consider first aid training an investment in your most valuable asset: your people. The cost of training is minimal compared to the cost of serious injuries, lost productivity, or legal action arising from inadequate provision.
Frequently asked questions
Not for workplace first aid qualifications. FAW, EFAW, and Paediatric First Aid must include face-to-face practical training and assessment. Some providers offer blended learning (online theory, in-person practical), but a substantial practical element is mandatory. Fully online courses do not meet HSE requirements for workplace first aiders.
Three years. FAW, EFAW, and Paediatric First Aid certificates all expire 3 years from the date of training. After 3 years, you must repeat the full course (there are no shortened requalification courses). Annual refreshers are recommended but optional.
Yes. First aid training is for the employer's benefit and should be during paid working time. You cannot require staff to train in their own time or at their own expense. Training should be free to the employee and ideally scheduled during normal working hours.
They won't receive a certificate and cannot act as a workplace first aider. Most people pass if they attend fully and engage with the training. If someone fails, they can usually retake the assessment or repeat the course. Discuss options with the training provider.
No. Being a first aider must be voluntary. You cannot include it as a requirement of an existing job role without the employee's agreement. However, you can advertise new positions with first aider responsibilities, and applicants can choose whether to apply.
No. Only requalification every 3 years is legally required. However, annual refreshers are strongly recommended because first aid skills deteriorate without practice. Many employers provide refreshers to maintain confidence and competence.
For early years settings (children under 5), Paediatric First Aid is required. For schools and workplaces with mixed ages, FAW covers adult and older child first aid. Settings caring for infants and young children must have staff with specific paediatric training.
Yes. First aid skills can be used anywhere - at home, in public, in emergencies. First aiders are generally protected by Good Samaritan principles when helping in good faith. The qualification is for workplace purposes, but the skills are universal.
Next steps
Ready to arrange first aid training?
- Determine what training you need - Use your first aid needs assessment to decide between FAW, EFAW, or specialist training
- Find approved training providers - Search for HSE-compliant courses from recognized awarding bodies
- Select willing first aiders - Ask for volunteers and explain what's involved
- Book training - Allow adequate notice for scheduling and booking
- Set up a tracking system - Record qualifications and set reminders for requalification
Not sure how many first aiders to train or what type of course you need?
Complete a first aid needs assessment →
Already have first aiders? Make sure you understand your ongoing duties:
Workplace first aid requirements guide →
Need help finding approved training providers, determining training requirements, or managing first aid provision across multiple sites? A health and safety consultant can assess your needs and arrange appropriate training.
Related articles:
- Do I need first aiders at my workplace?
- First aid needs assessment guide
- Dealing with workplace accidents
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