First aid training
Complete an approved first aid course to obtain a valid certificate to provide first aid services at a work sites in Alberta.
What’s new
Approval process for workplace first aid training agency and course is currently being updated. New approval process and requirements will be available in the fall of 2018.
Overview
According to Part 11: First Aid of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code, the employer is responsible for ensuring designated individuals who provide first aid services to workers at a work site are appropriately trained.
Workers successfully completing an approved first aid course are issued a first aid certificate by an approved first aid training agency.
This card needs to be shown to the employer when individuals are asked to provide proof of their first aid qualifications.
How agencies become approved
Alberta Labour is currently updating its workplace first aid training agency and course approval process. The CSA Standard Z1210-17 First aid training for the workplace – Curriculum and quality management for training agencies is being incorporated into all levels of first aid training course approvals.
New first aid training agency and course approval requests will not be accepted until the new approval process is in place which is expected in the fall of 2018. In the fall of 2018, Alberta Labour will provide further information on the new approval process and requirements to first aid agencies and other stakeholders.
Alberta Labour will resume accepting applications and issuing approvals for workplace first aid training once the new approval process is in place and the requirements have been communicated. First aid agencies and courses currently approved will continue to maintain their approval status at this time. For further information, please call the OHS Contact Centre at 1-866-415-8690.
Certification term
The standard term for first aid training certification is a maximum of 3 years. After a certificate expires, retraining is required.
Approved training courses
List of approved first aid training agencies and courses (PDF, 437 KB)
For dates: August 3 to September 30, 2018
The list is updated quarterly. If you want to know whether a particular agency and course not appearing on the list was approved, call OHS at 780-415-8690.
This list of approved courses is useful if you’re looking to take a specific course and wondering if it’s approved, or want to verify whether a course you’ve already taken is approved and taught by an approved agency.
Some consultants and service companies provide first aid courses but their names do not appear in the list of approved courses. Rather than developing their own materials and going through the agency approval process, the consultant or company uses course materials developed by a listed approved agency. An instructor certified by the listed agency delivers the course.
If the name of the consultant or service company providing a course is not on the list of approved courses, ask which approved agency developed the course. Also ask if a certified instructor will deliver the approved workplace first aid course. A call to the approved first aid agency can confirm this information. In addition, approved agencies receive a signed approval letter from a Director of Medical Services. Ask to see an agency’s letter to verify their approval status.
Contact
To connect with OHS:
Phone: 780-415-8690 (Edmonton)
Toll free: 1-866-415-8690
TTY: 780-427-9999 (Edmonton)
TTY: 1-800-232-7215