The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) is launching a modernized First Aid Program on June 22, 2026. The changes are designed to improve the quality, consistency, and accessibility of workplace first aid training across Ontario.
If you have recently heard about new course names such as Basic First Aid or Intermediate First Aid, or if you are wondering whether your current first aid certificate will still be valid, this guide explains everything you need to know.
Why Is WSIB Changing the First Aid Program?
The updated program aligns workplace first aid training in Ontario with the new Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standard:
CSA Z1210:24 – First Aid Training for the Workplace: Curriculum and Quality Management for Training Agencies
The goal is to create a more consistent approach to workplace first aid training across Canada while ensuring workers receive high-quality, up-to-date instruction.
What Is CSA Z1210:24?
One of the biggest changes in the new WSIB First Aid Program is the adoption of CSA Z1210:24 – First Aid Training for the Workplace: Curriculum and Quality Management for Training Agencies.
This national standard establishes requirements for:
- First aid course curriculum
- Instructor qualifications
- Learner evaluation and testing
- Training provider quality assurance
- Ongoing program management
By adopting CSA Z1210:24, WSIB is helping create a more consistent workplace first aid training system across Canada while continuing to meet Ontario workplace requirements.
What Course Names Are Changing?
As of June 22, 2026, WSIB will introduce new names for workplace first aid courses in Ontario.
- Emergency First Aid will become Basic First Aid
- Standard First Aid will become Intermediate First Aid
While the course names are changing, the certifications themselves are not being eliminated. The purpose of the change is to align Ontario’s workplace first aid program with the new CSA Z1210:24 national standard.
For most learners and employers, the course content, certification validity periods, and workplace recognition will remain largely unchanged.
Will My Current First Aid Certificate Still Be Valid?
Yes.
All workplace first aid certificates issued by approved providers before June 22, 2026, will remain valid until their stated expiry date.
There is no requirement to retake training simply because the course names have changed.
What Happens to Recertification?
One of the most significant updates involves recertification.
Under the updated WSIB program:
- Intermediate First Aid certificates can continue to be recertified.
- Participants may recertify with any WSIB-approved training provider.
- Current Standard First Aid certificate holders will continue to alternate between a full course and a recertification course every three years.
- Existing valid certificates remain eligible for recertification under the updated program.
This clarification was made following feedback received from training providers and stakeholders across Ontario.
Will Other Canadian First Aid Certificates Be Accepted?
Yes.
WSIB has confirmed that workplace first aid certificates issued anywhere in Canada will continue to be accepted, provided they meet the CSA Z1210 standard.
In addition, eligible certificates will be able to be recertified in Ontario before they expire.
How Will I Know If a Training Provider Is Approved?
WSIB-approved providers will continue to be identified through the WSIB approval process.
Under the updated program, approved providers and their affiliated training partners will display official First Aid Program approval badges.
Before registering for workplace first aid training, employers should always verify that the provider is approved to deliver workplace first aid training in Ontario.
What Does This Mean for Ontario Employers?
For most employers, very little will change.
You will continue to:
- Meet your workplace first aid obligations.
- Train employees through approved providers.
- Maintain valid first aid certificates.
- Follow WSIB Regulation 1101 requirements.
The biggest changes will be the new course names and the adoption of the national CSA Z1210:24 standard.
What Does This Mean for Heart2Heart Students?
Heart2Heart has already incorporated the curriculum updates required under CSA Z1210:24 into our Canadian Red Cross First Aid & CPR Program.
Beginning June 22, 2026, learners will begin seeing the new course names:
- Emergency First Aid → Basic First Aid
- Standard First Aid → Intermediate First Aid
While the names are changing, participants can continue to expect the same high-quality, hands-on Canadian Red Cross training that Heart2Heart has provided for more than 25 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Standard First Aid being discontinued?
No. Standard First Aid is simply being renamed Intermediate First Aid.
Is Emergency First Aid being discontinued?
No. Emergency First Aid is simply being renamed Basic First Aid.
Do I need to replace my current certificate?
No. Existing certificates remain valid until their expiry date.
Will employers still recognize my certificate?
Yes. Employers, schools, and organizations will continue to recognize valid Canadian Red Cross certifications.
When do the changes take effect?
The updated WSIB First Aid Program takes effect on June 22, 2026.
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