CSA Z1210:24: What Ontario Employers Need to Know
Plain-language guidance for safety managers, HR professionals, and anyone responsible for workplace first aid compliance in Ontario. What the standard requires, what changed from the previous edition, and what you need to do now.
What CSA Z1210:24 Is — and Why It Matters
CSA Z1210:24 is the 2024 edition of the Canadian Standards Association standard governing first aid training programs. It defines the minimum requirements for first aid certification in Canada: course content, hands-on skill competencies, instructor qualifications, certificate validity periods, and delivery formats.
Ontario employers are required to maintain workplace first aid coverage under Ontario Regulation 1101 (First Aid Requirements) under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and WSIB recognize first aid training that meets or exceeds CSA Z1210:24. Training from a provider that is not compliant with the current standard does not satisfy Ontario's workplace first aid requirements, regardless of when that training was completed.
If your employees hold certificates issued under the previous standard (Z1210:17), those certificates are valid until their expiry date. At renewal, the training must meet Z1210:24. If your current training provider is not certified under Z1210:24, that is a compliance gap you need to resolve before your next renewal cycle.
What Z1210:24 Mandates
The standard sets minimum requirements across six areas. Every WSIB-approved provider must satisfy all of them.
Minimum Contact Time Is Non-Negotiable
Standard First Aid requires a minimum of 8 hours of practical hands-on instruction. CPR-BLS, CPR-C, and CPR-A courses require a minimum of 2 hours of practical instruction. These are floor minimums — not maximums. Online theory completed in advance does not reduce the required practical hours.
Hands-On Competency Must Be Demonstrated
Certificate holders must demonstrate competency in person during a practical session. Z1210:24 specifies the skills that must be assessed for each certification level, including CPR technique, AED operation, wound management, and scenario response. Online-only training does not meet this requirement.
Fixed Expiry Periods by Certification Type
Online Theory Is Formally Approved
Z1210:24 formally recognizes blended training as an approved delivery format. Participants may complete theory content online before attending a required in-person practical session. The practical component must still be completed in person under direct instructor supervision. Online-only courses do not qualify.
Instructors Must Meet Z1210:24 Requirements
The standard sets qualification requirements for instructors, including current certification, teaching credentials, and ongoing professional development. When selecting a training provider, confirm that their instructors are certified under Z1210:24 — not under an older version of the standard or a foreign equivalent.
The Certificate Issuer Must Be WSIB-Approved
WSIB acceptance depends on who issues the certificate, not just who delivers the training. The certifying body must hold a current WSIB approval. Assured Response is an independent WSIB-approved certificate issuer — it does not issue certificates through Red Cross or St. John Ambulance. The issuing body appears on the certificate.
What Changed from Z1210:17 to Z1210:24
The 2024 edition made several material changes. Employers who have not reviewed their compliance posture since 2017 should pay particular attention to these areas.
Z1210:17 (2017 Edition)
CPR Protocols
Based on 2015 Heart & Stroke Resuscitation Guidelines. Compression-to-ventilation ratios and AED sequencing reflect those guidelines.
Online Delivery
Permitted but not formally standardized. Requirements for online components were interpreted variably by providers.
Recertification Eligibility
Less precise eligibility criteria. Some providers accepted certificates from other organizations for recertification purposes.
AED Competency
AED training required but competency assessment criteria were less prescriptive.
Z1210:24 (2024 Edition)
CPR Protocols
Updated to align with 2020 Heart & Stroke Resuscitation Guidelines. Compression-only CPR protocols, updated AED integration, and revised ventilation guidance reflect current evidence.
Online Delivery
Blended delivery formally defined and standardized. Providers must meet specific requirements for online content quality, knowledge assessment, and mandatory in-person practical completion.
Recertification Eligibility
Recertification is available only to holders of a currently valid certificate from the same certifying body. Expired certificates and certificates from other organizations require full recertification.
AED Competency
Updated assessment criteria for AED operation. Participants must demonstrate specific competencies, not just theoretical knowledge of AED use.
What Your Organization Needs to Do
Five steps for safety managers and HR teams conducting a first aid compliance audit.
Confirm Your Training Provider Is WSIB-Approved Under Z1210:24
Not all first aid training providers are WSIB-approved. Not all WSIB-approved providers have updated their programs to meet Z1210:24. Ask your provider directly for confirmation of their WSIB approval status and their compliance with the 2024 standard. This should be in writing.
A WSIB approval number is specific to the certifying body, not the individual instructor or location. Verify the approval belongs to the organization issuing your certificates.
Audit Current Staff Certificate Expiry Dates
Collect copies of all current employee first aid and CPR certificates. Create a spreadsheet with employee name, certification type, issue date, and expiry date. Any certificate that expires within 90 days should trigger a renewal booking. Any expired certificate is an immediate compliance gap.
Standard First Aid certificates are valid for 3 years. CPR-BLS certificates are valid for 1 year. Different certification types have different renewal cycles — audit by type, not just by date.
