WSIB & OHS Approved · Canadian Red Cross Training Partner
First Aid & CPR/AED Recertification Courses
A first aid certification runs three years. A recertification renews it in a shorter day than the course you first took — same certificate, another three years, same Canadian Red Cross instructors.
Course Types
First Aid & CPR Recertification Courses
These courses refresh skills you already hold — four to eight hours with a Canadian Red Cross instructor, theory and hands-on practice in one sitting.
↻ Your certificate must still be valid. Once it lapses you retake the full course. Check the rules for your level.
- Training level
- CPR/AED Level C
- Prerequisites
-
Proof of a valid certificate from an accepted WSIB-approved or OHS-approved provider
Need not be Canadian Red Cross — this level is the exception.
- All in-class training
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Recert
4 hours teaching time
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Learn more
- Requirements
-
100% attendance of the course
75% score on the multiple choice knowledge test
- How often
-
Repeatable — several times in a row
CPR/AED Level A has no short version — always the full course. See CPR/AED courses.
- Certification
- Certificate will be issued, valid for 3 years
The shortest renewal we run: one morning on adult, child and infant CPR, AED use and choking relief. The only level whose prerequisite need not be Canadian Red Cross.
- Training level
- Intermediate/Standard First Aid & CPR/AED Level C
- Prerequisites
-
Proof of a valid Canadian Red Cross certificate
Ontario only: from a full training course, not a previous recert.
- All in-class training
-
Recert
8 hours teaching time
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Learn more
- Requirements
-
100% attendance of the course
75% score on the multiple choice knowledge test
- How often
-
Ontario
One short course, then the full course — you alternate between the two
Check the write-up on your certificate to confirm which course you completed last time.
Alberta
No limit — take the short course every time
- Certification
- Certificate will be issued, valid for 3 years
The renewal for Intermediate/Standard First Aid & CPR/AED Level C — one eight-hour day against the full course's sixteen. CPR and AED, bleeding control, bandaging, splinting and scene assessment.
- Training level
- Basic/Emergency First Aid & CPR/AED Level C
- Prerequisites
-
Proof of a valid Canadian Red Cross certificate
*NOTE: only available to Alberta residents.
- All in-class training
-
Recert
5.5 hours teaching time
9:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Learn more
- Requirements
-
100% attendance of the course
75% score on the multiple choice knowledge test
- How often
-
Alberta
Repeatable — take it several times in a row
Ontario
Not available. Book the full Basic/Emergency First Aid & CPR/AED Level C course.
- Certification
- Certificate will be issued, valid for 3 years
The renewal for Basic/Emergency First Aid & CPR/AED Level C — 5.5 hours, against 8 for the full course. Available in Alberta only. Ontario does not allow it, so Ontario students take the full training course instead.
Professional Responder
First Responder & EMR Recertification
Paramedics, firefighters and rescue teams renew on a longer course, with assessed scenarios, on top-tier equipment with instructors who work the field.
- Training level
- First Aid (FR) — Professional Responder
- Prerequisites
-
Proof of a valid First Responder Canadian Red Cross certificate
No alternating rule — renew as often as you need.
- All in-class training
-
Recert
20 hours in class
An expired certificate means retaking the full 40-hour course.
Learn more
- Requirements
-
100% attendance of the course
75% score on the multiple choice knowledge test
Successful demonstration of required skills
Successful completion of a minimum of one practical scenario
- Certification
- Certificate will be issued, valid for 3 years
Twenty hours in class against the full First Responder course's forty — same knowledge test, same skills demonstration, one assessed practical scenario.
- Training level
- Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)
- Prerequisites
-
Proof of a valid Emergency Medical Responder Canadian Red Cross certificate
No alternating rule — renew as often as you need.
- All in-class training
-
Recert
40 hours teaching time
An expired certificate means retaking the full 80-hour course.
Learn more
- Requirements
-
100% attendance of the course
75% score on the multiple choice knowledge test
Successful demonstration of required skills
Successful completion of a minimum of two practical scenarios (one medical, one trauma)
- Certification
- Certificate will be issued, valid for 3 years
Forty hours against the full EMR course's eighty. The deepest renewal we run, and the only one asking for two assessed scenarios — medical and trauma.
