The QA Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work Refresher (RQF) Course is specifically designed to allow first aiders to renew their first aid at work qualification when their certificate is due to expire.

During this 2 day course, candidates will have the opportunity to practise essential first aid procedures, as well as learn the latest techniques for dealing with emergency situations and managing injuries and illnesses in the workplace.

What’s more, as a regulated qualification, employers can book this course for their employees and rest assured that they have fulfilled their legal responsibilities for providing quality first aid training, without having to undertake any lengthy due diligence checks.

First Aid at Work Refresher Course Content?

Requalification requirements

This qualification is valid for a period of 3 years. The Learner needs to retake the qualification before the certificate expiry date to remain qualified. 

It is possible to reduce GLH when requalifying and attend a 12 hour FAW requalifying course. In order to attend a 12 hour requalifying course, Learners must produce their current or previous recently expired FAW certificate. The certificate should be in a format as accepted by the HSE. Requalification training should be delivered in no less than 12 hours (2 days) excluding breaks.

Expired FAW certificates

If the Learner’s previous FAW certificate will have expired by more than one month at the start of FAW requalification course, the Centre must, in advance, provide the Learner/their Employer with the following information: 

FAW requalification courses are only 12 hours in duration, compared to 18 hours for the initial course. This means that the syllabus is covered at a significantly faster pace in the understanding that learners are familiar with the topics. 

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance is clear that if an employee’s FAW certificate expires, they are “no longer considered competent to act as a first-aider in the workplace”. For this reason, you should make every effort to requalify a first aider before the certificate expires. 

Employers and Learners should be aware that there is an increased risk of failing to achieve the required standard if previous certification has expired by a considerable period (HSE defines this as in excess of 1 month). If this is the case, HSE recommends “it may be prudent to complete a 3 day course”.