Do you need the 1 day first aid course, or the 3 day first aid course? Most employers choose by price, or by repeating whatever was booked last time. Both are the wrong reason. The decision isn’t a matter of preference — it follows from your first aid needs assessment, and the two courses are not interchangeable. One of them leaves gaps that matter.
Here is what each course is, where they differ, and how to tell which one your workplace needs.
What the two courses are
The 1 day first aid course is Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW). Six hours of learning, usually delivered in a single day. It qualifies someone to act as a workplace first aider. It is a full qualification, not an introduction or a taster session.
The 3 day first aid course is First Aid at Work (FAW). Eighteen hours of learning, normally across three consecutive days. It serves the same statutory purpose, with a considerably wider scope.
Both certificates are valid for three years. Both are recognised for the purposes of the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981. And neither is a legal requirement in its own right — what the law requires is that your first aid provision is adequate and appropriate for your workplace. The course you choose is how you meet that duty, not the duty itself.
| EFAW (1 day) | FAW (3 days) | |
|---|---|---|
| Learning hours | 6 | 18 |
| Typical delivery | One day | Three consecutive days |
| Certificate validity | 3 years | 3 years |
| Qualifies a workplace first aider | Yes | Yes |
| Typical setting | Lower-hazard workplaces | Higher-hazard workplaces |
The actual difference: range, not quality
The 3 day first aid course is not a better-taught version of the 1 day course. The difference is range — how many kinds of emergency the first aider is trained to handle.
Emergency First Aid at Work covers the things that kill people quickly: an unresponsive casualty, CPR, choking, severe bleeding, shock, and minor injuries. If someone collapses in an office, an EFAW-trained first aider is equipped for it.
First Aid at Work covers all of that, and then the injuries and illnesses an office does not usually produce:
- Fractures and suspected spinal injuries
- Chest injuries
- Poisoning
- Eye injuries
- Anaphylaxis
- Medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, seizures and stroke
Read that second list and think about your own premises. A joinery workshop produces fractures and eye injuries. A warehouse produces crush injuries and falls from height. A commercial kitchen produces burns and severe bleeding. That comparison — the injuries your work can realistically cause, against the injuries each course prepares someone for — is the entire decision.
Which first aid course do I need?
Work it backwards from your needs assessment. HSE guidance sets out suggested provision by workplace hazard level and headcount. These are suggestions, not statute, but they are the benchmark an inspector will measure you against.
Low-hazard workplaces (offices, shops, libraries)
| Employees | Suggested provision |
|---|---|
| Fewer than 25 | An appointed person — not necessarily a trained first aider |
| 25 to 50 | At least one EFAW-trained first aider |
| More than 50 | At least one FAW-trained first aider per 100 employed |
Higher-hazard workplaces (construction, manufacturing, warehousing)
| Employees | Suggested provision |
|---|---|
| Fewer than 5 | An appointed person |
| 5 to 50 | EFAW or FAW, depending on the injuries the work can produce |
| More than 50 | At least one FAW-trained first aider per 50 employed |
Your written needs assessment is what decides, and it is what you will be asked to produce. If you haven’t completed one, our First Aid Needs Assessment tool works through the factors and gives you a printable record to keep on file. For the full explanation of how many first aiders the law requires, see our guide on how many first aiders your workplace legally needs.
And if the honest answer is that your workplace could produce a broken bone, a crush injury, or an unconscious casualty from a fall, the 3 day first aid course is the one to book — not because the law names it, but because the 1 day course does not cover it.
Two things people get wrong
You can mix the two
Nothing prevents you from having FAW-trained first aiders on the shop floor and EFAW cover in the office. Most sensible organisations do exactly that: they match the training level to the risk in each part of the building, rather than buying one course for everyone. Your needs assessment can and should reflect that.
Requalification only works if you catch it in time
Both certificates expire after three years, with no grace period. Before expiry, a shorter requalification course renews the qualification. After expiry, that option is gone and the first aider must complete the full course again. Diary the renewal date the day the certificate is issued — most organisations that fall short on first aid haven’t failed an assessment, they’ve simply missed a date. HSE also recommends a short annual refresher between certificates to keep skills current.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 1 day first aid course enough?
It depends entirely on your workplace. Emergency First Aid at Work is a full qualification and is appropriate for many lower-hazard workplaces. It does not cover fractures, spinal injuries, anaphylaxis or medical conditions such as stroke or seizures. If your work can produce those, the 3 day course is the appropriate level.
What is the difference between EFAW and FAW?
EFAW is a 6-hour, one-day course covering life-threatening emergencies. FAW is an 18-hour, three-day course covering the same material plus a wider range of injuries and medical conditions. The difference is scope, not teaching quality.
Which first aid course do I need for my workplace?
Your first aid needs assessment determines this. HSE guidance suggests EFAW for lower-hazard workplaces of 25 to 50 people, and FAW for larger or higher-hazard workplaces. The deciding factor is the type of injury your work can realistically cause.
How long does a first aid at work certificate last?
Three years, for both EFAW and FAW. There is no grace period after expiry. Requalification is only available before the certificate lapses.
Can I have both EFAW and FAW first aiders?
Yes. Matching training level to the risk in each area of your workplace is common practice and entirely acceptable, provided your needs assessment supports it.
Compare courses
Do the needs assessment first. Then choose the course that matches what your workplace can realistically do to someone. envicourse.com is an independent training marketplace — we don’t deliver courses ourselves, we help UK businesses compare accredited providers, dates and locations.