What is the difference between HLTAID009 and HLTAID011?

HLTAID009 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation is CPR only, usually a few hours. HLTAID011 Provide First Aid is the full first aid certificate and includes the CPR unit within it, usually a day.

Do I need to do CPR separately if I hold a first aid certificate?

Not at the time you complete it, because HLTAID011 includes HLTAID009. But the CPR component is refreshed annually while the first aid certificate runs three years, so most people do a standalone CPR course in the intervening years.

Does a first aid certificate legally expire?

The certificate itself is a statement of attainment and does not expire by law. The Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice recommends CPR refresher training annually and first aid renewal every three years, and employers and industry schemes generally enforce those intervals.

How much do they cost in NSW?

Providers listed here advertise CPR from about $35 to $225 (median around $77) and first aid from about $85 to $305 (median around $130).

First aid or CPR: which certificate do you need?

HLTAID009 vs HLTAID011, what each covers, how often each is refreshed, and why CPR is yearly but first aid is every three years.

Updated 2026-09-25

The two units

	CPR	First aid
Unit	HLTAID009 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation	HLTAID011 Provide First Aid
Covers	CPR and defibrillator use	CPR plus bleeding, burns, fractures, anaphylaxis, asthma, envenomation, shock
Typical length	2–4 hours	1 day, often with online pre-work
Refresh	every 12 months	every 3 years

HLTAID011 contains HLTAID009. Complete the first aid course and you hold both.

Which one do you need

Workplace first aider nominated under your employer's first aid plan — HLTAID011.
Ticket or licence prerequisite (many construction, mining and childcare roles) — check which unit the scheme names; most specify HLTAID011.
Keeping a current certificate between first aid renewals — HLTAID009 on its own.
Education and care settings need HLTAID012, a separate unit, not covered on this page.

Why the different intervals

Neither statement of attainment carries a legal expiry date. The Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: First Aid in the Workplace recommends CPR refresher training annually from the date of issue and first aid renewal every three years. Compression technique degrades fastest, which is why CPR is the yearly one. Employers, insurers and licensing schemes treat those recommendations as the standard, so in practice they function as expiry dates.

Cost in NSW

From providers listed on this site: CPR about $35–$225 (median around $77), first aid about $85–$305 (median around $130). Blended delivery — theory online, assessment in person — is common and usually cheaper.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between HLTAID009 and HLTAID011?: HLTAID009 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation is CPR only, usually a few hours. HLTAID011 Provide First Aid is the full first aid certificate and includes the CPR unit within it, usually a day.
Do I need to do CPR separately if I hold a first aid certificate?: Not at the time you complete it, because HLTAID011 includes HLTAID009. But the CPR component is refreshed annually while the first aid certificate runs three years, so most people do a standalone CPR course in the intervening years.
Does a first aid certificate legally expire?: The certificate itself is a statement of attainment and does not expire by law. The Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice recommends CPR refresher training annually and first aid renewal every three years, and employers and industry schemes generally enforce those intervals.
How much do they cost in NSW?: Providers listed here advertise CPR from about $35 to $225 (median around $77) and first aid from about $85 to $305 (median around $130).