Sharon has 21+ years of experience as a qualified Emergency Care Nurse registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA) and 12+ years as a First Aid Trainer.
She takes pride in FirstAidPro making first aid training available, comprehensive and affordable to everybody.
Is your CPR still valid? In Australia, a CPR certificate for HLTAID009 Provide CPR is generally treated as current for 12 months from the date you complete the course. That figure is a recommendation in Safe Work Australia’s model Code of Practice, and it has become the industry standard.
The 12 months is legally prescribed for education and care services. The HLTAID009 unit itself sets no period and points you to your Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulator.
First aid (HLTAID011) is generally renewed every 3 years, but the CPR component inside it is still refreshed annually. Below, we explain where each period comes from.
Key Takeaways
- Most workplaces and industries expect you to refresh your CPR certificate every 12 months.
- Safe Work Australia’s model code recommends annual CPR refreshers and first aid renewal every 3 years.
- Education and care services must have CPR training completed within the previous year under Regulation 136, per ACECQA.
- AUSactive recognises HLTAID009 as valid for one year as a condition of AUSactive registration.
- No national period is set for HLTAID014 or HLTAID015, so check with your regulator or employer.
- Your 12 months starts from the completion date on your Statement of Attainment.
- For timing advice, read our guide on how often to renew CPR.
The Short Answer: 12 Months for CPR, 3 Years for First Aid
Plan on 12 months for CPR and 3 years for first aid. Safe Work Australia’s model Code of Practice, as adopted in SafeWork NSW’s code, sets out both figures. It states: “Refresher training in CPR should be carried out annually and first aid qualifications should be renewed every three years.”
The code’s own terms say “should” indicates a recommended course of action. Safe Work Australia’s model first aid code page also tells you to check with your local regulator about whether the code has legal effect in your jurisdiction.
Government training bodies repeat the same line. The Queensland Ambulance Service’s HLTAID009 public course page says CPR refresher training should be carried out annually (every 12 months), in line with the code.
ACECQA, the national authority for education and care, calls annual CPR and three-yearly first aid “the industry standard” in its first aid qualifications guidance. In practice, expect employers, venues and registration bodies to ask for a CPR certificate dated within the last 12 months.
CPR Certificate Validity by Course Type
Each unit carries its own currency period. The HLTAID009 unit text points refresher requirements to WHS regulators, so the periods below come from regulators, industry bodies and employers.
| Unit | What it covers | Generally accepted currency | Where the period comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| HLTAID009 | Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) | 12 months (annual refresher) | Recommended by the Safe Work Australia code and QAS; ACECQA “industry standard”; prescribed within 1 year for education and care; 12 months for AUSactive registration |
| HLTAID010 | Provide basic emergency life support | No national period set in the unit; check with your regulator or employer. Within 1 year for education and care | ACECQA requires emergency life support training within the previous year in education and care |
| HLTAID011 | Provide first aid (includes CPR) | 3 years; CPR component annual | Safe Work Australia code recommends 3-year renewal; ACECQA and AUSactive apply 3 years |
| HLTAID012 | Provide first aid in an education and care setting | 3 years for first aid; CPR and emergency life support within 1 year; anaphylaxis and asthma within 3 years | Prescribed for education and care services (ACECQA, Regulation 136) |
| HLTAID014 | Provide advanced first aid | No national period set; follow regulator/employer. CPR component: annual per SWA code | No authoritative source sets a period; check with your regulator or employer |
| HLTAID015 | Provide advanced resuscitation and oxygen therapy | No national period set in the unit; check with your regulator or employer. CPR component: annual per SWA code | No authoritative source sets a period; check with your regulator or employer |
ACECQA’s guidance confirms that currency periods apply to each individual unit of competency. Say your HLTAID011 Provide First Aid is 2 years old and your CPR is 14 months old. Your first aid is still within 3 years, but your CPR needs refreshing now.
Does a CPR Certificate Legally Expire?
For most workplaces, the WHS regulations set no fixed expiry date for CPR. Treat the 12-month figure as the standard you will be measured against.
The HLTAID009 unit on training.gov.au is a current national unit, first released on 16 October 2020. Its text says refresher requirements “should be obtained from the relevant national/state/territory Work Health and Safety Regulatory Authorities”. The unit names no period itself.
Regulation 42 of the model WHS Regulations 2011 requires an “adequate number” of workers trained to administer first aid. As SafeWork NSW’s code sets out, it names no renewal period for CPR or first aid. The annual and 3-year figures come from the code of practice.
SafeWork NSW’s code also notes that courts may rely on a code when deciding what is reasonably practicable. If an incident happens, the code’s 12-month recommendation could be used as evidence of what your workplace should have done.
Each state and territory has its own WHS regulations. Check your state regulator, industry rules and employer policy before you rely on any date.
Where 12 Months Is a Hard Rule
Education and care services are the clearest case where the 12-month CPR period is prescribed. According to ACECQA’s first aid qualifications guidance, CPR and emergency life support training must be completed within the previous year to count as current. First aid, anaphylaxis management and emergency asthma management training must be completed within the previous 3 years.
The same ACECQA guidance calls annual CPR and three-yearly first aid “the industry standard”. ACECQA also confirms currency periods apply to each individual unit of competency. It notes your certificate should state the completion date and may include refresher recommendations.
Per ACECQA, this applies to services under the Education and Care Services National Regulations (Regulation 136), including centre-based care and family day care. The HLTAID012 education and care course may contribute towards approved first aid, asthma and anaphylaxis training. Our guide to the childcare CPR 12-month rule covers the detail.