Verify the Issuing Organization on Each Certificate
Ontario Regulation 1101 requires that first aid attendants be certified by a provider approved by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. Check the issuing organization name on each certificate — not the training location or the instructor name. Certificates issued by unapproved organizations do not count toward your WSIB compliance obligations, regardless of the quality of the training.
Common non-compliant certificates include those from organizations that are not WSIB-approved, online-only providers, and certificates issued by foreign bodies not recognized in Ontario.
Determine How Many Certified Staff Your Workplace Requires
Ontario Regulation 1101 sets minimum staffing requirements based on the number of workers present at a workplace during a shift, the hazard classification of the work, and whether a nurse is on duty. The regulation specifies how many trained first aid attendants you must have on-site, at all times the workplace is occupied. Review the regulation directly or consult your WSIB representative to confirm your specific requirements.
Requirements change when your headcount changes. If you have expanded since your last compliance review, your current number of certified staff may no longer meet the regulatory minimum.
Keep Certificate Records Accessible for Inspection
WSIB inspectors and Ministry of Labour inspectors may request proof of first aid compliance during a workplace inspection. Maintain a current, organized record of all employee first aid certificates, including copies or verified digital records. Certificates should be retrievable on short notice. A shared folder organized by employee name and expiry date is sufficient.
Certificates issued by Assured Response are delivered by email as PDF documents with a printable format. These are suitable for record-keeping and are accepted by WSIB and Ministry of Labour inspectors.
What a Valid Certificate Looks Like
A compliant first aid certificate issued under CSA Z1210:24 contains specific information. When auditing your team's certificates, verify each of the following fields is present and accurate.
Issuing organization name
The legal name of the certifying body — not the instructor, training location, or franchise. Must be a WSIB-approved organization.
Certification standard reference
CSA Z1210:24 should appear on the certificate or in the accompanying documentation. This confirms the training met the current standard.
WSIB Approved notation
Confirms the certifying body holds a current WSIB approval. Certificates without this notation may not satisfy Ontario workplace requirements.
Participant full name
The certificate must be issued to a named individual. Group or generic certificates are not valid for WSIB compliance purposes.
Training date and expiry date
Both dates must appear. The expiry date — not the training date — determines when renewal is required. Confirm the certificate is not expired.
What Employers Ask
Our employees have Red Cross or St. John Ambulance certificates. Are those accepted for WSIB compliance?
Yes. Red Cross and St. John Ambulance are WSIB-approved providers. Certificates they have issued and that have not expired are valid for Ontario workplace compliance purposes. At renewal, any WSIB-approved Z1210:24-compliant provider may be used — employees do not need to renew with the same organization that issued their previous certificate.
Our certificates were issued in 2022 under Z1210:17. Do they need to be reissued?
No. Certificates issued under Z1210:17 remain valid until their expiry date. There is no requirement to reissue or replace them early. At renewal, the training must meet Z1210:24. The standard the training meets is determined by what the provider was certified to at the time of training, not the edition printed on the certificate.
What is the minimum number of certified first aid attendants we need on-site?
The requirement is set by Ontario Regulation 1101 and depends on the number of workers present during a shift and the hazard classification of the workplace. Low-hazard workplaces with fewer than 5 workers on a shift may not require a dedicated first aid attendant, while higher-hazard workplaces require at least one per shift. The regulation should be reviewed directly or through your WSIB representative for your specific situation.
Can we train our entire team at once? We have 30 employees.
Yes. Group and on-site training is the most practical option for organizations with 10 or more employees needing certification or renewal at the same time. Assured Response conducts on-site training at your location anywhere in Ontario. One practical session can certify an entire team, and each employee receives an individual certificate. Contact us through the group training page for availability and pricing.
Our employees work in different cities. Do they all need to train together?
No. Each employee can attend a public session at a location convenient to them, or your organization can arrange multiple on-site sessions at different locations. Certificates are issued to the individual regardless of training location. The issuing organization, Assured Response, is the same in all cases.
What documentation do we need to keep for a WSIB inspection?
At minimum, a copy of each employee's valid first aid certificate and a record of which employees are designated first aid attendants for each shift. WSIB and Ministry of Labour inspectors may request proof that the required number of trained attendants were present at the time of an incident or inspection. Digital copies are acceptable if they are accessible and clearly organized.
We have healthcare workers on staff who need CPR-BLS. Is that a different process?
Yes. CPR-BLS (Healthcare Provider) is a separate course from CPR-C and CPR-A. It meets the requirements of regulatory bodies including CNO, CRPO, ODA, and others that mandate annual CPR renewal for licensed professionals. It is available through Assured Response in blended format. The certificate is valid for 1 year. Renewal must occur annually to maintain professional standing.
How quickly will we receive certificates after training?
Certificates issued by Assured Response are delivered by email the same business day for rosters submitted by 10:00 AM EST, or by the next business day for all other submissions. Each employee receives their individual certificate as a PDF document, ready for record-keeping. There is no processing queue with a third party.
Group Training Across Ontario. Certificates by Next Business Day.
On-site training at your location, or public sessions at our authorized provider locations in Barrie, Oakville, and the GTA. Every certificate is WSIB-approved and CSA Z1210:24 compliant.