How long is a First Aid at Work certificate valid for, and how do I renew it?

Question Answer

A First Aid at Work (FAW) certificate is valid for 3 years. Renewal is a 2-day FAW Requalification course, taken before the certificate expires. Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) is also valid for 3 years, renewed by retaking the 1-day course. The HSE recommends an annual skills refresher between full renewals, though it is not a legal requirement.

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Key facts

FAW certificate: 3-day course, valid 3 years from the date of qualification.
EFAW certificate: 1-day course, valid 3 years from the date of qualification.
Requalification: 2-day FAW Requalification course; book before the certificate expires.
Annual refresher: Half-day skills update recommended by HSE every year between full renewals. Not legally required, but expected by some employers.
If a certificate lapses by more than 1 month past expiry, the holder must retake the full 3-day FAW course rather than the 2-day requalification.
The required number of qualified first-aiders is set by the employer’s first aid needs assessment, not by a fixed legal ratio.

FAW and EFAW: which one is right for the workplace?

Both First Aid at Work and Emergency First Aid at Work are HSE-aligned qualifications, regulated at RQF Level 3 by Ofqual-recognised awarding bodies. The difference is depth and audience.

Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) is a 1-day course covering the basics: assessing an incident, primary survey, CPR and AED use, choking, basic wound and bleed management, and shock. Suited to lower-risk workplaces (typical office, retail and low-hazard environments).
First Aid at Work (FAW) is a 3-day course covering everything in EFAW plus a wider syllabus: chest injuries, head and spinal injuries, fractures and dislocations, burns, poisoning, anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes, seizures, heart attacks and strokes. Suited to higher-risk workplaces including most construction sites.

The employer’s first aid needs assessment determines which qualification is required and how many qualified first-aiders are needed. A typical construction site of 30 operatives would normally need at least one FAW-qualified first-aider on site at all times.

Why the 3-year validity?

The 3-year validity is the HSE-aligned standard for both FAW and EFAW. Skills decay quickly in first aid because the techniques are infrequently used. CPR, AED use, recovery position handling and bleed control all require the kind of hand-on rehearsal that a classroom retest provides. The HSE’s position is that a 3-year cycle plus an optional annual refresher is the right balance between cost, time and skill retention. Many employers run the annual refresher as a half-day in-house session.

How to renew a First Aid at Work certificate

The standard renewal route is the 2-day FAW Requalification course. It is shorter than the full 3-day FAW because the candidate already has the underpinning knowledge. The 2 days cover refresher content on the full syllabus, scenario rehearsal, CPR and AED retest, and a final assessment. Pass and the new certificate is valid for another 3 years. The 2-day requalification is only available if your existing FAW certificate is still in date or has lapsed by less than 1 month. Past that, you must retake the full 3-day FAW course.

How to renew an Emergency First Aid at Work certificate

EFAW renews by retaking the 1-day EFAW course. There is no shorter requalification for EFAW; the course is short enough to be retaken in full. Once passed, the new certificate is valid for another 3 years. The same lapsed-certificate rule applies: leave it longer than the certificate expiry and you simply repeat the 1-day course.

The annual refresher: when to book it

The HSE recommends a 3–6 hour annual refresher between full renewals. It is not a legal requirement. The case for booking it: first aid skills decay measurably over 12 months, especially CPR rate and depth, AED operation and recovery position handling. The case against: cost and downtime when the legal duty is already met by the 3-year certificate. Many construction employers compromise on a half-day in-house refresher led by an existing FAW-qualified team member. If your workforce is high-risk or remote, the annual refresher is a sound investment. If your team is small and the certificates are mid-cycle, the refresher can usually wait.

What if my certificate has already expired?

If your FAW certificate has expired by less than 1 month, the 2-day requalification is still available. If it has expired by more than 1 month, you must retake the full 3-day FAW course. Either way, your status as a workplace first-aider is technically suspended until the new certificate is issued. If your role formally requires you to be the named first-aider on site, the employer must arrange cover until your renewal is complete. Call us on 01543 899706 and we will fit you into the next available slot. The FAW Requalification course page is here.

How many first-aiders does a workplace actually need?

There is no fixed legal ratio. The employer’s first aid needs assessment, required under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, sets the number based on the workforce size, the level of risk, the working hours, the layout of the site and the distance from emergency services. HSE guidance L74 sets out the assessment process. As a rough rule of thumb for construction: 1 EFAW-qualified person per 5–50 lower-risk workers, 1 FAW-qualified person per 5–50 higher-risk workers. Above 50 workers the number scales. Our trainers can talk you through the needs assessment when you book.

Quick answers to related questions

Can I renew my First Aid at Work certificate after it has expired?

Yes, if it has expired by less than 1 month. The 2-day FAW Requalification is still available in that window. After 1 month past expiry, the full 3-day FAW course must be retaken.

Do I need First Aid at Work or Emergency First Aid at Work?

It depends on the employer’s first aid needs assessment. EFAW (1 day) suits lower-risk workplaces. FAW (3 days) is the standard on construction sites. The assessment process is set out in HSE guidance L74.

Is the annual first aid refresher a legal requirement?

No. The HSE recommends a 3–6 hour annual refresher between full renewals, but it is guidance rather than law. Many employers run an in-house half-day refresher to maintain skills between the formal 3-year retests.

Last updated: 2026-05-21. Reviewed by the MPTT health and safety training team, IOSH- and NEBOSH-accredited instructors.

First Aid Certificate Due for Renewal?

Midland Plant Training & Testing runs the 3-day First Aid at Work course, the 2-day Requalification, the 1-day Emergency First Aid at Work course and annual refresher sessions. Centre-based dates roll throughout the year; on-site delivery available for groups. Tell us the number of first-aiders, the certificate expiry dates and your workplace risk level, and we will quote the right course and the schedule.

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