Ontario First Aid Course Name Changes (June 22, 2026)
Standard First Aid is now Intermediate First Aid, and Emergency First Aid is now Basic First Aid. The names are equivalent for WSIB, the course content is the same, and your existing certificate stays valid until it expires.
The short answer
On June 22, 2026, Ontario's WSIB launched its modernized First Aid Program, aligned to the national standard CSA Z1210:24. Two workplace course names changed: Standard First Aid became Intermediate First Aid, and Emergency First Aid became Basic First Aid. WSIB treats the old and new names as equivalent for Regulation 1101, and the training itself did not change.
What changed: old name → new name
| Until June 21, 2026 (former name) | From June 22, 2026 (CSA Z1210:24 name) | Meets the same WSIB requirement? |
|---|---|---|
| Standard First Aid (2-day, with CPR & AED) |
Intermediate First Aid (with CPR & AED) |
Yes — WSIB: “Intermediate First Aid is equivalent to Standard First Aid.” |
| Emergency First Aid (1-day, with CPR & AED) |
Basic First Aid (with CPR & AED) |
Yes — WSIB: “Basic First Aid is equivalent to Emergency First Aid.” |
| CPR-A · CPR-C · CPR-BLS | No change — CPR levels keep their names | CPR & AED training remains part of Basic and Intermediate First Aid. |
Your current certificate is still valid
Any valid First Aid or CPR certificate issued on or before June 21, 2026 by a WSIB-approved provider remains valid until its original expiry date — typically three years from the date it was issued. You do not need to retrain early because of the name change.
When your certificate expires
Simply register for the equivalent CSA Z1210:24 course under its new name: Basic First Aid (formerly Emergency First Aid) or Intermediate First Aid (formerly Standard First Aid). Recertification can now be completed with any WSIB-approved provider.
What stayed the same — and what's new
Unchanged
The skills, the course content, the WSIB Regulation 1101 workplace requirement, the 3-year certificate validity, and the CPR level names (CPR-A, CPR-C, CPR-BLS).
New under CSA Z1210:24
The course names (Basic and Intermediate First Aid), a competency-based curriculum and quality-management standard for training agencies, explicitly permitted blended delivery (online theory + mandatory in-person practical), and more flexible recertification with any approved provider.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Standard First Aid called now in Ontario?
- As of June 22, 2026, Ontario's WSIB renamed Standard First Aid to Intermediate First Aid to align with the national standard CSA Z1210:24. WSIB confirms Intermediate First Aid is equivalent to Standard First Aid, so it still meets the same Regulation 1101 workplace requirement. The course content is unchanged — only the name changed.
- What is Emergency First Aid called now?
- As of June 22, 2026, Emergency First Aid is called Basic First Aid under WSIB's modernized First Aid Program, aligned to CSA Z1210:24. Basic First Aid is the WSIB-recognized equivalent of the former Emergency First Aid and meets the same Regulation 1101 requirement.
- Is Intermediate First Aid the same as Standard First Aid?
- Yes. WSIB states that Intermediate First Aid is equivalent to Standard First Aid. It is the same workplace certification, renamed under CSA Z1210:24, and still satisfies Ontario Regulation 1101. Intermediate First Aid includes CPR and AED training.
- Is my current First Aid certificate still valid after June 22, 2026?
- Yes. Any valid certificate issued on or before June 21, 2026 by a WSIB-approved provider remains valid until its original expiry date (typically three years from issue). You do not need to retrain early. When your certificate expires, you register for a CSA Z1210:24 course — Basic First Aid or Intermediate First Aid.
- Does this rename change WSIB requirements for my workplace?
- No. Regulation 1101 and your legal obligations as an Ontario employer are unchanged. WSIB confirms Basic First Aid is equivalent to Emergency First Aid and Intermediate First Aid is equivalent to Standard First Aid for compliance. Only the course names and the underlying training standard (now CSA Z1210:24) changed.
- What is CSA Z1210:24?
- CSA Z1210:24 is the Canadian Standards Association's 2024 standard, “First aid training for the workplace — Curriculum and quality management for training agencies.” Ontario's WSIB First Aid Program aligns to it effective June 22, 2026. It defines a competency-based curriculum and the training levels Basic (formerly Emergency) and Intermediate (formerly Standard).
- How long is Intermediate First Aid certification valid?
- Three years. The certificate validity period is unchanged under the modernized program. When it expires you can recertify with any WSIB-approved provider — recertification is no longer tied to your original training provider.
- Can I take Intermediate or Basic First Aid online?
- Online-only first aid certification is not accepted in Ontario. CSA Z1210:24 permits blended delivery — self-paced online theory plus an in-person, instructor-led practical skills session — but a hands-on practical assessment is required to certify.
- Can I recertify my Standard / Intermediate First Aid with any provider now?
- Yes. Under the modernized program, you may recertify your Intermediate (formerly Standard) First Aid certificate with any WSIB-approved training provider before it expires — you are no longer effectively limited to your original provider.
- Are the CPR levels (CPR-A, CPR-C, CPR-BLS) being renamed too?
- No. The CPR level designations are not changing. Only the workplace First Aid course names change: Standard First Aid becomes Intermediate First Aid and Emergency First Aid becomes Basic First Aid. CPR and AED training remains embedded in both.
Register for Basic or Intermediate First Aid
Find a WSIB-approved course at a location near you, or contact us about group and on-site training across Ontario.