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.
HLTAID009 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation assesses CPR and AED use only. HLTAID010 Provide Basic Emergency Life Support assesses the same CPR and AED skills, plus managing anaphylaxis, asthma, bleeding, choking and shock. If a job ad asks for “BLS”, check which unit code the employer wants before you book.
Below, we compare both units, explain what “BLS” means in healthcare job ads, and cover refresher timing.
Key Takeaways
- HLTAID009 covers CPR and AED use. Our HLTAID009 CPR course runs 2 hours face-to-face, from $45.
- HLTAID010 assesses the same CPR and AED tasks, plus anaphylaxis, asthma, non-life-threatening bleeding, choking and shock.
- “BLS” is shorthand. In healthcare and aged care, your employer sets the requirement, so ask for the exact unit code.
- Refresh CPR every year. Safe Work Australia’s model Code of Practice says CPR refresher training should be annual.
- HLTAID011 Provide First Aid at FirstAidPro includes HLTAID009 and HLTAID010 in one 5-hour course, from $97. Book it if you need HLTAID010.
The Short Answer: Which Unit Do You Need?
Book the unit that matches what your role asks you to do. Use this list as your starting point:
- If you only need to keep your CPR current, book HLTAID009.
- If you need CPR plus a basic response to asthma, anaphylaxis or choking, you need HLTAID010. At FirstAidPro, book HLTAID011 Provide First Aid, which includes it.
- If you are your workplace’s appointed first aider, book HLTAID011 Provide First Aid, which covers both.
- If you work in childcare or education, book HLTAID012 Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting.
The most reliable check is the unit code in your position description or contract. If it lists a code, book a course that awards that exact code. If it only says “CPR”, “first aid” or “BLS”, ask your manager or education team to confirm the code by email.
HLTAID009 vs HLTAID010 Side by Side
Both units assess the same core CPR and AED skills. HLTAID010 adds a practical first aid layer on top.
| HLTAID009 | HLTAID010 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full unit title | Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation | Provide basic emergency life support |
| Superseded code | HLTAID001 (not equivalent) | HLTAID002 (not equivalent) |
| Practically assessed | Adult CPR on the floor, infant CPR on a firm surface, AED shock, recovery position, rescuer rotation, managing vomiting | The same CPR and AED tasks, plus anaphylaxis, asthma, non-life-threatening bleeding, choking, shock and one simulated incident |
| Knowledge topics | AED use, chain of survival, CPR for adults, children and infants | Adds stroke, cardiac conditions including chest pain, life-threatening bleeding and allergic reaction |
| FirstAidPro duration | 2 hours face-to-face (blended and express options available) | No standalone class. Awarded within our HLTAID011 (5 hours) and HLTAID012 courses |
| FirstAidPro price | From $45 | Via HLTAID011, from $97 |
| Refresher guidance | Model Code: CPR refresher should be annual | Unit defers to WHS regulators; model Code: CPR annual, first aid every 3 years |
| Online only? | No. Manikin assessment required | No. Manikin assessment required |
The practically assessed row is where the units differ. With HLTAID010, you also prove you can manage five common emergencies. Neither unit can be completed fully online.
What HLTAID009 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Covers
HLTAID009 trains you to perform CPR in line with Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) guidelines, including AED use. It superseded HLTAID001 in October 2020 and is not equivalent to it.
According to the HLTAID009 Assessment Requirements on training.gov.au, you must:
- perform at least 2 minutes of uninterrupted single-rescuer CPR (5 cycles of compressions and ventilations) on an adult manikin placed on the floor
- perform at least 2 minutes of uninterrupted CPR on an infant manikin placed on a firm surface
- follow the prompts of an AED to deliver at least one shock
- place an unconscious, breathing casualty in the recovery position
- rotate with another rescuer and manage vomiting or regurgitation
The floor position means you kneel for the full 2 minutes of compressions, which is physical work. If kneeling is difficult for you, talk to us before you book.
What HLTAID010 Provide Basic Emergency Life Support Adds
HLTAID010 assesses the same CPR, AED and infant CPR tasks as HLTAID009. It then adds hands-on management of five emergencies.
Under the HLTAID010 Assessment Requirements, you must manage casualties with:
- anaphylaxis
- asthma
- non-life-threatening bleeding
- choking
- shock
You also respond to one simulated incident set in your workplace or community. You won’t know the casualty’s condition before you start treatment.
The knowledge evidence also covers stroke, cardiac conditions including chest pain, life-threatening bleeding and allergic reaction. These topics aren’t practically assessed.
HLTAID010 superseded HLTAID002 and is not equivalent to it, according to the national HLTAID010 unit record and the HLTAID010 unit document. The unit document doesn’t list a prerequisite unit.
At FirstAidPro, HLTAID010 isn’t a standalone class. We award it within our HLTAID011 Provide First Aid course (from $97) and our HLTAID012 course.
Providers differ in what they issue. For example, Queensland Ambulance Service’s HLTAID010 course awards Statements of Attainment in both HLTAID009 and HLTAID010.
What Employers Mean When They Say “BLS”
When an employer asks for “BLS”, they’re asking about your resuscitation skills. The exact course they mean varies, so ask before you book.
