Structure of first aid education — from basic education to functional education

When you book a first aid course you meet a number of names that can seem overwhelming: basic training optional training functional training. The system is actually logically structured and once you understand the structure it becomes easier to choose the right course – both for yourself and for your workplace.

§Three building blocks

Danish Approved Natural Building Standard

• 01Basic training — the fundamental skills, e.g. first aid in cardiac arrest or general first aid
• 02Elective courses — supplementary subjects that build on a basic training
• 03Functional education — Danish Red Cross's recommended, complete course for a specific profession or target group, composed of relevant basic and elective education

§Basic training — the foundation

A basic education covers one core subject and typically has a fixed, specified duration — for example, the basic education 'First Aid for Cardiac Arrest' is a course of 240 minutes' duration. This is where you learn the skills that appear in almost all contexts: cardiopulmonary resuscitation, use of a defibrillator and the basic key points of first aid. Basic educations are the building blocks on which the rest of the system is built.

§Functional education — tailored to your profession

A function apprenticeship combines multiple basic and optional apprenticeships into one programme suitable for a specific target group. An example is the function apprenticeship 'First aid in vocational apprenticeships' which has a total duration of 720 minutes and is aimed at vocational apprentices — some versions include traffic-related first aid targeting those who are often first at a traffic accident. Other function apprenticeships are aimed at e.g. the transport industry pedagogical work or heavier industrial trades where the risk picture differs from that in a regular workplace.

§The certificate has an expiry date

A course certificate from the Danish First Aid Council is generally valid for 24 months after the last course date. The Council recommends participating in a refresher no later than every 24 months to keep competences current — skills like cardiopulmonary resuscitation fade if not maintained through repetition. Some workplaces and industries require that their employees have a valid non-expired certificate so it is worth keeping track of the date.

§How to choose the right course

Start by asking what your trade and workplace require – many sectors and collective agreements point directly to a specific vocational training. Then check whether your existing certificate is still valid or is about to expire. If in doubt, your employer, your school, or the course provider can help you find the course that suits your level and your trade.

“A first aid certificate is not something you get once for life — it is a skill that needs to be kept up to date just like other professional competence.”

— First aid point