Ontario's updated first aid program is here, bringing new standardized first aid requirements across the province for employers, workers, and training providers.

Administered by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) their first aid program was recently updated to align with the national first aid training standard developed by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). The full suite of first aid and CPR courses offered by the Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) are accordingly updated and now approved for delivery once again by the WSIB.

Workplace first aid training equips all workplace parties with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to respond effectively during emergencies. By transforming ordinary people into potential lifesavers, it enables them to provide critical first-response care, protect their coworkers, and make a difference when every second counts.
 

What you need to know

Effective June 22, 2026, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board launched Ontario's new First Aid Program, aligning workplace first aid training requirements with CSA Z1210:24, the national standard.

1. This change standardizes first aid training requirements across Ontario, ensuring workers receive consistent instruction regardless of where their training is delivered.
 
2. First aiders now have access to a wider network of WSIB-approved training providers – including WHSC – all of which will display First Aid Program badges to confirm their approval status.
 
3. Course and certificate names have been updated, with Emergency First Aid now called Basic First Aid and Standard First Aid now called Intermediate First Aid.
 
CPR level courses will continue to use existing naming designations like CPR/AED Level C – Adult, Child, Infant and CPR/AED Level A – Adult Only.
 
4. Intermediate First Aid certificates can still be recertified once through any WSIB-approved training provider whose programs align with CSA Z1210:24. Organizations and workers are no longer required to return to their original training provider. WHSC can recertify any valid certification issued by a WSIB-approved provider or by a Canadian first aid training organization whose program aligns with the new standard.
 
In addition, participants who complete a full Standard First Aid course on or before June 21, 2026, remain eligible for recertification under the updated Intermediate (Standard) First Aid naming convention.
 
5. Additionally, workplace first aid certificates from anywhere in Canada will be accepted so long as they meet the CSA Z1210:24 standard, and these certificates can now be recertified in Ontario before they expire.
 
6. All first aid certificates issued up until June 21, 2026, will remain valid until they expire.

Register for updated first aid training in a community near you.

Workplace first aid requirements

Ontario workplace first aid requirements are set out in WSIB Regulation 1101. Although the WSIB has updated its First Aid Program Standards, the legal requirements in Regulation 1101 remain unchanged.
 
Employers must ensure trained first aid providers are available in the immediate vicinity of certified first aid kits. These requirements apply to all workers, regardless of employment status, and to all workplaces, including off-site work locations.
 
Minimum first aid certification requirements are based on the number of employees working each shift:

• One to five employees per shift: At least one employee must hold a valid Basic (Emergency) First Aid certificate.
• Six or more employees per shift: At least one employee must hold a valid Intermediate (Standard) First Aid certificate. 
• 200 or more employees: The workplace must also have a designated first aid room equipped with a stretcher and blanket. The first aid room must be staffed by a qualified first aid provider.

Certified training courses

First aid training covers essential life-saving skills, including responding to respiratory and cardiac arrest, head and spinal injuries, fractures, sprains, and joint injuries, as well as providing wound care, managing poisonings such as opioid exposure, and handling a range of medical, airway, and environmental emergencies. It supports a variety of needs, from meeting workplace certification requirements and preparing professional first responders to equipping those who work with children or anyone looking to protect family and friends, offering practical skills that make a real difference.

WHSC first aid and CPR training is delivered through in-person community classes at centres across the province or onsite at workplaces for groups, and includes the latest CPR guidelines, automated external defibrillator (AED) use, and, where applicable, Transport Canada requirements under TP 13008 E.
 
See our first aid product library for information on your 14 course options.
 
Complete any of our First Aid and CPR programs and earn an official certification record, valid for one or three years, depending on your course. Certificates are issued by the Canadian Red Cross.

Register for WSIB-approved first aid training in a community near you.

Onsite training can be a cost-effective and timely way to get learning into the hands of more. Contact us to discuss your options 1.888.869.7950 or at contactus@whsc.on.ca.
 
If you have questions about the naming convention update, CSA Z1210:24 alignment, or recertification eligibility, please contact a Training Services Representative near you.

Related resources:
First Aid & CPR product library
First Aid and CPR Training FAQs

Need more information?
Contact a WHSC Training Services Representative in your area.
Email: contactus@whsc.on.ca
Visit: whsc.on.ca
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