• Basic first aid

  This is a one-day course. No previous experience is necessary. This may be required for smaller workplaces or workplaces with a low risk of serious injuries.

• Intermediate first aid 

  This is a two-day course. No previous experience is necessary. This may be required for larger workplaces, remote or less-accessible workplaces, or workplaces that have a higher risk of injury.

• Advanced first aid 

  This is a ten-day course. No previous experience is necessary. This is required for workplaces that have multiple risk factors, such as being a remote or less-accessible workplace with a moderate or high risk of serious injury.

  Advanced first aid certification includes transportation endorsement training.

• Transportation endorsement

  This is a one-day course. You must have a valid basic or intermediate first aid certificate to take this course. This may be required for remote or less-accessible workplaces that cannot be reached quickly by the BC Ambulance Service.

To receive your certificate, you must attend 100% of the course and successfully pass written and practical exams.

If you have a valid B.C. EMA licence, you're qualified to work as a first aid attendant at these levels:

• First Responder (EMA FR): Intermediate first aid with transportation endorsement

• Emergency Medical Responder (EMR): Advanced first aid

• Primary Care Paramedic (PCP): Advanced first aid

• Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP): Advanced first aid

• Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) Advanced first aid

If you have an out-of-province EMA licence, you will need to get permission from EMALB to work as a paramedic in B.C.

To find course details, locations, and dates, contact an approved training provider.

All certificates are valid for three years.

To renew one of the following certificates, you must take the course again:

• Basic first aid

• Intermediate first aid

• Transportation endorsement

To renew an advanced first aid certificate, you can do one of the following:

• If your current certificate is still valid, you can take a 35-hour refresher course through an approved training provider.

• If your current certificate is still valid and you have gotten a CPR/AED certificate within the past six months, you can challenge the exam. The exam is the final 14 hours of the full course.

• If your current certificate has expired, you must retake the full course through an approved training provider.

On November 1, 2024, the names of first aid certificates changed. A certificate issued before this date is still valid until its expiry date. They are accepted as follows:

• OFA Level 1 certificate = basic first aid

• OFA Level 2 certificate = intermediate first aid

• OFA Level 3 certificate = advanced first aid