ANZCOR’s BLS training guideline (Guideline 10.1) says formal BLS training covers the full DRSABCD sequence. That means dangers, response, send for help, airway, breathing, CPR and defibrillation.
ANZCOR uses “BLS” for that clinical skill set. The term doesn’t map neatly to one unit code, and HLTAID010’s title, basic emergency life support, sounds similar. In a job ad, “BLS” can mean:
- HLTAID009, if the role needs CPR currency only
- HLTAID010, if the role also expects you to manage asthma, anaphylaxis or choking
- an internal hospital or facility BLS competency, run by the employer’s own education team
In healthcare and aged care, your employer or facility sets the requirement in its own policy. Ask your manager or educator three questions:
- Which unit code do you need: HLTAID009, HLTAID010 or an internal BLS competency?
- How often do you need to refresh it?
- Does HLTAID011 Provide First Aid satisfy the requirement?
How Often to Refresh HLTAID009 and HLTAID010
The HLTAID010 unit document doesn’t set an expiry date. It tells you to get refresher requirements from your state or territory WHS regulator.
Your refresher cycle comes from workplace guidance and your employer’s policy. Safe Work Australia’s model Code of Practice says CPR refresher training should be carried out annually. It also says first aid qualifications should be renewed every three years.
It’s a model code, so check your state or territory WHS regulator and your employer.
ANZCOR Guideline 10.1 says retraining cycles of 12 to 24 months are likely insufficient to maintain high-quality BLS performance. CPR skills can deteriorate within weeks to months after a single course.
The evidence is very low certainty, but I’d treat an annual refresher as your minimum.
For more detail, read our guides on how often to renew CPR and how long CPR certificates last.
Already Have HLTAID011?
If you completed HLTAID011, check the unit codes on your Statement of Attainment. Our HLTAID011 Provide First Aid course includes HLTAID009 and HLTAID010. One 5-hour session, from $97, covers all three units.
Safe Work Australia’s model Code still says CPR refresher training should be annual, so book HLTAID009 each year in between.
Booking Your Course With FirstAidPro
FirstAidPro is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 31124). Pick the course you need, then choose a session.
- HLTAID009 runs as a 2-hour face-to-face class, a blended option with a 1.5-hour practical, or an express 1-hour assessment, from $45.
- HLTAID010 has no standalone class at FirstAidPro. We award it within our HLTAID011 and HLTAID012 courses, as our HLTAID010 Basic Emergency Life Support unit page explains.
- HLTAID011 Provide First Aid includes HLTAID009 and HLTAID010, from $97. Book this course if your role needs HLTAID010.
Your HLTAID010 practical always happens in person, on a manikin, with a trainer. Certificates Issued Same Day* (T&Cs Apply).
Find a course near you and book the unit your role needs.
Disclaimer
This article is general information only and isn’t medical, legal or compliance advice. Unit details reflect training.gov.au documents checked in October 2026. Always confirm your requirements with your employer and your state or territory WHS regulator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does HLTAID010 Include CPR?
Yes. The HLTAID010 Assessment Requirements on training.gov.au include the same adult CPR, infant CPR and AED tasks as HLTAID009. Providers differ on what they issue, but Queensland Ambulance Service, for example, issues Statements of Attainment for both units after its HLTAID010 course.
Is HLTAID010 the Same as First Aid?
No. Under its training.gov.au Assessment Requirements, HLTAID010 covers CPR plus practical management of anaphylaxis, asthma, non-life-threatening bleeding, choking and shock. If you are your workplace’s appointed first aider, HLTAID011 Provide First Aid is the broader unit.
Can I Do HLTAID010 Online?
Not fully. The HLTAID010 Assessment Requirements on training.gov.au require a hands-on demonstration on adult and infant manikins, plus managing simulated casualties. At FirstAidPro, we award HLTAID010 within our HLTAID011 Provide First Aid course, from $97, and the practical is face-to-face with a trainer.
How Long Is HLTAID010 Valid?
The HLTAID010 unit on training.gov.au sets no expiry and directs you to WHS regulators for refresher requirements. Safe Work Australia’s model Code of Practice says CPR refresher training should be carried out annually and first aid qualifications renewed every three years. Check with your state or territory WHS regulator and your employer.
Does HLTAID011 Cover HLTAID010?
Yes. At FirstAidPro (RTO 31124), we award HLTAID010 within our HLTAID011 Provide First Aid course, from $97, which also includes HLTAID009. We don’t run a standalone HLTAID010 class, so book HLTAID011 if you need HLTAID010. Safe Work Australia’s model Code of Practice says you should still refresh CPR annually.
Does an Old HLTAID002 Still Count?
Training.gov.au lists HLTAID010 as superseding HLTAID002, and the two units are not equivalent. Your employer decides whether it accepts a certificate under the old code. Safe Work Australia’s model Code of Practice says CPR refresher training should be annual, so an HLTAID002 certificate is likely well past that cycle.
Is “BLS” the Same as HLTAID009?
Not exactly: ANZCOR Guideline 10.1 says formal BLS training covers the full DRSABCD sequence. That clinical skill set overlaps with the CPR and AED content of HLTAID009 and HLTAID010. Some employers also run their own BLS competency, so ask which unit code or course they need before you book.