🔄 Find First Aid & CPR Recertification Near You
First Aid & CPR Recertification runs at 33 of our locations. Enter your city or tap My Location to see the closest ones first.
Where we run First Aid & CPR Recertification
33 locationsAwards & Recognition
Recognised as a Top 3 Canadian Red Cross Training Partner for 2023, 2024, 2025 consecutively.
2025 · National First Aid & CPR Provider
2025 · National Professional Responder Provider
2025 · Top 3 National Training Provider
2025 · Top 3 Provincial Training Provider
2024 · National First Aid & CPR Provider
2024 · National Professional Responder Provider
2024 · Top 3 National Training Provider
2024 · Top 3 Provincial Training Provider
2023 · National First Aid & CPR Provider
2023 · National Professional Responder Provider
2023 · Top 3 National Training Provider
2023 · Top 3 Provincial Training Provider
Why Coast2Coast
Why Workers Choose Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics for Recertification Training
Our courses check every box workplaces, healthcare teams and organizations need: WSIB approved certification, Canadian Red Cross recognition, 48-hour turnaround, and a free 90-day skills retake.
Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics
Canadian Red Cross Training Partner
- ✓WSIB approved programs across all CPR courses and first aid courses
- ✓Top 3 Canadian Red Cross Training Partner 2023–2025
- ✓Certification issued within 48 hours of successful completion
- ✓Free 90-day skills retake at no additional cost
- ✓Outstanding completion rate after certification
- ✓100+ courses and course dates available every week
- ✓Coasty AI First Aid, CPR & BLS study companion and tutor
Other Providers
Typical first aid & CPR training providers
- ×Limited WSIB approved course options
- ×Not a ranked Canadian Red Cross Training Partner
- ×Certificates may take 7 to 10 business days
- ×No free skills practice retake
- ×Lower success support for students
- ×Fewer course dates available each week
- ×No AI tutor or digital study support
Testimonials
Hear From Our Students
What Students Say About Our Courses
4.9
4.9 Google rating · 20,000+ reviews
Google Reviews
-
JC
Jaqueline Colton Coast2Coast Student★★★★★
I came as a refresher to my previous and active First Aid CPR-C and came out enjoying it more than my previous one three years ago.
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YK
Ying Kong Coast2Coast Student★★★★★
Very good. I learned a lot and teacher is so great.
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HJ
Heather J Coast2Coast Student★★★★★
Scott did a great job with our group course. Answered all our questions and kept the class light and entertaining.
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MM
Margaret L Murre Coast2Coast Student★★★★★
Elhamy was a very good CPR instructor — friendly and fast paced environment. I recommend this class.
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DW
Dana White Coast2Coast Student★★★★★
Scott F was a great teacher.
Verified Reviews from Our Students
Real feedback from participants, in their own words.
Student Feedback
Participants across our Red Cross network share their experiences.
Dozens more real stories. Real people, real results.
Before You Book
Which Certificates Can Be Recertified?
Every renewal needs a valid, non-expired certificate. Beyond that the rules change by level and by province — Ontario and Alberta differ.
See Recert DatesAvailable and repeatable — no alternating requirement at this level, in either province.
- Not necessarily Canadian Red Cross — any WSIB- or OHS-approved provider
- 4 hours, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
There is no shorter course for CPR/AED Level A — when it expires you retake the full course.
Consider Level C instead: it adds child and infant CPR plus two-rescuer technique. See CPR/AED courses.
In Alberta it is available and repeatable, 5.5 hours, 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM.
⚠ Ontario does not allow it. Students take the full course instead — see first aid courses.
Available in both provinces — 8 hours, against 16 for the full course.
- Ontario: you get one renewal only. After it, your next course must be the full 16-hour course, so you alternate between the two: full course, renewal, full course, and so on.
- Alberta: no limit — no alternating rule applies.
⚠ Ontario: check the write-up on your certificate to confirm which course you completed last time. If it says recertification, book the full course next.
Both are available at every renewal, as long as the current certificate has not expired. No alternating rule for either.
- First Responder — 20 hours in class
- Emergency Medical Responder — 40 hours
- Both add assessed skills and practical scenarios on top of the knowledge test
You May Also Like
Basic Life Support (BLS-HCP)
Renewing anyway? If you work in healthcare, this is the one to add — and the two together are cheaper.
