First aid attendant certification
In B.C., workplace first aid attendants must have a certificate that's recognized by WorkSafeBC. There are three levels of occupational first aid (OFA) and one OFA certificate endorsement. The level of first aid services required for a workplace depends on the number of workers, distance to medical aid, and industry hazard rating.
- Where to get certified
- How to recertify for your OFA certificate
- First aid attendants from out of province
- Paramedics and First Responders working as designated first aid attendants
- Resources
| OFA Level 1 |
Basic level first aid training and certification |
| OFA Level 2 | Intermediate level first aid training and certification |
| OFA Transportation Endorsement | Training required for transportation of injured workers as required by Schedule 3-A |
| OFA Level 3 | Advanced level of first aid training and certification |
To determine the level of first aid needed in your workplace, refer to Section 3.16 and Schedule 3-A of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.
Where to get certified
WorkSafeBC has authorized certain agencies throughout British Columbia to teach occupational first aid training programs acceptable to WorkSafeBC and certify attendants who successfully complete the programs. See our list of approved first aid training providers. Also see the list of certificates accepted in B.C.
How to recertify for your OFA certificate
OFA Level 1
If you currently hold a valid Level 1 first aid certificate and want to recertify, you can receive training in the classroom or online by attending a half-day training course. See our list of approved training providers for more information and registration details.
While you wait for training, view the pre-course worksheet and brush up your skills with the following first aid resources:
- OFA Attendant Level 1 Participant Guide – This guide provides instruction on the skills necessary to demonstrate essential competencies of Level 1 certification.
- OFA Level 1 videos – This series of 11 videos supports the learning objectives of the course and are referred to in the participant guide.
OFA Level 3
Candidates for OFA Level 3 can take either:
- A complete 70-hour training class
- An exam challenge comprising the final two days of the training class. To qualify for the exam challenge, candidates must possess a valid OFA Level 3 certificate and have obtained a CPR/AED certificate within the previous 6 months.
First aid attendants from out of province
If you hold a valid first aid certificate from a regulatory authority in Canada, you can be issued a certificate that WorkSafeBC will recognize. You must:
- Present yourself to a first aid training agency in B.C. that’s approved by WorkSafeBC. To register, you will need photo ID and the first aid certificate you earned outside B.C.
- Complete an application form and the applicable jurisprudence package (see the resource section).
- Review B.C.’s health and safety regulation
Note: a fee may be charged by the authorized first aid training agency for processing your application.
Paramedics and First Responders working as designated first aid attendants
Paramedics and First Responders with a current Emergency Medical Assistant (EMA) license
Paramedics and First Responders who have a current EMA licence issued by the Emergency Medical Assistants Licensing Board of B.C. (EMALB) are eligible for occupational first aid (OFA) certification. These candidates will need to:
- Take, and successfully complete, the WorkSafeBC occupational first aid course or examination, or the equivalent course or examination from an approved first aid training provider.
Or - Complete an OFA-out-of-jurisdiction jurisprudence package, then present their completed out-of-jurisdiction jurisprudence package and valid EMALB-issued license, and current photo ID acceptable to WorkSafeBC, to an approved first aid training provider. The approved first aid training provider will provide the application for OFA certification and issue an OFA certificate at the applicable level.
Paramedics with a licence from another Canadian jurisdiction
Paramedics who hold a current licence from any other Canadian jurisdiction are eligible for occupational first aid certification. These candidates will need to:
- Take, and successfully complete, the WorkSafeBC occupational first aid course or examination, or the equivalent examination from an approved first aid training provider.
Or - Apply for and acquire an out-of-jurisdiction Emergency Medical Assistant (EMA) licence at the appropriate level from the EMALB, then complete an application for OFA certification and an OFA out-of-jurisdiction jurisprudence package. Bring the completed out-of-jurisdiction jurisprudence package to an approved training provider and present their valid EMALB-issued license and current photo ID acceptable to WorkSafeBC. The approved first aid training provider will provide the application for OFA certification and issue an OFA certificate at the appropriate level.
For more information about issuing OFA certification to EMA licencees, email Certification@worksafebc.com or call Certification Services at 604.276.3090.
See our list of approved first aid training providers.
Resources
First Aid Training Providers
List of occupational first aid training providers in B.C. (public agencies and in-house training providers).
Jurisprudence package for other jurisdictions: Obtaining OFA certification in British Columbia
If you are a certified first aid attendant outside B.C. or an emergency medical assistant (EMA) within B.C., you can be issued a certificate to carry out first aid in B.C. This package includes reading...
Occupational First Aid: A Reference and Training Manual
This manual is designed to accompany Occupational First Aid (OFA) Level 3 and Transportation Endorsement training courses.
Information about certification for the different OFA levels is available...
Web resources
Training agencies authorized by WorkSafeBC can access training and examination materials by signing in to Certification Services’ First Aid Training Resources site.
- Occupational first aid regulatory change: March 2024 update Published on: March 05, 2024