Which First Aid Qualification Do Employers Need? Level 3 Explained
26 October 2026 · 5 min read · Amber Training
Reviewed for accuracy by a qualified Amber Training first aid trainer.
Most employers need first aiders who hold one of two Level 3 qualifications: the Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work, a one-day course for lower-risk workplaces, or the Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work, a three-day course for higher-risk workplaces. Both are regulated by Ofqual, both certificates are valid for three years, and your first aid needs assessment decides which one your first aiders need.
The two workplace first aid qualifications
| Emergency First Aid at Work | First Aid at Work | |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification | Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF) | Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work (RQF) |
| Course length | 1 day, at least 6 hours of teaching | 3 days, at least 18 hours of teaching |
| Suits | Offices, shops, hospitality and other lower-risk workplaces | Construction, warehousing, manufacturing, care and other higher-risk workplaces |
| Covers | CPR and defibrillator use, the unresponsive casualty, choking, bleeding, shock and minor injuries | Everything in Emergency First Aid at Work, plus fractures, head and spinal injuries, serious burns and scalds, eye injuries, poisoning and medical emergencies such as heart attack, stroke, asthma and anaphylaxis |
| Valid for | 3 years | 3 years |
| Renewal | Retake the 1-day course | 2-day requalification course before expiry |
Our guide to Emergency First Aid at Work or First Aid at Work works through the choice for different workplaces.
What "Level 3" means
"Level 3" is the qualification's level on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), the framework Ofqual uses for regulated qualifications in England. It describes the level of the qualification, not a third stage you reach after Levels 1 and 2. Both workplace first aid qualifications sit at Level 3, so "first aid level 3" can mean either course. The full title on the certificate tells you which one a person holds.
Why Ofqual regulation matters
Since October 2013, HSE no longer approves first aid training providers. Employers choose a provider themselves and are expected to check that it is competent. HSE's guidance for employers on selecting a provider describes several routes, and a regulated qualification is the one that is simplest to evidence:
- The qualification is awarded by an awarding organisation recognised by Ofqual, which sets the content and assessment and checks the training centres that deliver it.
- The certificate shows the qualification title, level and date, so an auditor, client or inspector can see what was achieved and when it expires.
- The course follows a set minimum number of teaching hours and assesses practical skills in person.
Our guide to choosing a first aid training provider sets out the questions to ask.
Which qualification your workplace needs
The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 do not name a course. Your first aid needs assessment decides, based on your hazards, headcount, work patterns and distance from emergency services. As a starting point from HSE's guidance:
- Lower-hazard workplaces with 25 to 50 people need at least one first aider trained in Emergency First Aid at Work. Above 50, HSE suggests at least one First Aid at Work first aider for every 100 people (or part of 100).
- Higher-hazard workplaces with 5 to 50 people need at least one first aider trained in Emergency First Aid at Work or First Aid at Work, depending on the injuries that could occur. Above 50, at least one First Aid at Work first aider for every 50 people (or part of 50).
- Smaller workplaces may only need an appointed person, who does not need a qualification.
The first aid needs calculator applies these figures to your own workplace.
How long the qualification lasts
Both certificates are valid for three years from the date on the certificate. Once a certificate expires, the holder no longer counts as a qualified first aider until they requalify, so plan renewal before the expiry date. HSE also strongly recommends a short annual refresher during the three years, because skills such as CPR fade without practice.
Our free first aid certificate checker works out the expiry, renewal and refresher dates for each first aider.
Requalification
- First Aid at Work is renewed with the two-day First Aid at Work Requalification, taken before the certificate expires. It leads to a new three-year First Aid at Work certificate.
- Emergency First Aid at Work has no shorter version, so it is renewed by retaking the one-day course.
Our guide to how long a first aid certificate lasts covers what happens if a certificate has already lapsed.
Our qualifications
Every delegate who passes our Emergency First Aid at Work, First Aid at Work or First Aid at Work Requalification course receives an Ofqual-regulated FAA Level 3 Award (First Aid Awards), issued through Nuco Training and valid for three years. Certificates are issued by email the next working day. See our accreditation and credentials page for the detail an auditor needs.
We deliver every course as in-house first aid training at your venue, anywhere in England. 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
What qualification does a workplace first aider need?
A workplace first aider needs a current first aid qualification suited to the workplace's first aid needs assessment. For most lower-risk workplaces that is a Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (one day). For higher-risk workplaces, or where the assessment calls for a wider range of skills, it is a Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work (three days).
What is a Level 3 first aid qualification?
Level 3 refers to the qualification's level on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), which Ofqual regulates in England. The two workplace first aid qualifications, Emergency First Aid at Work and First Aid at Work, are both Level 3 Awards. Level 3 is not a third course in a series.
Is Emergency First Aid at Work a Level 3 qualification?
Yes. Emergency First Aid at Work is a Level 3 Award on the RQF. It is a one-day course with at least six hours of teaching, and the certificate is valid for three years.
How long is a first aid at work qualification valid?
Three years from the date on the certificate, for both Emergency First Aid at Work and First Aid at Work. HSE strongly recommends a short annual refresher during those three years.
Does HSE approve first aid training providers?
Not since 1 October 2013. Employers now choose a competent training provider themselves. HSE's guidance for employers on selecting a provider explains the checks to make, and a regulated qualification from an Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation is one of the routes it describes.
How is a First Aid at Work qualification renewed?
With a two-day First Aid at Work Requalification course before the certificate expires, which leads to a new three-year certificate. Emergency First Aid at Work is renewed by retaking the one-day course.
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.