FAQ

WorkSafe BC renamed the Occupational First Aid certifications in November 2024. The new names are:

• Occupational First Aid – Basic (Formerly OFA 1)
• Occupational First Aid – Intermediate (Formerly OFA 2)
• Occupational First Aid – Advanced (Formerly OFA 3)

The first thing to determine is what reasons are you taking the course for? Is it for work or for personal reasons? Also, do you need to cover first aid skills for infants & children or only for adults? If this is for work, or for a potential job opportunity, please check with the employer or ad for the specific type of first aid course required. This will help to determine whether you should register in a WorkSafeBC Occupational First Aid course or into a Canadian Red Cross First Aid course.

Occupational First Aid Basic:

This is a WorkSafeBC course and includes CPR Level A/AED to help adult co-workers & employees. In B.C., designated workplace first aid attendants must have a certificate that’s recognized by WorkSafeBC. This program is designed to focus on workplace accidents so only training to help adults is required.

Emergency First Aid: This is a Red Cross course and includes CPR Level C/AED, and is required by many workplaces and organizations where the focus is on first aid skills that help adults, children & infants.

First Aid Attendants must be at least 16 years old, have successfully completed a first aid training course or first aid examination developed or approved by WorkSafeBC, and have a valid first aid certificate.

Responsibilities include:

• Promptly providing injured workers with a level of care within the scope of each attendant’s training;

• Objectively recording reported signs & symptoms of injuries &/or exposures;

• Referring injured workers to medical treatment if injuries are serious or beyond the scope of an attendant’s training;

• Being physically & mentally capable of safely & effectively performing all related duties.

For more information we recommend visiting the WorkSafeBC web site here.

To Register, we need your First Name, Last Name, Email address, Phone number & Payment. People can register by phone, in person, or online. Payment Methods:

• By phone: Visa or Mastercard

• In person: Visa, Mastercard, Debit card or Cash

• Online: Visa, Mastercard, Debit card, Paypal or Stripe

Registration and payment must be made before the course start date.  Your seat cannot be guaranteed until payment is received and the class could be sold out.

Most first aid courses have no pre-requisites. However, the first aid is a physically demanding course. Candidates for OFA Intermediate and Advanced must complete a Statement of Fitness before beginning the program.

• A candidate who fails to successfully demonstrate all required practical skill competencies required for a particular first aid or equivalent certification or who fails to complete the course will fail the course. Candidates who fail the course must complete the respective course in its entirety to be eligible for certification.
• A candidate who demonstrates the practical skill competencies required for first aid or equivalent certification but fails to achieve a passing grade (70%) on the written portion of the evaluation or fails to complete any portion of the written evaluation may attempt a second written evaluation no sooner than 24 hours after the first evaluation. Candidates who fail the second written evaluation must complete the respective course in its entirety, including all evaluations, to be eligible for certification.
• A candidate in an advanced or equivalent course who achieves a passing grade (70%) on the written portion of the evaluation but does not demonstrate practical skills competencies in an evaluation no sooner than 24 hours after the first attempt.
• If a candidate does not attempt a second written or practical skills evaluation as set out above within 60 days of the first evaluation, the candidate will be required to repeat the respective course in its entirety, including all evaluations, to be eligible for certification.

Yes, after paying an examination fee, the participant can participate any days during the next available training course, and re-take the exam with that group.

Valid identification, and information regarding the previous exam attempt(s) at other agencies will be requested. Candidates are only permitted 2 attempts total. If still unsuccessful, candidates must take the entire program over again

When participating in an OFA course, valid identification is required and must be shown to the instructor or examiner.

Acceptable photographic identification:

• Valid Canadian or U.S. Driver’s License

• Valid passport

• Valid BC student identification card issued for the current school year

• Employee picture identification card

• Native status picture identification card

• BC photo identification (digital) issued November 1996 or later

• Other Canadian Government Issued Photo I.D.

If a candidate cannot produce appropriate identification, compliance may be achieved if they produce one of the following:

• A letter from the candidate’s employer typed on the firm’s letterhead & signed by an official of the company. The official’s name will be printed next to or under the signature and will include their contact information & their position within the company. This letter must state that the employee is who he or she claims to be, or

• A letter from the sponsoring agency (if the candidate is unemployed), typed on the agency’s letterhead & signed by an official of the agency. The official’s name will be printed next to or under the signature & will include their contact information & their position within the agency. This letter must state that the candidate is who he or she claims to be.

If a candidate does not possess valid photographic identification as listed, they must present one primary AND two secondary pieces of identification.

• Primary Identification:
  – Birth Certificate
  – Canadian Citizenship ID
  – Canadian Record of Landing
  – Canadian Student Visa
  – Canadian Work Visa
  – Returning Resident Permit
  
  

• Secondary Identification:
  – Naturalization Certificate
  – Marriage Certificate
  – Change of Name Certificate
  – Parole Certificate
  – Correctional Service Conditional Release Card
  – Valid Credit Card (if name is on card)
  – Bank Card (if name is on card)
  – Vehicle Registration
  – Social Insurance Card
  – BC Care Card
  – Occupational First Aid Certificate or equivalent