First aid certification is one of the simplest compliance items an Ontario employer can get right, yet it is also one of the most commonly mismatched. Teams either book a longer course than their workplace requires, or send two people to a one-day course when the site really needs broader coverage across shifts. The right answer depends on your workforce size, how many workers are on site at once, your sector requirements, and how much time you can realistically take out of operations. This guide walks through the two main certification levels, when each makes sense, and how to plan a group session so the training actually covers every shift.
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Basic First Aid & CPR C is an eight-hour, one-day course and is generally the level required for workplaces with five or fewer employees working at any given time, subject to your specific workplace requirements
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Intermediate First Aid & CPR C is a fourteen-hour, two-day course and is generally the level required for workplaces with six or more employees working at any given time
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If your sector regulation or a client contract specifies a level, that requirement controls — confirm it before booking rather than defaulting to the shorter course
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Blended Intermediate combines six to eight hours of self-paced online theory with one full day in class, which suits teams that cannot release staff for two consecutive days
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Cover every shift, not just headcount: if you run evenings, weekends, or a second site, you need trained first aiders available on those shifts too
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Plan for turnover and expiry. Certification is typically valid for three years, so stagger renewal dates instead of letting an entire team lapse in the same month
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Group sessions are usually the most cost-effective route — one instructor can certify 8 to 18 participants, and per-person pricing drops as the group grows
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Book with lead time. Instructor availability and space requirements (at least 600 square feet of clear floor area for hands-on practice) are easier to meet when you plan several weeks ahead
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