You reach for your Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificate and it is not there. It is not in the drawer, not in your email and not on your phone. Perhaps your employer has asked for proof. Perhaps a client wants it before you start. Perhaps an inspector is visiting next week.
Do not panic. A lost certificate is a common problem with several possible solutions, and the best one depends on how much time is left on your certificate, how urgent the request is and what you can remember about your course. In this guide, we lay out your options in plain English, compare them side by side and help you choose. If you want to see a real course page as you read, here is the Emergency First Aid at Work course in London.
The Short Answer
You have six main options.
- Find the certificate yourself.
- Ask the training provider for a replacement.
- Ask your employer for their copy.
- Ask the awarding organisation for help.
- Get temporary proof while you wait.
- Book a new course.
For most people with plenty of time left on their certificate, the best route is to ask the provider for a replacement. If the certificate is close to expiry, or already expired, a new course is usually the better choice. Keep reading to see how to decide.
First, Know What You Are Replacing
Two facts shape every option.
- An EFAW certificate is valid for three years. After that, it expires, and there is no general grace period.
- A replacement does not extend validity. It is a copy of the original, so the expiry date stays the same.
So your first question is always: how much time does my certificate have left? If you cannot remember the course date, check old emails, receipts or your employer’s records. Even an approximate date helps you choose.
Option 1: Find the Certificate Yourself
This is the cheapest option, and it works more often than people expect.
Where to look
- Your email inbox, spam folder and any older email accounts. Search for first aid, certificate, EFAW or the provider’s name.
- Cloud storage and downloads folders on your computer and phone.
- Photos and message apps, in case you took a picture.
- Paper files, folders and drawers, if you received a printed copy.
- Any online learner account the provider may have created for you.
Pros
- Free.
- Instant if you find it.
- No need to contact anyone.
Cons
- May take time with no guarantee.
Best for: everyone, as a first step. Spend ten minutes searching before you spend any money.
Option 2: Ask the Training Provider for a Replacement
The training provider that ran your course usually holds your record and can reissue the certificate or request a copy from the awarding organisation.
How it works
- Contact the provider by phone or email, using details from their official website.
- Give your full name as booked, the course name, the approximate date and your booking email or phone number.
- Ask about the fee, the format and the timing.
One national provider explains that you can request a replacement by contacting them directly and that the replacement is sent to you by email once processed. Policies differ between providers.
What it may cost
There is no single price. Some providers reissue a digital copy for free, some charge a small admin fee and some charge more. In examples we found in 2026, one university team charged £6 for a duplicate and one national provider charged £30.
Pros
- Usually quick and cheap.
- Gives you the same certificate, with the same expiry date.
- Often a digital copy that you can send straight away.
Cons
- Needs you to know or find the provider.
- The fee varies.
- Does not extend your certificate.
Best for: people with a year or more left on the certificate who know where they trained.
Option 3: Ask Your Employer for Their Copy
If you took the course for work, your employer may already hold a copy in your training record.
How it works
- Ask your line manager, HR team or health and safety lead.
- Ask whether they also have the provider’s name and the course date.
Many employers keep copies of first aider certificates, because they need to show that their first aiders are trained. Under the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, employers must provide adequate and appropriate first aid for their employees, and good records help them show it.
Pros
- Free and often instant.
- May also give you the provider and dates you need for a replacement.
Cons
- Only works if the employer kept a copy.
- If you paid for the course yourself, they may not have one.
Best for: employed first aiders, especially when the employer organised the course.
Option 4: Contact the Awarding Organisation
A regulated Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF) comes from an awarding organisation recognised by the regulator. It holds learner records, and many have a contact route for lost certificates.
How it works
- Find the awarding organisation’s name on any paperwork, booking confirmation or old email.
- Contact them with your details.
- They may confirm your record, reissue a certificate or direct you to the training provider.
Pros
- Useful when the provider has closed, changed its name or cannot be reached.
- Can confirm whether your qualification is genuine.
Cons
- They may prefer to deal through the provider.
- You need to know which awarding organisation issued the certificate.
Best for: people who cannot trace their provider but have some paperwork.
Option 5: Get Temporary Proof While You Wait
Sometimes you need to show something today. These options do not replace the certificate, but they can bridge the gap.
