Which first aid course is right for me?

Which first aid course is right for me?

With a vast range of first aid training options available, choosing the correct pathway for your team can feel challenging. Ultimately, your training must align with the findings of your organisation’s official first aid needs assessment.

To make your decision as simple as possible, we have categorised our fully accredited UK courses below by industry, role, and environment. Next to each course title, we have indicated the required learning hours. Longer, comprehensive courses offer advanced clinical skills, while shorter courses provide targeted, emergency life support.

Once you identify the right programme, click the course title to view more information, check upcoming public dates, or request a bespoke private group booking at your venue.

Anyone over 14 years of age

Almost all of our first aid courses are suitable for candidates aged 14 and over. These entry-level programmes are ideal for individuals looking to gain vital, life-saving confidence:

• Baby & toddler first aid (2 Hours): Essential safety skills for family environments.
• Basic life support (adults & children) (3 Hours): Adult and paediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Basic CPR and AED training (3 Hours): Practical instruction on using Automated External Defibrillators safely.
• Emergency first aid at work (1 Day): Fundamental workplace first aid.
  • Note:
    • The HSE advises that employers should not rely on staff members under the age of 16 to act as designated workplace first aiders.
    • The Ofqual certified version of the course is worth 8 UCAS Points.

Those responsible for children

Babysitters, New and soon-to-be Parents and Grandparents

• Baby & toddler first aid (2 Hours): Designed specifically for home care.
• Basic life support (adults & children) (3 Hours): Quick, high-impact resuscitation skills.
• Paediatric first aid (2 Days): Comprehensive emergency care for babies and children. (Also available in blended learning format).

Childminders, Nursery staff, Primary school staff and those responsible for children under 18 years old

• Paediatric first aid (2 Days or as blended learning): Full EYFS and Ofsted-compliant training for childminders, nursery staff, and primary school teachers.
  • Required for staff caring for students under the age of 18.
• Basic life support (adults & children) (3 Hours): Immediate emergency response.
• Emergency first aid at work (1 Day):
  • “Adult” first aid to enable you to care safely for your colleagues and visiting parents.
• First aid at work (3 Days):
  • “Adult” first aid to enable you to care safely for your colleagues and visiting parents.

High school staff and those responsible for children over 18 years old

• Basic life support (adults & children) (3 Hours): Resuscitation basics.
• Emergency first aid at work (1 Day):
  • “Adult” first aid to enable you to care safely for your colleagues and visiting parents.
• First aid at work (3 Days):
  • “Adult” first aid to enable you to care safely for your colleagues and visiting parents.
• Paediatric first aid (2 Days or as blended learning):
  • Required for staff caring for students under the age of 18.

Workplace first aiders

Low hazard workplaces (eg: shops and offices, hairdressers)

• Emergency first aid at work (1 Day): Standard minimum qualification for small, low-hazard commercial locations.
• First aid at work (3 Days): Recommended for larger teams or high visitor volumes.
• First aid at work requalification course (2 Days):
  • This is strictly for first aiders whose three-day certificate is still valid or has expired by no more than 28 days.

High hazard workplaces (eg: cafes and restaurants, light engineering and beyond)

• First aid at work (3 Days): Essential benchmark for high hazard commercial environments.
• First aid at work requalification course (2 Days):
  • This is strictly for first aiders whose three-day certificate is still valid or has expired by no more than 28 days.
• Catastrophic bleed management (3 Hours): Practical tourniquet and haemostatic dressing deployment.
• Critical injury responder (1 Day): Rapid life-support training for high-hazard work sites.
• Critical injury responder (2 Day): Rapid life-support training for high-hazard work sites.

Outdoor instructors

• Outdoor first aid (2 Days / 16 Hours): Meets outdoor NGB leadership award requirements.
• Outdoor first aid – Blended Learning (2 Days / 16 Hours): Meets outdoor NGB leadership award requirements.
• Forest school first aid (3 Days or Blended learning): Perfectly tailored for wilderness and outdoor educators.
• Catastrophic bleed management (3 Hours): Practical tourniquet and haemostatic dressing deployment.
• Critical injury responder (1 Day): Rapid life-support training for high-hazard work sites.
• Critical injury responder (2 Day): Rapid life-support training for high-hazard work sites.

Those with NHS contracts (Dentists, GP’s, Pharmacies, Opticians, Physiotherapists, Chiropractors, Podiatrists, etc.)

• Basic life support (adults & children) (3 Hours): Standard resuscitation compliance.
• CPR/AED and Medical Emergencies for Dental Professionals (3 Hours): Verifiable CPD for dental practices.
• Emergency first aid at work (1 Day): Standard workspace cover.
• First aid at work (3 Days): Comprehensive clinical-safe cover.
• First aid at work requalification course (2 Days):
  • This is strictly for first aiders whose three-day certificate is still valid or has expired by no more than 28 days.

Security and emergency services personnel

• Basic life support (adults & children) (3 Hours): Immediate resuscitation mechanics.
• Emergency first aid at work (1 Day): Essential workplace responder.
• First aid at work (3 Days): Fully comprehensive safety compliance.
• First aid at work requalification course (2 Days):
  • This is strictly for first aiders whose three-day certificate is still valid or has expired by no more than 28 days.

Those working on Forestry Commission land including those undertaking their “Core Activities”

• Emergency first aid at work +F (1 Day):
  • Blended learning version of the course
• First aid at work +F (3 Days): Full Forestry Commission-compliant first aid.
• First aid at work +F requalification course (2 Days):
  • This is strictly for first aiders whose three-day certificate is still valid or has expired by no more than 28 days.
• Catastrophic bleed management (3 Hours): Practical tourniquet and haemostatic dressing deployment.
• Critical injury responder (1 Day): Rapid life-support training for high-hazard work sites.
• Critical injury responder (2 Day): Rapid life-support training for high-hazard work sites.

Tree surgeons

• First aid at work +F (3 Days):
  • Please note: We do not recommend the 1-day Emergency First Aid at Work +F course for tree surgeons. By definition, tree surgery is a high-hazard workplace. The HSE strongly recommends that high-risk workers are trained to the full FAW standard, not the shorter EFAW level.
• First aid at work +F requalification course (2 Days):
  • This is strictly for first aiders whose three-day certificate is still valid or has expired by no more than 28 days.
• Catastrophic bleed management (3 Hours): Practical tourniquet and haemostatic dressing deployment.
• Critical injury responder (1 Day): Rapid life-support training for high-hazard work sites.
• Critical injury responder (2 Day): Rapid life-support training for high-hazard work sites.

Still Unsure?

If you are reading this and you are still unsure which training path best meets your legal or personal requirements, please feel free to contact us to discuss your needs. Whichever course you choose to book, we look forward to welcoming you to our training centre soon.