Basic Life Support (BLS-HCP) is the CPR course for healthcare providers — fast, team-based CPR for hospital and clinical settings. Book BLS together with any first aid course and you get the bundle discount.
How the bundle works
- What to book
-
1 · First aid
Any First Aid & CPR/AED course or renewal
2 · Basic Life Support
Basic Life Support (BLS-HCP)
- The discount
-
Your BLS registration is discounted when you book both courses.
Two separate registrations; the discount comes off the BLS one.
- Renewal cycles differ
-
First aid 3 years, BLS 1 year
BLS comes round fastest — its renewal is 2 hours.
Inside the Classroom
The Skills You Will Practise Again
Why Coast2Coast
Why Recertify With Coast2Coast?
Our facilities carry current First Aid and CPR equipment, and every class is taught by a Canadian Red Cross instructor, not run as paperwork. Over 200,000 people have trained with us since 2014.
- 200K+People trained
- 35+Locations
- 4.9★Google rating
- 2014Training since
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Shorter than the course you first took
Four to eight hours against a full day or two — and the certificate is the same one.
-
You leave certified the same day
Pass and you get a temporary certificate valid 30 days. The PDF follows by email in 5–10 business days.
-
WSIB and OHS approved
Accepted for workplace compliance in Ontario and Alberta, the two provinces we train in.
-
Instructors who work the field
Paramedics, nurses and physicians teach every class — people who run these skills for real.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
My certificate has already expired. Can I still renew it?
No. Renewal is required every three years, and proof of unexpired certification is needed to attend a training session. Once your current certification lapses, participants book the full course again — so check the expiry date now rather than waiting until class day.
Does my certificate have to be from the Canadian Red Cross?
For first aid recertifications, yes — and your prior certification level must match the renewal course you are taking. CPR C is the exception: any WSIB-approved or OHS-approved provider counts toward a CPR C recertification. Individuals unsure can call us with the current certification in hand.
Can I do part of my recertification online?
Some courses offer online components for recertification. Blended learning combines online and in-person instruction, so participants complete the theory online before the practical session — it enhances flexibility in training schedules when a full classroom day is hard to book. Ask which dates run blended when you register.
Can I renew Intermediate/Standard First Aid every time?
In Alberta, you can take the recertification course as many times as you need, whenever your certificate is about to expire. In Ontario, the system is different—you’re required to alternate between taking the full course and the recertification course. To know which one you should sign up for next, just check the notes on your current certificate. The comprehensive 16-hour course offers extra depth, especially on handling strokes, cardiac events, and serious trauma—skills that are useful both at work and at home.
Why can't I renew Basic/Emergency First Aid in Ontario?
Ontario does not permit it — Ontario participants take the more comprehensive full 8-hour course instead. Alberta allows the 5.5-hour renewal, repeatable. CPR/AED Level A has no short course in either province, so that one is always the full course.
What do I need to pass, and when do I get my certificate?
You’ll need to attend every class and score at least 75% on the multiple-choice test to pass. For the more advanced Professional Responder levels, there’s also a hands-on skills demonstration and scenario assessments. Once you’ve finished, you’ll get a temporary certificate right away, so you don’t have to wait to show you’re certified. Your official PDF certificate will arrive in your email within 5 to 10 business days.
Is a recertification course accepted by WSIB?
Yes. Our training is WSIB-approved and OHS-approved for compliance in Ontario and Alberta, and employers and individuals both book it. Professional Responder training enhances workplace safety protocols; CPR/AED training can significantly increase survival rates. What it buys is your ability to respond effectively on site.
What actually happens in the classroom?
These programs help you stay up to date on the latest guidelines and give you a chance to practice essential skills like CPR and using an AED, controlling bleeding, bandaging, splinting, helping someone who’s choking, and spotting the signs of a heart attack or stroke. Everything is taught from the most current Canadian Red Cross manual, so you’ll learn about any updates and refresh your confidence to handle emergencies—whether you’re at work or at home.
What else does Coast2Coast run?
Youth courses teach babysitting safety skills, and mobile first response services are available for various events. Event first response services are essential for large gatherings — event organizers should assess risks to determine first response needs, then book the coverage that matches.
Renew before your certificate expires
Pick a city, choose a date, and register online in under two minutes.

