How Long Does First Aid Training Take? (EFAW, FAW, Renewal)

Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) takes one day (at least six hours of training). First Aid at Work (FAW) takes three days (at least 18 hours). Renewing an FAW certificate before it expires takes two days, renewing EFAW means retaking the one-day course, and HSE's recommended annual refresher takes around half a day. Workplace certificates last three years.

Here is each in a little more detail, with what that time actually buys you.

At a glance

• Emergency First Aid at Work: 1 day, minimum 6 hours, certificate valid 3 years
• First Aid at Work: 3 days, minimum 18 hours, certificate valid 3 years
• FAW requalification: 2 days, taken before the certificate expires
• EFAW renewal: retake the 1-day course before expiry
• Annual refresher: around 3 hours, recommended by HSE (not a legal requirement)

Emergency First Aid at Work: one day

A single working day covers the emergencies that matter most in the first minutes: CPR and defibrillator use, the recovery position, choking, bleeding, shock, seizures and minor injuries. It suits most lower-risk workplaces, and because it fits in one day, it is the easiest to schedule. See what EFAW covers.

First Aid at Work: three days

The full qualification adds fractures, head and spinal injuries, chest and eye injuries, poisoning, anaphylaxis and major illnesses. Higher-risk and larger workplaces usually need it. The three days are normally consecutive; when we run FAW on site we fit them around your working week. See what FAW covers.

Renewal and refreshers

Both certificates last three years. The practical rule is to book renewal a couple of months before expiry: FAW holders can then take the shorter two-day requalification, whereas a lapsed certificate usually means the full three days again. In between, HSE strongly recommends an annual refresher of around three hours, because CPR and other hands-on skills fade quickly without practice. See certificate renewal.

Paediatric first aid

Early years settings follow a different standard: the EYFS requires a full 12-hour paediatric first aid course, usually delivered over two days. See first aid for nurseries.

Making the time work for your team

The biggest time cost is often not the course but the travel: a day at a public venue can mean a long commute each way. On-site training removes that entirely. We come to your premises, start when suits you, and train up to 12 staff together, so a whole team is covered in one day for EFAW.

We deliver Emergency First Aid at Work (£550 per session) and First Aid at Work (£1,500 per session) across London, no VAT to add and nothing to pay to book. Request a free quote and we will confirm within 24 hours.