How Much Does a First Aid Course Cost? UK Price Guide

First Aid

Quick answer: current advertised “from” prices from St John Ambulance provide useful examples: £160 excluding VAT per learner for Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW), £335 excluding VAT per learner for First Aid at Work (FAW) and £240 excluding VAT per learner for FAW requalification. Its paediatric first aid course is advertised from £170 per learner, although you should confirm the VAT basis before booking.

These are indicative public prices, not a fixed UK tariff. Your final cost will depend on the provider, location, delivery format, number of learners and what the quotation includes.

Indicative First Aid Course Prices

The table uses public “from” prices displayed by St John Ambulance. Other competent providers may charge more or less, and prices can change according to venue and availability.

Course	HSE or statutory duration benchmark	Advertised price example
Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)	At least 6 contact hours	From £160 per learner, excluding VAT
First Aid at Work (FAW)	At least 18 contact hours over a minimum of 3 days	From £335 per learner, excluding VAT
FAW requalification	At least 12 contact hours over 2 days	From £240 per learner, excluding VAT
Full paediatric first aid	At least 12 hours under the English EYFS criteria	From £170 per learner; confirm VAT treatment

Price basis: the workplace-course examples above were displayed by St John Ambulance as excluding VAT when checked. Its paediatric course page displayed a £170 “from” price without the same clear VAT label. Always obtain a written, VAT-confirmed total.

Which First Aid Course Do You Need?

Price should not determine the course on its own. In Great Britain, the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate first-aid equipment, facilities and personnel.

The employer’s first-aid needs assessment should determine the appropriate provision. The HSE says employers should consider matters such as workplace hazards, workforce size, working patterns, accident history, lone or travelling workers and the distance from emergency medical services. These factors are explained in First Aid at Work: L74.

Emergency First Aid at Work

EFAW may be suitable where a workplace needs assessment identifies a basic level of workplace first-aider training as appropriate. The HSE syllabus benchmark requires at least six contact hours.

Its specified content includes the role of the first aider, incident assessment, an unresponsive casualty, CPR, AED use, choking, bleeding, shock and minor injuries.

First Aid at Work

FAW includes the EFAW syllabus and covers a wider range of injuries and illnesses. It may be appropriate in larger or higher-hazard workplaces, but the employer’s needs assessment remains decisive.

The HSE benchmark is at least 18 contact hours over a minimum of three days. Additional content can include fractures, burns, eye injuries, poisoning, anaphylaxis and major illnesses.

Paediatric first aid

Paediatric courses address emergencies involving babies and children. In England, early-years providers must follow the current Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework applicable to their provider type.

Under the EYFS criteria, a full paediatric first aid course lasts at least 12 hours, excluding breaks. It must include competence assessment and suitable practice equipment. The emergency paediatric elements must be delivered face to face.

Requirements differ by role, setting and UK nation. Childcare professionals should check the framework and regulator applying to their workplace rather than assume that an online awareness certificate meets formal requirements.

Specialist training

Outdoor, forestry, sports and other specialist courses may address risks that are not covered fully by standard EFAW or FAW training. Mental health first aid is a separate subject and does not replace physical first-aid training where the needs assessment requires EFAW, FAW or another practical qualification.

What Does Practical First Aid Training Include?

A suitable practical course combines knowledge, supervised practice and assessment. Depending on the syllabus, learners may practise:

assessing an incident and identifying immediate danger;
checking responsiveness and breathing;
placing a breathing casualty in the recovery position;
performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation;
using an automated external defibrillator;
responding to choking, bleeding and shock;
managing relevant injuries and sudden illnesses; and
recording an incident and handing over to emergency services.

Assessment may involve observed demonstrations, questions, activities and knowledge checks rather than one final examination. The HSE’s guide to selecting a first-aid training provider says employers should check the provider’s training, assessment, quality-assurance and trainer-competence arrangements.

Build your background knowledge of CPR, first aid and AEDs

Lead Academy’s online First Aid, CPR and AED Awareness Course provides flexible educational content about common emergencies.

Important: completing an online awareness course does not automatically qualify somebody as an EFAW or FAW first aider. Employers should confirm the syllabus, contact time, practical teaching and assessment arrangements before relying on any course for a designated workplace role.

Why First Aid Course Costs Vary

Course length and scope

A three-day FAW course will generally cost more than a one-day EFAW course because it requires more teaching time, practical work, equipment and assessment.

Open courses and onsite training

Open courses normally charge for each learner attending a provider’s venue. Onsite training is commonly quoted as one group fee up to a stated maximum number of learners.

Never compare a per-person fee directly with a group fee. Convert both options into a total cost for the same number of learners first.

Location and availability

Provider fees may vary between dates and venues. Travel, parking, accommodation and time away from work can materially change the total cost.

VAT and included services

Do not infer VAT treatment from the size of the headline price. Ask the provider to state the final payable amount and confirm whether it includes assessment, the initial certificate, materials, trainer travel, rescheduling and replacement certificates.

Employee time and cover

For an employer, the booking fee is only one component. Paid training hours, overtime, temporary cover and lost productive time may cost more than the course itself.

How to Calculate the True Cost Per Learner

Use one common unit throughout the comparison: calculate the total cost for the whole cohort first, then divide it by the number of learners who will attend.

Step 1: normalise the course charge

For a per-person quotation: multiply the final VAT-confirmed price per person by the number of learners.
For a group quotation: use the final VAT-confirmed group total once. Do not multiply it by the number of learners.
Add only compulsory charges that the provider confirms are not already included, such as trainer travel or assessment fees.

