Can Emergency First Aid at Work Be Done Online?
26 October 2026 · 3 min read · Amber Training
Reviewed for accuracy by a qualified Amber Training first aid trainer.
Emergency First Aid at Work cannot be completed wholly online. HSE strongly recommends that the practical skills of workplace first aid, such as CPR, defibrillator use, the recovery position and controlling bleeding, are assessed by direct observation. Some providers offer blended courses, where theory is studied online and the practical part is taught and assessed in person. Our courses are delivered entirely face to face, at your venue.
What HSE expects
The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide suitably trained first aiders, and HSE's guidance explains how to judge whether training is suitable. Since 2013 HSE no longer approves training providers, so the employer makes that judgement.
HSE's guidance for employers (L74) accepts blended learning, a combination of face-to-face training and e-learning, provided the employer checks the provider and enough classroom time is given to teaching and assessing the practical elements. HSE strongly recommends that those practical elements are assessed by direct observation. The practical skills are the core of the course: a first aider needs to show they can give effective chest compressions, place someone in the recovery position and apply pressure to a wound, and a trainer needs to see them do it.
Online, blended and face to face compared
| Online only | Blended | Face to face | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theory | Online | Online | In the room |
| Practical skills taught | Video only | In person | In person |
| Practical skills assessed | Not in person | In person | In person |
| Suitable for a workplace first aider | Not on its own | Yes, if the practical part is taught and assessed in person | Yes |
If a provider offers an online course for workplace first aiders, ask how the practical skills are taught and who assesses them in person. If they are not assessed in person, the course does not meet what HSE recommends for a workplace first aider.
Why practical assessment matters
The skills on an Emergency First Aid at Work course are physical:
- CPR on an adult manikin, at the right depth and rate.
- Using a defibrillator (AED) safely, from switching it on to placing the pads.
- The recovery position for an unresponsive casualty who is breathing.
- Treating choking with back blows and abdominal thrusts.
- Controlling bleeding with direct pressure and dressings.
These are hard to learn from a screen and impossible to assess through one. Our guide to what an Emergency First Aid at Work course covers lists the full content.
When online learning is useful
Online first aid content has a place. It can raise awareness among staff who are not first aiders, or keep trained first aiders familiar with the steps between courses. It does not replace the qualification.
The alternative: face-to-face training on-site
The main reason employers look for an online course is to avoid sending staff to a training centre. On-site training removes that problem. We bring the trainer, manikins, defibrillator trainer and course materials to your premises, and your team trains together in one day:
- No travel for your staff, and no venue to book.
- Up to 12 delegates per session, each assessed in person.
- An Ofqual-regulated FAA Level 3 Award, issued through Nuco Training and valid for three years.
- Certificates issued by email the next working day.
See how in-house first aid training works, or read about our Emergency First Aid at Work course. For higher-risk workplaces, the three-day First Aid at Work course is delivered the same way. To check how many first aiders you need first, use the free first aid needs calculator.
Emergency First Aid at Work is £550 per session for up to 12 staff, including trainer, equipment, certificates and travel. Travel within London and the surrounding counties is included; elsewhere in England, travel is confirmed with the agreement.
Book training. No payment until your booking is confirmed. Confirmation by email within one working day.
This article is general guidance, not legal advice. Base your provision on your own first aid needs assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Can Emergency First Aid at Work be done online?
Not entirely. HSE strongly recommends that the practical skills of workplace first aid, such as CPR, defibrillator use, the recovery position and controlling bleeding, are assessed by direct observation. Some providers run blended courses, with theory studied online and the practical part taught and assessed in person. A course delivered wholly online cannot assess those practical skills.
Is an online first aid certificate valid for work?
An online-only course can be useful for awareness, but it does not show that a person can carry out first aid practically. HSE strongly recommends that practical skills are assessed by direct observation, so check how any course assesses them before relying on it for your workplace first aid cover.
What is blended first aid training?
Blended training splits a course into an online part, for theory, and a face-to-face part, where the practical skills are taught and assessed by a trainer. HSE's guidance for employers (L74) accepts blended learning, with the practical elements taught in the classroom and assessed by direct observation.
Can First Aid at Work be done online?
The same principle applies. First Aid at Work is a three-day qualification with a large practical element, and the practical skills need to be taught and assessed face to face. Some providers offer a blended version with part of the theory online.
How long does Emergency First Aid at Work take face to face?
One day, with at least six hours of teaching plus breaks. Delivered at your venue, there is no travel for your staff and the whole team trains and is assessed in the same session.
Book Emergency First Aid at Work for your team
Emergency First Aid at Work: 1 day at your venue, £550 per session for up to 12 staff, including trainer, equipment, certificates and travel.
Ofqual-regulated certificates. No payment until your booking is confirmed. Confirmation by email within one working day. Private sessions for your team, not public courses.