- A confirmation email from the provider. Ask them to confirm your name, the course and the date.
- Your employer’s records. They may accept their own record as proof.
- A booking confirmation or receipt. This shows you attended, though it is not a certificate.
- Online verification. Some providers and awarding organisations offer ways to check a certificate.
- A short explanation. Tell the person asking that your certificate is being reissued, and share the provider’s confirmation.
Pros
- Quick.
- Often free.
Cons
- May not satisfy every client or inspector.
Best for: anyone with a deadline while a replacement is on its way.
Option 6: Book a New Course
Sometimes a new course is the sensible choice.
When it makes sense
- Your certificate has expired.
- It expires within a few weeks or months, so a replacement would give you very little proof time.
- You cannot trace the provider or awarding organisation.
- You want to refresh your skills anyway.
For EFAW, renewal means retaking the one day course, which includes at least six hours of training time, not counting breaks, according to HSE guidance. You then receive a new certificate valid for three years.
What it costs
In London in 2026, public prices commonly range from about £65 to £150 per person. One provider page, linked above, lists £89 per person for classroom training and £75 per person for groups of five or more, at the time of writing in October 2026. Prices change, so always confirm.
Pros
- Gives you a fresh certificate and three new years.
- Refreshes your skills.
- Solves the problem completely.
Cons
- Costs more than a replacement.
- Takes a day.
Best for: expired or nearly expired certificates, and people who cannot trace their provider.
Side by Side: Cost and Time
Here is a rough comparison, using the examples above.
- Find it yourself: free, from minutes to an hour.
- Ask your employer: free, often same day.
- Provider replacement: from free to around £30 in our examples, from the same day to a few days, depending on the provider.
- Awarding organisation: varies, and may take longer.
- Temporary proof: usually free, often same day.
- New course: commonly £65 to £150, one day plus booking time.
Which Option Is Best? Seven Common Situations
1. You lost it, and you have two years left
Request a replacement from the provider. It costs far less than a new course, and the certificate remains valid for the remaining time. Ask for a digital copy if that is enough for your employer.
2. You lost it, and there are three months left
Consider booking your renewal now. A replacement gives you only three months of proof, and you will need a new course soon. If you have an urgent proof request, ask the provider for a confirmation email in the meantime.
3. You lost it, and it has expired
A replacement will not make you a qualified first aider, because the certificate has expired. Book a new course. Tell your employer, and ask whether an appointed person can cover the gap until you are renewed.
4. You need proof by tomorrow
Combine options. Ask your employer for their copy, ask the provider for a confirmation email and request a replacement. Explain the situation to whoever asked.
5. You cannot remember who your provider was
Check old emails, receipts and bank statements. Ask your employer. Look for the awarding organisation’s name on any paperwork. If nothing works and the certificate is close to expiry, book a new course.
6. The provider has closed
Contact the awarding organisation. If you cannot trace anything, and your certificate has limited time left, a new course may be quicker.
7. You are a freelancer with a client waiting
Contact the provider quickly for a replacement or confirmation email, tell your client what is happening and share any proof. If the certificate is close to expiry, renew straight away so you do not lose bookings.
Does It Matter if You Have Lost It?
A lost certificate does not cancel your qualification. If your certificate is valid, you are still qualified, even if you cannot find the paper. The problem is proof. Employers, clients and inspectors usually want to see evidence, so the aim of every option above is to get the proof back.
HSE stopped approving first aid training providers in 2013, so employers rely on regulated qualifications and good records to show their first aiders are properly trained. As a starting point for low hazard workplaces, HSE suggests at least one appointed person for fewer than 25 employees, at least one first aider trained in Emergency First Aid at Work for 25 to 50 employees, and at least one first aider trained in First Aid at Work for every 100 employees above that, or part of 100. Higher hazard workplaces need more. A first aid needs assessment gives the best answer. That is why employers care about proof.
Who Pays?
If your employer needs you to be a first aider, it is reasonable to ask them to cover a replacement fee or renewal, especially if the loss was in their systems. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 says employers must not charge employees for things provided because of a specific requirement of health and safety law. Check with HR, Acas or your union if you are unsure. If you took the course for yourself, you pay the fee. Self employed people may be able to treat training costs related to their business as allowable expenses, so ask an accountant.
