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If you’re thinking of becoming First Aid and CPR certified or are already certified, you may be wondering, “how long is First Aid and CPR valid in Ontario?” It is important to keep our certificates valid as many workplaces and school programs require their employees/students to be certified.
According to Ontario’s Regulation 1101, all workplaces must provide some form of first aid training to employees, depending on the safety risks they have. Workplaces must have at least one person trained in first aid on-site, and the certificate must be from a WSIB-approved first aid training organization. All first aid training must include CPR training and an AED certificate.
First Aid and CPR training must be updated regularly so that the skills learned are not forgotten, but practiced confidently if ever needed. That is why in Ontario, like the rest of Canada, First Aid and CPR/AED certificates are only valid for a minimal amount of time. It is important to remember your first aid and CPR validity period.
Need to Recertify your First Aid?
Importance of Recertification
First Aid and CPR training teach important life-saving skills. However, these skills can be forgotten over time, especially for people who do not practice them often. Studies have shown that even months after learning them, many of the important skills learned are soon forgotten.
Techniques, including basic CPR, can change as medical advancements find better ways to help people in emergencies. One example comes from CPR training – compared to the past, CPR now calls for more compressions and fewer breaths.
Recertification courses help keep first aid and CPR knowledge fresh and updated, ensuring people that have completed training can help victims in any type of emergency. Not only does the Recertification course keep your skills up-to-date, it also keeps your First Aid and CPR valid for longer.
What are the First Aid & CPR Requirements for different Workplaces?
Training requirements differ according to the rules laid out by WSIB Ontario for various companies. Some companies are only required to send their employees for emergency first aid training, while others must send them for standard first aid training.
If there are five or fewer employees per shift, then one employee present must have a valid certificate for Emergency First Aid & CPR/AED Level C training. For any company with more than five people per shift, a valid Standard First Aid & CPR/AED Level C training certificate held by at least one employee per shift is essential.
Some workplaces require their employees to recertify their certificates once a year, even if a certificate is still valid.
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How long are First Aid Certificates valid for?
The validity of most first aid certificates at Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics are three years, but some training providers outside of the Canadian Red Cross may issue certificates with an expiration of less than three years. To maintain certification, the person will need to complete the training again before the certificate expires.
Those with a Standard First Aid & CPR/AED Level C certificate can renew it by enrolling in a recertification course before its expiration date. This is a one-day renewal course, and the certificate will indicate that you have been recertified in Standard First Aid & CPR/AED Level C. In this course, the person learns about new methods discovered since their previous training and will practice many of the life-saving skills they originally learned. After a Standard First Aid & CPR/AED certificate is recertified once, the next time it expires, the candidate must take a full training course again. Keeping your certificate in First Aid and CPR valid is a simple task.
Emergency First Aid & CPR/AED Level C certificates, on the other hand, cannot be recertified in Ontario. If you wish to renew this certificate, you will need to register for the full training course again. We highly recommend registering for the Online Blended format of the course. With this format, you will be able to complete half of your training online, then come to class from just 9AM to 3:30PM!
What happens with CPR Training Certificates?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) differs from Emergency and Standard First Aid because it does not include any first aid training. The skills taught are important and based on recognizing and responding to cardiovascular and choking emergencies.
There are various CPR training courses where candidates learn to respond to breathing emergencies. Whatever the level of the CPR training (level A or C), candidates also learn to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
For CPR certificates to remain valid, they must be refreshed every three years. CPR/AED Level C certificates can be recertified over and over, but CPR/AED Level A cannot be recertified in Ontario. You must take the full training course again.
Are WSIB Certificates from other provinces valid in Ontario?
First Aid & CPR/AED certificates from approved providers in other provinces are valid in Ontario. Once the certificate expires, first aid training must be completed with a WSIB-approved first aid and CPR provider in the province.
Final take on First Aid & CPR/AED Recertification
Timely First Aid & CPR/AED certification renewal is crucial because it helps to keep qualifications up-to-date. Training must be renewed every three years (unless stated by your workplace/school program). The recertification course allows trainees to learn new life-saving techniques and procedures to help victims in emergencies. This course allows people who rarely use their first aid and CPR knowledge to renew and practice their skills.
Finally, when life-saving skills are practiced and re-learned regularly, they are completed with more confidence if they are ever needed. With this being said, confidence is essential in any type of emergency where assistance from a first aider is needed.
If you wish to register for a First Aid & CPR/AED Recertification course or a full training course, please be sure to check out which of our training facilities is closest to you. We provide training throughout Ontario. Keep your First Aid and CPR valid and earn a WSIB-approved Canadian Red Cross certificate today!
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