Many people with First Aid Certifications have questions about how long the first aid certifications will last and whether they need to renew them. So, how long does a first aid training certificate last?
In most cases, Online First Aid Training Certifications last for three years before they need to be renewed. But the HSE recommends a fresher course every year. When you complete your First Aid Certification Classes or an emergency first aid course, you will be awarded a certificate, which is valid for three years. When the time comes to renew your First Aid Certification, you need to take two days refresher course to get your new certification. This refresher should be completed within 28 days of the expiration date on your previous certificate.
Other types of First Aid Certification Training have different rules about renewal and expiry. For an instance, a pediatric First Aid Certificate needs to be renewed every three years but an AED defibrillator certificate is only valid for a year and you need to take a refresher course to renew it.
The Different Types of First Aid Certifications
The two main types of online first aid training courses are –
- First aid at work
- Emergency first aid at work
The course type that you need to attend depends on several factors. At first, you need to consider the risk level in your workplace and the potential dangers that your employees/colleagues face. This will give you a brief idea of the kind of treatments that you may be required to administer.
Your employer will carry out first aid needs assessments to find out the level of first aid certificate you need based upon the number of employees, the hazards on the workplace, and the overall health of the workforce.
Why Do First Aid Certificates Expire?
You may wonder why First Aid Certificates expire at all because once you have learned the skills that you require, you can proactively deal with any situation. We do not take the driving test once every three years, so why do we have to keep taking refresher courses to renew our First Aid Certification?
This may seem like a logical comparison, but this is not. First Aiders are only called upon on rare occasions and chances are that the situation might be new and you cannot use what you have learned in your Online First Aid Classes.
When skills like CPR or dealing with serious wounds or choking start to fade, this can lead to awful situations. So, if you keep on taking a refresher course once every three years, you will stay intact with those skills even if you do not have to use them that often.
Do You Need To Renew Your First Aid Certification?
Renewing your first aid certificate is crucial as this helps to hone your skills and ensure that you’re ready to respond to every critical situation. It is also essential as medical terminology always keeps on changing and new treatments are being developed all of the time. So, when you renew your first aid certification, you will improve your ability and learn new skills to administer first aid.
If you are looking to enroll yourself in one of the best Online First Aid Classes, we at American Safety Training Institute can impart high-quality, cost-effective, and flexible CPR Training programs online. Our Courses are ECC and OSHA-compliant and meet the International Guidelines for CPR standards. Get CPR Certified today!
