Introduction
First Aid is a skill that needs to be practiced and refreshed in order to stay sharp. You may have learned the basics of first aid in a class or on the job, but over time you might find yourself needing to refresh your knowledge. The good news is that it's easy to recertify for first aid, even if you've been away from it for years!
When you are required to do so.
- If you are in a regulated industry, such as healthcare or emergency response.
- If your certification has expired.
- When you are required to do so by an employer or organization (such as an employer who requires annual recertification).
- To reflect changes in practice or technology (for example, if new information has been learned about how to treat someone with a broken leg).
If you have been out of the workplace for more than six months.
There are quite a few circumstances where you may need to update or obtain new certifications:
- If you have been unemployed or out of your professional field for over six months.
- Upon receiving a promotion or transitioning to a new role which might necessitate additional or different certifications.
- Complying with regulations of your workplace, a process which may often demand keeping certifications updated or acquiring new ones.
- Keeping step with changes in standard processes or advancements in technology globally, which often lead to the need for recalibration of skills and refreshing certifications regularly.
- If you are contemplating a job application in a different state or for a new employer, be aware that they might have specific demands or maintain different standards for qualifications which may call for additional education or certifications.
Keeping up to date with your certifications not only keeps you prepared for various professional scenarios but also maintains your readiness to effectively respond to emergencies using the latest best practices.
If the new standard is different from the one you have studied.
If the new standard is different from the one you have studied, it is important to keep up with the latest standards. The new standard might be more rigorous than the old one and require greater knowledge of first aid procedures. It could also include more information about certain topics, such as CPR or mental health emergencies.
The purpose of recertification is to ensure that you are still current on the knowledge and skills needed for your job. For example, if you had a medical emergency response certification, your employer may require that you take a refresher course every year in order to keep it up-to-date.
You may also need to take a refresher course or even an entire training program if you want to be recertified. Many organizations offer these courses for free, but some require payment. You’ll need to find out how much your certification organization charges and then decide whether it's worth it.
To reflect changes in practice or technology.
It is required that you recertify every two years. This is to ensure that your knowledge and skills are current in accordance with new techniques, equipment, medications, regulations, laws and technology. Recertification also helps ensure you have the most current research on hand so that you can make sound decisions for patients during an emergency situation.
As we all know, there's always something new happening in emergency medical care!
If your certification has expired, you’ll need to renew it before you can work again. You can find out how to renew by visiting the website of the organization that certified you or contacting them directly.
However, if you're in a regulated industry where compliance is required and you've been following the old standard, it's probably a good idea to update your first aid kits.
If your employer requires you to take a recertification course, they may pay for it. In some cases, it is up to you to pay for the course out of pocket.
If you are in a regulated industry, such as healthcare or emergency response.
If you are in a regulated industry, such as healthcare or emergency response, you must recertify every two years. This requirement applies to healthcare workers, first responders and other emergency personnel who need to maintain their certification.
To recertify your First Aid training:
- Take a course that includes both theory and skills testing within the past two years. If this isn't possible because of time constraints (or if you don't want to), then take an abbreviated course that includes only the theory portion of certification at least every three years instead of every two years.
In some cases, the new standard could be less rigorous than the old one. For example, you might find that the new standard has fewer requirements for first aid kits. In this case, if your business is in compliance with the old standard but not with the new one, it may not be an issue.
You can always recertify for first aid if you want to keep your skills sharp and current.
- You can always recertify for first aid if you want to keep your skills sharp and current.
- It's a good idea to recertify for first aid because it will help refresh your knowledge, and may be required by some employers or organizations. In addition, it helps keep you up-to-date on new procedures and information that could save lives in an emergency situation.
- If you have been out of the field for awhile, it's a good idea to refresh yourself by taking a refresher course before going back into work with people who may need assistance during an emergency situation such as an earthquake or tsunami warning (which has recently happened).
If you are a certified first aid responder and have not recertified in the last two years, you may want to consider taking a refresher course.
Conclusion
There's no reason why you can't recertify for first aid. It's a great way to refresh your knowledge and keep up with the latest standards. If you have been out of the workplace for more than six months, we recommend that you take the course again from scratch before going back into service. This will ensure that everyone knows what they need to know before taking care of others in an emergency situation!
