Standard First Aid with CPR-C

All regulated members are required to attain and maintain a current Standard First Aid with CPR-C with AED certification (at minimum).

Members are required to demonstrate by the annual continuing competence deadline of May 31, a current Standard First Aid with CPR-C with AED certification that is in effect on July 1 (start of the membership practice permit year). Only members who have not submitted their current certification must submit this document – if we have your current and active certificate on file, you do not need to submit anything until it is again time to certify.

It is the member's responsibility to keep record of their certificate of attendance as the CCOA office does not retain the certificates.

This requirement applies to each and every member who is currently licensed in Alberta – regardless of licensure date.

Standard First Aid and CPR-C quick facts

Please review our quick facts sheet (noted in the Resources and Documents section at the bottom of the page) for an overview of this requirement. For more detailed information, please read on.

Which programs are recognized as accredited?

Members may obtain Standard First Aid with CPR-C (both are required) certification through any organization accredited by Alberta Occupational Health and Safety.

Members can access OHS-approved courses here.

OHS accreditation is evaluated quarterly, so ensure you are accessing the most current version of their document when you are looking for a provider.

If you choose a course provider who is not specifically on the OHS list:

  • they must be affiliated with/certified by one who is on the list for your course to be eligible (for example, they must be certified by Canadian Red Cross, or St. John’s Ambulance, etc.)
  • the certifying organization’s logo must be shown on the certificate for your course to be eligible (e.g., Canadian Red Cross logo)

It is your responsibility to:

  • research and contact your chosen program provider to see if it is affiliated with/certified by one of these organizations, and;
  • to ensure that the course you are registering for includes at minimum Standard First Aid with CPR-C.

The CCOA does not approve providers or courses. Refer to the OHS list and consult with your course provider to ensure their offering meets the mandatory minimum requirement.

Certificate requirements

Ensure you obtain at minimum Standard First Aid with CPR-C (both are required). Lesser certifications do not meet this requirement. We recommend you refer to the Standard First Aid and CPR quick facts sheet for further details on which levels are eligible or not – prior to registering in a course.

To meet your membership renewal requirements and to be eligible for CC credits, your certificate(s) must evidence the following:

  • Standard First Aid with CPR-C (both are required)
  • the date the certificate was issued
  • the certificate expiry date
  • that the certificate was issued by an accredited provider
  • that it is an official certificate

If you have taken separate Standard First Aid and CPR-C courses, each certificate must meet the above requirements.

We will not accept:

  • certificates indicating that part of the course was taken – you must submit the final certificate that shows the full course is complete (i.e., no interim/temporary certificates)
  • certificates that do not meet the above-listed criteria
  • certificates for a course that is completely online with no in-person training

How many Continuing Competence (CC) credits will I receive?

  • Initial certification = maximum of twelve (12) credits.
  • Recertification = maximum of eight (8) credits.
CC credits earned in the current period cannot be carried forward into next year.

How do I submit my CPR certificate?

Email your certificate in PDF format to: certificates@theccoa.ca

How long do I need to maintain certification?

You are required to maintain the Standard First Aid and CPR-C with AED certification as long as you are a member of the CCOA.

Certification period

Many programs offer three-year certification. This means certification/re-certification is only required one time, every three years. Be sure to check how long your chosen program’s certification lasts.

What if my CPR certificate expires before the last business day in June?

With each member’s certification expiring at different times throughout the calendar year, your requirement is only to demonstrate proof of valid Standard First Aid with CPR-C (both are required). This requirement is due by the May 31 of the year that your existing certificate expires. 

If your Standard First Aid with CPR-C expires before June 30, during the renewal year, you are required to submit proof of current certification no later than May 31, annually, to complete your 2023/2024 renewal application.

If required, you will need to submit your current CPR certification to complete your 2023-2024 renewal. 

Resources and documents