A trained first-aider only counts towards your legal provision while their certificate is in date. The moment it lapses, you may be a first-aider short without realising it — which is why expiry dates are one of the most common gaps an auditor finds. This guide covers how long UK first aid certificates last, whether you need annual refreshers, and exactly how — and when — to requalify.
How long is a first aid certificate valid?
For the main UK workplace qualifications, the answer is the same: three years from the issue date printed on the certificate. After that the person is no longer a certified first-aider until they requalify.
| Qualification | Initial course | Valid for |
|---|---|---|
| First Aid at Work (FAW) | 3 days (18 hours) | 3 years |
| Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) | 1 day (6 hours) | 3 years |
| Paediatric first aid (EYFS) | 2 days (12 hours) | 3 years |
| Basic life support / AED (CPR) | Half-day | Commonly refreshed annually |
Not sure which of these your staff need in the first place? See FAW vs EFAW: which first aid qualification do you need — your first aid needs assessment decides the level, and it should decide how many people you keep qualified too.
Do first-aiders need an annual refresher?
Not by law — but it is strongly recommended. The HSE advises that first-aiders attend an annual refresher (typically a half-day) during the three-year certificate period. First aid skills, and CPR in particular, fade fast without practice, and a refresher keeps them sharp.
What happens when a certificate expires?
Once the three years are up, the certificate lapses and that person should no longer be counted as one of your first-aiders until they requalify. This matters for compliance: if your required number of first-aiders drops below what your needs assessment set, your provision is no longer adequate — even though nothing on site has visibly changed.
The HSE no longer operates a grace period after expiry. In practice that means if you let a certificate lapse, the person usually has to sit the full initial course again rather than the shorter requalification course. Requalifying on time is both cheaper and quicker.
How requalification works
Requalification is a shortened course you take before the certificate expires:
- FAW — a two-day (12-hour) requalification course, versus the three-day initial course.
- EFAW — there is no shorter route; you retake the full one-day (6-hour) EFAW course.
Complete it in time and a fresh three-year certificate is issued. Book the course a few weeks ahead of the expiry date so a fully-booked provider or an illness doesn't leave you uncovered.
Whose job is it to track this?
The employer's. Keeping enough qualified first-aiders on site is part of the employer's duty under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 — see who is responsible for first aid at work. In practice it usually falls to whoever owns health and safety to keep a live list of who is qualified, in what, and when each certificate expires.
A spreadsheet works right up until the month someone forgets to check it. KitCompliance tracks every first-aider's certificate alongside your kits and inspections, and reminds you before a certificate — or a kit item — expires, so you're never quietly a first-aider short. See the getting-started guide to set it up.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a first aid certificate last in the UK?
Both FAW and EFAW certificates are valid for three years from the issue date. You must requalify before that date to stay qualified.
Is annual first aid refresher training a legal requirement?
No, but the HSE strongly recommends a short (around half-day) refresher each year to keep skills current. It doesn't change the certificate's expiry date.
What happens if my first aid certificate expires?
The person is no longer a competent first-aider until requalified, and because there's no grace period you generally have to retake the full initial course rather than the shorter requalification.
How long is the requalification course?
FAW requalification is two days; EFAW has no short route, so you retake the full one-day course. Both issue a fresh three-year certificate.
How long is a paediatric first aid certificate valid?
Three years, the same as FAW and EFAW. It's the qualification many early-years and childcare staff need under the EYFS framework.