Straight answers to the questions people ask most before booking a first aid or CPR course in Western Australia: cost, time, passing, certificates and renewals.
Cost and funding Time and format Passing the course Your certificate Renewing Courses for different jobs and life stages
Prices vary between training providers. As a guide, these are REACHAU's public course prices in Perth (checked September 2026):
| Course | Price |
|---|---|
| HLTAID009 CPR | $55 |
| HLTAID011 First Aid (blended refresher) | $110 |
| HLTAID011 First Aid (full day) | $170 |
| HLTAID012 Education and Care | $130 |
| HLTAID014 Advanced First Aid | $220 |
| HLTAID013 Remote First Aid | $280 |
Prices can change, so check the current price on upcoming dates before you book. Group and onsite training is quoted separately.
You can learn first aid basics for free through apps, videos and community awareness sessions. They are worth doing, but they do not give you a nationally recognised certificate.
A certificate your employer will accept needs a practical assessment with a Registered Training Organisation, and that has a cost. Some people have it paid for: many employers cover it for staff, and if you are working with an employment services provider, ask whether they can fund your course.
Differences usually come down to how much practical time you get, class size, whether the online theory is included, and who issues the certificate. A very cheap course that is fully online, or that is not run by a Registered Training Organisation, may not be accepted by your employer.
Yes. Most emergencies happen at home, at work or out in the community, well before an ambulance arrives. A course gives you the skills and, just as important, the confidence to act in those first minutes. It also opens doors to jobs that list first aid as a requirement.
It depends on the course and the format. Most courses have online theory to complete first, then a face-to-face practical session:
| Course | Practical session |
|---|---|
| HLTAID009 CPR | About 1.5 to 2 hours |
| HLTAID011 blended refresher | About 3 to 4 hours |
| HLTAID011 full day | About 5 hours, all practical |
| HLTAID012 Education and Care | About 3.5 to 4 hours |
| HLTAID013 Remote First Aid | 6 to 48 hours, depending on the delivery format |
| HLTAID014 Advanced First Aid | A full day |
Allow extra time before your session for the online theory.
Book an HLTAID009 CPR course. After the online theory, the practical session is about 1.5 to 2 hours, and your certificate is issued once your assessment is complete. If you need full first aid, not just CPR, the HLTAID011 blended refresher is the quickest route.
Not a nationally recognised one. You can do the theory online, but the skills, like CPR on a manikin and using a defibrillator, have to be assessed in person. If a website promises a certificate with no practical session, check with your employer before paying.
Doing the online theory before your course is the ideal. If that is hard for you, any course can be arranged with an in-session quiz instead, and a paper version is available if you need it. Both add extra time to your session, so mention it when you book.
Both give you the same HLTAID011 qualification. The refresher is a shorter practical session for people who have done first aid before. The full day is all hands-on practice on top of the online learning, with time to practise every part of first aid, not just the skills that are assessed. It suits first-timers and anyone who has had a long break.
Reading, short videos and knowledge questions covering the theory, such as legal responsibilities, how the body works and how to recognise common emergencies. Doing it first means your face-to-face time is spent practising skills, not listening to slides.
Most people pass. Assessment is practical and based on showing you can do each skill, such as CPR, managing bleeding or using an adrenaline auto-injector. You practise every skill before you are assessed, and your trainer coaches you until you are confident.
First aid courses are competency based, so there is no score out of 100. If a skill is not quite there yet, you are marked not yet competent and given the chance to be reassessed. ABC First Aid's student handbook explains the reassessment process.
Yes. To be assessed for CPR you need to do at least 2 minutes of continuous compressions on a manikin on the floor. If an injury, pregnancy or health condition could make this hard, talk to your trainer before you book so you can work through your options together.
You need a Unique Student Identifier (USI), which is free to create at usi.gov.au and is required for all nationally recognised training in Australia. You also need to finish the online theory and bring photo ID. Wear comfortable clothes you can kneel in.
Yes. HLTAID011 Provide First Aid is the national unit most people mean when they say a first aid certificate. When you complete it, your Statement of Attainment also lists the CPR unit HLTAID009.
No. A CPR certificate (HLTAID009) covers resuscitation and defibrillator use only. A first aid certificate (HLTAID011 or higher) covers CPR plus bleeding, choking, allergic reactions, asthma, bites, burns, fractures and more.
Your Statement of Attainment does not carry an expiry date. The accepted industry practice in Australia is to renew first aid every 3 years and CPR every 12 months. Some workplaces, such as healthcare and mining, set stricter rules, so always follow your employer's policy.
Every Statement of Attainment shows the name and code of the Registered Training Organisation that issued it. The employer can contact that organisation to confirm it. You can also give them your USI transcript from usi.gov.au, although new training can take time to appear.
You complete the course again. If your certificate is current or has only just expired, a blended refresher is usually the quickest option. If it has been a long time, a longer session gives you more practice to rebuild your skills and confidence.
Yes. HLTAID009 CPR can be done on its own to keep your CPR current each year between your 3-yearly first aid renewals.
No. Current Australian guidelines use 30 compressions to 2 breaths for adults, children and infants. If you learned a different ratio, it is a good sign you are due for a refresher.
HLTAID011 Provide First Aid covers CPR for adults and infants plus common emergencies like choking, allergic reactions and burns. If you want a deeper focus on babies and children, HLTAID012 goes further into child-specific emergencies.
HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting. It is the course designed for schools, early learning and OSHC, and it covers the anaphylaxis and asthma training those settings expect.
Usually HLTAID011 Provide First Aid, with CPR renewed every year. Some providers ask for extra training, so check your employer's requirements before you book.
Many teenagers complete first aid, often for their first job, sport or volunteering. Training organisations can set minimum ages, so contact Britt before booking for anyone under 18.
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