A Short Email You Can Adapt
Here is a brief request to send to a provider.
Subject: Lost Emergency First Aid at Work certificate
Hello, I attended your Emergency First Aid at Work course on or around [date], booked under the name [full name] with the email [email]. I have lost my certificate. Could you tell me the fee for a replacement, whether it will be digital or printed and how long it will take? It would also help if you could send a short email confirming that I completed the course, as I need to show proof. Thank you.
How to Avoid This Next Time
A few habits stop it happening again.
- Save a digital copy in at least two places, such as your email and a cloud folder.
- Photograph a paper certificate.
- Give a copy to your employer.
- Note the provider and awarding organisation.
- Put the expiry date in your calendar, with reminders six months and three months before.
- Keep your booking confirmation.
For a fuller routine, see our guide on how to keep track of your first aid certificate expiry date.
Choosing a Course If You Need a New One
If you decide on a new course, choose carefully.
- A regulated Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF) from a recognised awarding organisation.
- At least six hours of training time, not counting breaks.
- Practical training and in person assessment. HSE guidance expects this for a workplace first aider, so online only offers are generally not suitable.
- Qualified, experienced trainers.
- Sensible class sizes. Many awarding organisations set a maximum of around 12 learners per trainer.
- A certificate included in the price, and a clear process for receiving it.
You can review the Emergency First Aid at Work training page to see how one provider presents its price, group rate and booking options.
Why London Gives You Plenty of Choice
London has a very large number of providers, venues and dates, so you can usually find a renewal course quickly if you need one, and many providers also deliver training at your workplace. That makes it easier to fix a gap in cover fast. With busy roads and crowded transport, having trained first aiders on site matters in an emergency, because they are often the first help available.
Final Thoughts
So, what are your options when your emergency first aid certificate is lost in London? Search for it first, then ask your employer, the training provider or the awarding organisation. Get temporary proof if you are in a hurry, and book a new course if your certificate is expired or nearly expired. The best choice depends on how much time you have left, how urgent the request is and what you can remember about your course.
Start with the cheapest steps, and move down the list only if you need to. When you are ready, take a look at the Emergency First Aid at Work course in London and choose a date that suits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What should I do if I lose my Emergency First Aid at Work certificate?
Search your emails and files first, then ask your employer and contact the training provider that ran your course for a replacement. If you cannot trace the provider, contact the awarding organisation named on your paperwork. If the certificate has expired, book a new course.
2. Am I still qualified if I lose my certificate?
If your certificate was valid when you lost it, you are still qualified, but you need proof. A replacement or confirmation from the provider restores that proof. The certificate remains valid for three years from the course date.
3. Can I get a replacement first aid certificate for free?
Sometimes. Some providers reissue a digital copy at no charge, especially soon after the course. Others charge a small fee. In examples we found in 2026, fees ranged from £6 to £30. Ask the provider that ran your course.
4. Does a replacement certificate give me three more years?
No. A replacement is a copy of the original, so the expiry date stays the same. To extend your qualified status, you need to retake the full course.
5. What if I cannot remember my training provider?
Check old emails, receipts, bank statements and your employer’s records, and look for the awarding organisation’s name on any paperwork. If you cannot trace either and the certificate is close to expiry, booking a new course may be quicker.
6. Can I show something else as proof while I wait?
Often, yes. Ask the provider for a confirmation email, check whether your employer holds a copy and explain the situation to whoever is asking. These steps do not replace the certificate, but they can help in the meantime.
7. When should I book a new course instead of asking for a replacement?
When the certificate has expired, when it expires within a few weeks or months, when you cannot trace your provider or when you want to refresh your skills anyway.
8. How much does a new Emergency First Aid at Work course cost in London?
In 2026, public prices commonly range from about £65 to £150 per person. One provider page lists £89 per person for classroom training and £75 per person for groups of five or more. Always confirm the current price.
9. Will my employer accept a confirmation email instead of a certificate?
Many will as a temporary measure, but it depends on the employer. Ask what they will accept, and get the replacement certificate as soon as you can.
10. Where can I book an Emergency First Aid at Work course in London?
You can book through a training provider that offers the regulated qualification, either as a public course or as training at your workplace. Check the total price, whether the certificate is included, the awarding organisation and the practical assessment before you book.
