First Aid at Work Certificate: What It Shows and How to Check It
27 October 2026 · 4 min read · Amber Training
Reviewed for accuracy by a qualified Amber Training first aid trainer.
A First Aid at Work certificate is the proof that someone has passed a workplace first aid qualification: either the three-day First Aid at Work course or the one-day Emergency First Aid at Work course. It lasts three years. Before you count anyone towards your first aid cover, check three things on the certificate: the full qualification title, who awarded it, and the date.
What the certificate shows
A certificate for a regulated workplace first aid qualification usually shows:
- The holder's name.
- The full qualification title, such as Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work (RQF) or Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF). The title tells you which course the person completed.
- The awarding organisation, such as First Aid Awards (FAA). This is the body that sets the assessment and checks the training centre.
- The date of achievement, and often the expiry date.
- A certificate number, which the awarding organisation can use to confirm the record.
"Level 3" and "RQF" mean the qualification sits at Level 3 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework. If the letters are unfamiliar, our guide to what EFAW stands for explains them.
Emergency First Aid at Work or First Aid at Work?
Both are called first aid at work certificates, but they are not interchangeable.
| Emergency First Aid at Work | First Aid at Work | |
|---|---|---|
| Course length | 1 day | 3 days |
| Suits | Lower-risk workplaces | Higher-risk or larger workplaces |
| Certificate lasts | 3 years | 3 years |
| Renewed by | Retaking the 1-day course | The 2-day requalification |
If your first aid needs assessment says you need a First Aid at Work first aider, an Emergency First Aid at Work certificate does not meet it. The free first aid needs calculator shows which level your workplace needs.
How long it lasts
Three years from the date on the certificate. Once it expires, HSE no longer considers the holder competent to act as a workplace first aider, so they stop counting towards your cover until they renew. Our guide to how long a first aid certificate lasts covers renewal, the First Aid at Work requalification and annual refreshers. To see a specific expiry date and the date to book renewal, use the first aid certificate checker.
How to check a certificate is genuine
Since 2013, HSE no longer approves first aid training providers, so the employer decides whether a qualification is suitable. When a new starter shows you a certificate:
- Read the full title. It should name Emergency First Aid at Work or First Aid at Work, not only "first aid".
- Check the awarding organisation. Search for the qualification on the Ofqual Register to confirm it is regulated.
- Check the date. It must be less than three years old.
- Ask how the practical skills were assessed. HSE strongly recommends that CPR, defibrillator use and the other practical skills are assessed in person. An online-only course cannot do that, as our guide to whether Emergency First Aid at Work can be done online explains.
- Confirm the record if in doubt. Contact the training provider or awarding organisation that issued it, with the holder's name and certificate number.
If a certificate is lost
Contact the training provider that ran the course. They hold the record of the result and can request a replacement from the awarding organisation, which may charge a fee. Have the holder's full name, the course and the completion date ready. If your team trained with us, email support@ambertraining.co.uk with those details.
A lost certificate does not change when the qualification expires. The date runs from the original course.
Keeping records for your team
Keep a copy of each first aider's certificate and a note of when it expires, so you can book renewal in time and show the evidence to an auditor or insurer. The free training matrix template tracks every course and highlights certificates due within 90 days.
Getting your team certified
We deliver Emergency First Aid at Work, First Aid at Work and the First Aid at Work requalification at your venue, for up to 12 staff per session, anywhere in England. Every delegate who passes receives an Ofqual-regulated FAA Level 3 Award, issued through Nuco Training and valid for three years. Certificates are issued by email the next working day.
See the Emergency First Aid at Work course, the First Aid at Work course or the requalification course, or book training. No payment until your booking is confirmed.
This article is general guidance, not legal advice. Base your provision on your own first aid needs assessment.
Frequently asked questions
What is a First Aid at Work certificate?
It is the certificate a person receives after passing a workplace first aid qualification: the three-day First Aid at Work course or the one-day Emergency First Aid at Work course. It shows the full qualification title, the awarding organisation and the date, and it lasts three years.
How long is a First Aid at Work certificate valid?
Three years from the date on the certificate. Once it expires, HSE no longer considers the holder competent to act as a workplace first aider, so renew it before the expiry date. HSE also strongly recommends a half-day refresher each year in between.
How do I check a first aid certificate is genuine?
Check the full qualification title, the awarding organisation and the date. Search for the qualification on the Ofqual Register to confirm it is regulated, and if you need to confirm a specific certificate, contact the training provider or awarding organisation that issued it with the name and certificate number.
What do I do if I have lost my first aid certificate?
Contact the training provider that ran your course. They hold the record of your result and can request a replacement from the awarding organisation, which may charge a fee. Have your full name, the course and the date you completed it ready.
Does a first aid certificate transfer to a new job?
Yes. The qualification belongs to the person, not the employer. A new employer can count it towards their first aid cover if it is in date and at the level their first aid needs assessment requires.
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.