First Aid Recertification Update

As of March 31, 2021, there are no more extensions for recertification courses. The extended timelines previously shared have now all come to an end. All first aid certificate holders (Red Cross and WorkSafeBC) now need to recertify their first aid before it expires. If your certificate has expired, you will need to take the full course again.

Red Cross First Aid Recertification

In December 2020, the Canadian Red Cross shared that first aid participant-level certificate holders with certifications that expire between March 1, 2020 and March 1, 2021 could attend a recertification course until March 31, 2021. This extended window allowed those with expired certifications the opportunity to recertify as facilities reopened and training resumed.

In British Columbia, our provincial health authority is allowing in-person occupational training that cannot be done virtually. We must now return to the Red Cross’ requirement for participants to recertify according to their certification expiry date. These recertification courses are so important to ensure that certificate holders have refreshed their knowledge and demonstrated their skills competency.

Regulators and governing bodies may choose to accept expired certifications for employment purposes, but those certifications remain expired. Formal first aid training is the best way to make sure participants are confident and competent in performing first aid.

WorkSafeBC First Aid Recertification

WorkSafeBC had a short-term extension for their first aid certificates, but we are past that time period now. Certificates with expiry dates between March 1, 2020 and August 31, 2020 had a 180 day extension. If your certificate expired after August 31, 2020, you will need to take the full course again. WorkSafeBC expects first aid attendants with expired certificates to recertify their certification as soon as possible.