First Aid Certificate Expiry – Update

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) have today, the 24th September 2020, announced a First Aid Certificate Expiry Update for those who have been affected by COVID-19 and have been unable to requalify.

Originally the HSE stated that the First Aid Certificate Expiry after the 16th March had until the 30th September 2020 to complete a requalification course. This has now been superseded by the statement below.

Today the HSE has announced that for England, Scotland and Wales, all learners who expired on or after the 16th March 2020 will be given an extension until the 31st October 2020 or a 6 month extension on their current expiry date, whichever is the latest.

The HSE have stated that the 31st March 2021 is the latest possible date a qualification can be extended until so learners expiring in January 2021 will not get a full 6 month extension and will only be extended until the HSE deadline of the 31st March 2021.

The HSE statement applies to:

• First Aid at Work 3 days
• Emergency First Aid at Work 6 hours

In summary:

• Any FAW or EFAW certificates expiring from 16 March 2020 can be extended to NO LATER than 31 October 2020. This indicates that the requalification course MUST BE completed by 31 October 2020.
•  Any FAW or EFAW certificate expiring from 1 October 2020 can to extended for a MAXIMUM OF 6 MONTHS to 31 March 2021. This indicates that the requalification course MUST BE completed by 31 March 2021. 

Guidance on Paediatric First Aid (PFA) and Emergency Paediatric First Aid (EPFA) Certificates.

• The extension of PFAW and EPFA Certificates remains at 25 November 2020. This indicates that the requalification course MUST BE completed by 25 November 2020.

View the full Health and Safety Executive Guidelines HERE