How Long Does a First Aid Certificate Last? (UK Guide)
Updated 26 October 2026 · 3 min read · Amber Training
Reviewed for accuracy by a qualified Amber Training first aid trainer.
A first aid certificate lasts three years. That applies to Emergency First Aid at Work, First Aid at Work and Paediatric First Aid alike. To keep a qualified first aider in place, requalify before the certificate expires, not after: once it lapses, that person no longer counts towards the first aid cover your needs assessment says you need.
How long each certificate lasts, and how to renew it
| Certificate | Valid for | How to renew |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency First Aid at Work (one day) | 3 years | Retake the one-day course |
| First Aid at Work (three days) | 3 years | Two-day requalification course before expiry |
| Paediatric First Aid (12 hours) | 3 years | A full 12-hour course again, because the EYFS only accepts certificates from a full course |
The date that matters is the one printed on the certificate. Diary each first aider's expiry date when they qualify, and book renewal about two months ahead so a busy period never pushes it past the deadline.
First Aid at Work requalification
First Aid at Work is the one course with a shorter renewal route: a two-day requalification instead of the original three days, covering the same practical skills and assessments. It is designed to be taken before the current certificate expires. See our First Aid at Work Requalification course for how we run it at your venue.
If the certificate has already lapsed:
- Up to one month after expiry: the two-day requalification course is still open.
- One to three months after expiry: whether the shorter course is enough is the employer's decision.
- More than three months after expiry: the full three-day course is needed.
In every case there is a gap in your cover until the first aider requalifies, which is why planning ahead pays.
How long the courses themselves take: Emergency First Aid at Work is one day, First Aid at Work three days, the requalification two days and a refresher around half a day. Our guide to how long first aid training takes has the detail.
Emergency First Aid at Work renewal
There is no shorter version of a one-day course, so Emergency First Aid at Work is renewed by retaking the full day. For many teams it is the simplest certificate to keep current: one session on site renews everyone at once.
Paediatric first aid renewal
The EYFS framework requires paediatric first aid training to be renewed every three years, and the certificate that keeps a setting compliant must come from a full course of at least 12 hours. In practice, renewal means booking the full course again. It also asks providers to consider annual refresher training in between. Our guide to full or emergency paediatric first aid explains which course counts for what.
The annual refresher in between
The Health and Safety Executive strongly recommends that first aiders complete a short annual refresher during the three-year certificate period. It is not a legal requirement, but skills like CPR fade without practice, and a half-day refresher keeps your team confident and your provision defensible if it is ever scrutinised.
Keep track and renew on time
Our free certificate checker works out the expiry, renewal and refresher dates for each first aider and adds reminders to your calendar. If you are not sure how many first aiders you should have in date at any one time, our guide to how many first aiders your workplace needs walks through it.
We deliver requalification and refresher training on site for up to 12 staff per session, anywhere in England, at one fixed, all-inclusive price. Book training or see all our first aid courses. No payment until your booking is confirmed. Confirmation by email within one working day.
This article is general guidance, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a first aid certificate last?
Three years. Emergency First Aid at Work, First Aid at Work and Paediatric First Aid certificates are all valid for three years from the date on the certificate. Requalify before the certificate expires so there is no gap in cover.
How do I renew a First Aid at Work certificate?
A First Aid at Work certificate is renewed with a two-day requalification course, ideally completed before the existing certificate expires. Emergency First Aid at Work is renewed by retaking the one-day course.
What happens if my first aid certificate has expired?
Once a certificate expires, the holder is no longer counted as a qualified first aider until they requalify. Emergency First Aid at Work is always renewed by retaking the one-day course. For First Aid at Work, the two-day requalification is open to certificates expired by up to a month. Between one and three months after expiry it is the employer's decision, and after three months the full three-day course is needed. It is best to book renewal before the expiry date.
How long does a paediatric first aid certificate last?
Three years. The EYFS requires paediatric first aid training to be renewed every three years, and only accepts certificates from a full course of at least 12 hours, so renewal means completing a full course again.
How often should first aiders do a refresher?
HSE strongly recommends a short annual refresher during each three-year certificate period, typically half a day. It is not a legal requirement, but CPR and other practical skills fade quickly without practice.
What is a first aid refresher course?
A short session, usually half a day, that keeps qualified first aiders practised in core skills such as CPR, defibrillator use, the recovery position and bleeding control between full requalifications. It does not replace renewing the certificate before it expires.
How long do first aid courses last?
Emergency First Aid at Work is one day (six hours of teaching), First Aid at Work is three days (18 hours), the First Aid at Work requalification is two days (12 hours), and an annual refresher is around half a day. The certificate from each regulated course lasts three years.
Book Emergency First Aid at Work for your team
Emergency First Aid at Work: 1 day at your venue, £645 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.