How long a first aid certificate lasts

Every figure about currency comes from someone, and the kind of document matters as much as the number. Each statement below is filed with its source and its kind.

1. Safe Work Australia: model Code of Practice

   First aiders should train regularly, both to refresh what they know and can do and to confirm they remain competent. Refresher training in CPR should be done every year, and first aid qualifications renewed every three years.

   National model code: “should”

2. State codes: NSW, Queensland, Tasmania

   SafeWork NSW’s code gives the same two figures for New South Wales. The Queensland and Tasmanian codes carry the model Code’s wording, regular training included, each for its own state.

   Each state’s code, for that state: “should”

3. WorkSafe Victoria: compliance code

   Employers need to make sure first aid officers’ qualifications are current and updated regularly; CPR training should be done every year, and first aid qualifications renewed every three years.

   Victoria’s compliance code, for Victorian employers

4. ACECQA: education and care services

   From 1 October 2023 the National Regulations prescribe currency periods for first aid qualifications. ACECQA explains how currency is counted under those regulations: an approved first aid qualification, approved anaphylaxis management training and approved emergency asthma management training are current for three years from when the qualification was gained or the training done, except emergency life support training and CPR training, which must have been done within the previous year to count as current.

   Mandatory requirements for education and care services

5. ACECQA: the industry standard

   ACECQA also describes an industry standard: renewing first aid qualifications every three years, along with anaphylaxis and emergency asthma management training, and doing CPR refresher training every year. It adds that Safe Work Australia’s code recommends regular training for anyone who must keep a first aid qualification.

   Industry standard, as ACECQA describes it

6. The unit documents

   HLTAID009, HLTAID012 and HLTAID014 each say that licensing and regulatory requirements, refresher training among them, should come from the relevant work health and safety regulator.

   A pointer to the regulators

7. Safe Work Australia: construction duties

   “First aiders can be workers or other trained people. They should hold a nationally recognised statement of attainment from a registered training organisation and attend training regularly to keep knowledge current.”

   Guidance on construction work

8. Australian Resuscitation Council

   The ARC’s guideline on basic life support training has its own section on how often training should take place. Read it in Guideline 10.1 (PDF).

   Clinical guidance, read at the source

ACECQA, writing about education and care qualifications, says a certificate should state the date the person completed the course, and may also carry a recommendation for refresher training. One certificate can list several units of competency, and each unit has its own currency period.

1. Workplaces

   Start with the work health and safety regulator for your state or territory, where the unit documents send readers. Safe Work Australia’s construction page explains how first aid needs are worked out: “A risk assessment will help you work out your first aid needs, like equipment, facilities and training.” Entry 04 reads the codes side by side.

2. Education and care services

   ACECQA’s page is the one to check: its currency periods come from the National Regulations.

3. Personal first aid skills

   NSW Health’s cardiac arrest fact sheet says it plainly: “It is important that first aid skills are up to date.”

If the certificate itself is lost, Entry 03 explains where training records are kept.