Fitness professionals meet a similar condition for AUSactive registration. AUSactive’s registration FAQ recognises HLTAID009 as valid for one year from completion and HLTAID011 for three years. It also warns your insurance may be invalid if your First Aid or CPR certificates expire.
Employers and industries can set their own policy too. If you work in healthcare or allied health, ask your employer or registration body which CPR currency they require.
Why CPR Has a Shorter Shelf Life Than First Aid
CPR skills fade quickly, which is why the refresher cycle is shorter. ANZCOR Guideline 10.1, approved in May 2025, covers basic life support (BLS) training. It states that retraining cycles of 12 to 24 months are “likely insufficient” to maintain high-quality BLS performance.
ANZCOR Guideline 10.1 suggests more frequent, short manikin-based refreshers may maintain competence better than standard 12 to 24 month intervals. It describes sessions of 5 to 15 minutes, run weekly, monthly or quarterly. This is a weak recommendation based on very-low-certainty evidence.
ANZCOR Guideline 10.1 also says the optimal interval for re-completing a full basic life support course has not been established. So the 12-month certificate cycle comes from workplace guidance and industry practice, and ANZCOR sets no certificate period.
ANZCOR Guideline 10.1 is clear that attempting resuscitation should be encouraged regardless of how recently you trained. If someone collapses, call Triple Zero (000) and start CPR, whatever date is on your certificate.
How to Check When Your CPR Certificate Was Issued
Your Statement of Attainment shows the date you completed the course, and that date starts your 12-month count. ACECQA’s guidance notes the certificate should state the completion date and may include refresher recommendations.
To work out your refresher date:
- Find your Statement of Attainment, on paper or in your email.
- Locate the completion date for HLTAID009.
- Add 12 months to get your recommended refresher date.
- Set a reminder for 10 to 11 months after completion.
Lost your certificate? ASQA’s statement of attainment guidance confirms you can use your Unique Student Identifier (USI) to get an online transcript. It covers VET results from 1 January 2015 onwards.
You can also request a copy from the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that trained you. If you trained with us, contact FirstAidPro (RTO 31124) and we will help.
What Happens If Your CPR Certificate Lapses?
If your CPR lapses, you may stop counting as a current first aider until you refresh it. The impact depends on where you work:
- At work, you may not count toward your workplace’s first aider coverage.
- In education and care, you won’t be counted as current under the National Regulations.
- In fitness, AUSactive registration requires current certificates, and your insurance may be affected.
The fix is to complete HLTAID009 again. Not sure which option suits you? Compare a CPR refresher versus full course before you book.
Renewing Your CPR Certificate
Book your refresher around 10 to 11 months after your last course so your CPR certificate stays current. That buffer helps you find a session that fits your roster.
We deliver the HLTAID009 Provide CPR course in four formats:
- A 2-hour traditional face-to-face class with no online component.
- A blended course with online theory and a 1.5-hour practical session.
- An express refresher with online theory and a 1-hour assessment-only session.
- A 100% online Zoom class lasting 1 hour, with equipment provided.
As a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 31124), we issue a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment, with Certificates Issued Same Day* (T&Cs Apply). Our trainers run courses at 170+ locations nationwide, including Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, and onsite for workplace groups.
Book a course today, or find a course near you.
Summing Up: Keep Your CPR Current
A CPR certificate is generally treated as current for 12 months, and first aid for 3 years. Those periods are recommendations for most workplaces, a prescribed rule in education and care, and a registration condition for AUSactive. Check your completion date, set a reminder at 10 months, and refresh before your 12 months is up.
Disclaimer
This article is general information only and is not medical or legal advice. Requirements vary by state, industry and employer. Check with your WHS regulator, registration body or employer before relying on a date.
CPR Certificate FAQs
How long does a CPR certificate last in Australia?
A CPR certificate is generally treated as current for 12 months from your completion date. Safe Work Australia’s model Code of Practice recommends refreshing CPR annually, and most workplaces follow that standard. Check your state regulator, industry rules and employer policy for any stricter requirement.
Does HLTAID009 expire?
The HLTAID009 unit on training.gov.au sets no validity period itself. Its text directs you to Work Health and Safety regulators for refresher requirements. In practice, employers and bodies such as AUSactive treat it as current for 12 months.
Is CPR valid for 1 year or 3 years?
CPR is generally valid for 1 year, while a full first aid qualification is generally valid for 3 years. Safe Work Australia’s code sets out both figures as recommendations. The CPR component inside HLTAID011 still needs an annual refresher.
How long does a first aid certificate last?
A first aid certificate such as HLTAID011 is generally renewed every 3 years, as Safe Work Australia’s code recommends. ACECQA and AUSactive apply the same 3-year period in their settings. Your CPR still needs refreshing every 12 months during that time.
Do childcare workers need to renew CPR every year?
Yes. For education and care services, ACECQA confirms the National Regulations require CPR and emergency life support training within the previous year. First aid, anaphylaxis and asthma training must fall within the previous 3 years.
Can I still perform CPR if my certificate has expired?
Yes, ANZCOR Guideline 10.1 states that attempting resuscitation should be encouraged regardless of how recently you trained. If someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call Triple Zero (000) and start CPR. Book a refresher afterwards to bring your skills and certificate up to date.
How do I find my old CPR certificate?
Ask the RTO that delivered your training for a copy of your Statement of Attainment. If you have a USI, ASQA confirms you can access an online transcript of VET results from 1 January 2015 onwards. FirstAidPro students can contact us directly for a copy.