Step 2: calculate costs outside the provider’s quotation

Add each cost once and keep its unit clear:

Learner travel: cost per learner × number travelling, or use one confirmed cohort total.
Paid staff time: hourly employment cost × training hours × number of employees.
Staff cover: total temporary-cover or overtime cost for the training period.
Venue and equipment: include only costs paid separately by the employer.

Step 3: divide by actual attendance

True cost per learner = (VAT-confirmed course cost for the cohort + external travel + paid staff time + staff cover + separate venue or compulsory charges) ÷ number of learners attending.

Do not subtract a discount separately if the discounted amount is already shown in the final quotation. Do not add trainer travel, certificates or VAT again if they are already included.

Worked comparison for six learners

Suppose an open EFAW course costs £160 per person excluding VAT. If standard-rate VAT applies, the VAT-inclusive course charge is £192 per person:

course cost: £192 × 6 learners = £1,152;
learner travel: £20 × 6 = £120;
paid staff time: £18 per hour × 6 hours × 6 employees = £648;
cohort total: £1,920; and
true cost per learner: £1,920 ÷ 6 = £320.

Now suppose an onsite provider quotes one VAT-inclusive group total of £1,476, with trainer travel included. Using the same £648 staff-time cost:

course cost for the group: £1,476;
trainer travel: £0 additional because it is included;
paid staff time: £648;
cohort total: £2,124; and
true cost per learner: £2,124 ÷ 6 = £354.

This mechanism prevents a group quote from being multiplied by headcount and stops VAT, travel or staff time from being counted twice. The figures are illustrative; use your provider’s written quotation and your organisation’s actual employment costs.

Can a First Aid Course Be Completed Online?

Online learning can support awareness, theory and refresher study. The HSE permits blended workplace first-aid training where online learning is combined with suitable face-to-face teaching.

The employer remains responsible for due diligence. There must be adequate practical teaching and assessment, and the training provider must be competent. A fully online awareness course without supervised practical assessment should not be assumed to qualify a learner as an EFAW or FAW first aider.

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How Long Does a First Aid Certificate Last?

Certificates used for EFAW and FAW purposes are valid for three years. Full paediatric first aid certificates used to meet the English EYFS criteria must also be renewed every three years.

The HSE strongly recommends annual refresher training during the three-year EFAW or FAW certification period. This is guidance rather than a general statutory requirement, but it can help first aiders maintain skills that they may use infrequently.

See our guide to how long a first aid certificate lasts.

What happens when a workplace certificate expires?

The HSE states that somebody whose certificate has expired is no longer considered competent to act as a workplace first aider. Employers should therefore arrange requalification before the expiry date.

EFAW: requalification should have the same duration and content as the initial EFAW course.
FAW: requalification requires at least 12 contact hours over two days.

The HSE permits somebody with an expired FAW certificate to take the two-day requalification course. However, it says completing the full FAW course may be prudent when a considerable period—such as more than one month—has passed. The employer must decide which option is appropriate after considering the person’s competence and circumstances.

How to Choose a First Aid Training Provider

The HSE no longer approves ordinary workplace first-aid training providers. Employers are responsible for checking that their chosen provider offers suitable training and assessment.

Before booking, ask:

Does the course match our first-aid needs assessment?
Does it meet the relevant syllabus and minimum contact time?
How are practical skills taught and assessed?
Can the provider demonstrate trainer and assessor competence?
What quality-assurance arrangements are in place?
Is the initial certificate included, and how long is it valid?
Is the quotation per learner or for the whole group?
What is the final payable amount, including applicable VAT?
Are trainer travel, equipment and venue costs included?
What are the cancellation, transfer and replacement-certificate charges?

The HSE identifies several routes employers may consider, including regulated qualifications, recognised voluntary approval schemes, competent independent providers and the Voluntary Aid Societies.

Why First Aid Training Matters at Work

Practical training prepares designated first aiders to identify an emergency, summon professional help and provide assistance within the limits of their training. The appropriate number of trained people and the level of training required depend on the employer’s needs assessment.

If you are comparing flexible background learning, explore Lead Academy’s Workplace First Aid Training Course. Check its delivery and assessment format against your employer’s requirements before relying on it for workplace first-aider status.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a first aid certificate included in the price?

Many providers include assessment and the initial certificate, but this is not universal. Confirm whether the fee covers a digital or printed certificate, postage and future replacements.

Are onsite first aid courses cheaper?

They can be cost-effective when enough employees need the same training, but this is not automatic. Compare the cohort totals after VAT, provider travel, employee travel, venue costs and staff time have been treated consistently.

Do learners have to sit an examination?

Assessment varies by provider and qualification. It may include observed practical demonstrations, questions, activities and short written checks rather than one final examination.

When should I call 999 and use an AED?

The Resuscitation Council UK adult basic life support guidance says to call 999 as soon as possible when a person is unresponsive. Assess breathing while waiting for the call to be answered and follow the call handler’s instructions. If the person is unresponsive with abnormal breathing, start CPR. Attach an AED as soon as one is available and follow its spoken or visual prompts.

This brief summary is not a substitute for practical training. During an emergency, follow the 999 call handler’s instructions.

Before You Book

Compare the final cohort cost rather than headline fees with different units. Confirm whether each price is per learner or per group, obtain a VAT-confirmed total and check what is included. Add external travel, staff time, cover and venue costs only once, then divide by the number of learners attending.

Most importantly, ensure that the course matches the workplace or professional requirement and that the provider can demonstrate competent training and assessment.

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