A certificate is only as good as the training behind it. Before you book an Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) course in London, you may wonder: is this provider real? Is the qualification genuinely regulated? Will the certificate I receive be accepted, and can anyone check that it is genuine?
It is a smart question, and for employers it is part of a legal duty. In this guide, we explain in plain English how to verify a first aid provider and its certificates, step by step. You will get a simple checklist based on HSE guidance, ways to check the awarding organisation and the qualification, red flags to watch for and what to do if you suspect a fake. 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
To verify a provider and its certificates, check five things: that the company is real and contactable, that the course is a regulated Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF) from a named awarding organisation, that the trainers are properly qualified, that the provider has quality checks in place and that the certificate it issues can be traced and verified. Then, when your certificate arrives, check it yourself.
No single check proves everything, but together they give you strong confidence.
Why Verification Matters
There are three good reasons to check.
Employers have a legal duty
The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate first aid for their employees. HSE no longer approves first aid training and qualifications, so it has produced guidance to help employers select providers. The guidance, called Selecting a first aid training provider: A guide for employers, was updated in 2024. Responsibility for choosing a competent provider rests with the employer.
Learners want a certificate that is accepted
A certificate that an employer, insurer or client rejects is a waste of money and time.
Fake or weak certificates are a real risk
Some offers promise instant certificates with no real training. These can leave you and your workplace without genuine first aid skills and cover.
The HSE Framework: Five Areas to Check
HSE guidance points employers to five areas when selecting a provider. You can use the same five areas as a checklist, whether you are an employer or a learner.
- Trainers and assessors. Are they suitably qualified?
- Monitoring and quality assurance. Does the provider check its own standards?
- Teaching and standards of first aid practice. Does it teach currently accepted practice?
- Syllabus content. Does the course cover the right topics?
- Certification. Is the certificate genuine and traceable?
Let us go through each, and then add some extra practical checks.
Check 1: Is the Provider Real?
Start with the basics.
- A real address and contact details. Look for a physical address, a phone number and an email on the provider’s official website. Be cautious if there are only a web form and no way to speak to a person.
- Company details. Most training businesses are registered companies. In the UK, you can search the free public register at Companies House for the company name, registered address, status and directors. A company that has recently dissolved, or whose details do not match its website, deserves a question.
- A track record. Look at how long they have been operating and read recent, believable reviews. Be careful of reviews that all look the same or appear on the same day.
- A consistent web presence. Check that the website, social media and any listings use the same name and details.
- Clear terms. A genuine provider shows its booking, cancellation and complaints terms.
These checks take about ten minutes and rule out the most obvious problems.
Check 2: Is the Qualification Regulated, and Who Is the Awarding Organisation?
A regulated Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF) comes from an awarding organisation recognised by the regulator. This is the clearest way to show that a qualification meets a national standard.
What to do:
- Ask for the full qualification title. It should include Level 3 and RQF.
- Ask for the awarding organisation’s name. A good provider answers straight away.
- Ask for the qualification number. Regulated qualifications have their own number, written as a set of numbers separated by slashes.
- Search the official register. Ofqual keeps a public online Register of Regulated Qualifications. Search for the qualification title, the awarding organisation or the number.
- Be wary of vague wording. Phrases such as accredited, approved or certified with no named awarding organisation tell you very little. CPD accredited, for example, shows that content was reviewed for professional development value, which is not the same as a regulated qualification.
HSE stopped approving first aid training providers in 2013. Any claim that a course is HSE approved should be treated with caution.
Check 3: Is the Provider Approved by the Awarding Organisation?
A regulated qualification can only be delivered by a centre that the awarding organisation has approved. So a genuine provider should be able to show that it is an approved centre.
What to do:
- Ask which awarding organisation approves the centre, and whether it can share its centre details.
- Contact the awarding organisation. Many have a contact page or phone line. Ask whether the provider is an approved centre for the qualification you want. This is the strongest check.
- Look for a centre directory. Some awarding organisations publish a list of approved centres or offer a way to check.
- Ask about the trainer’s approval. Some awarding organisations also approve individual trainers.
You are not being rude by asking. Good providers expect this question.
Check 4: Are the Trainers Properly Qualified?
The trainer teaches your skills and assesses you, so their qualifications matter. HSE’s guidance highlights trainers and assessors as a key area.
Questions to ask:
- What teaching or training qualification does the trainer hold?
- What first aid qualification does the trainer hold, and is it current?
- Is the trainer approved by the awarding organisation to deliver this qualification?
- What practical experience does the trainer have?
- Will the same trainer assess me?
A provider with real trainers will be happy to share this. A provider that will not name or describe its trainers is a warning sign.
Check 5: Does the Provider Have Quality Checks?
HSE’s guidance also points to monitoring and quality assurance systems. For a regulated qualification, this usually means:
- Internal quality assurance. The centre checks its own trainers and courses.
- External quality assurance. The awarding organisation reviews or audits the centre.
- Course evaluation. The provider collects feedback and acts on it.
- Record keeping. Attendance, assessments and certificates are recorded.
You can ask, in simple words: How do you check the quality of your courses, and does the awarding organisation visit or audit you? A confident answer is a good sign.
Check 6: Does the Course Meet the Standard?
The syllabus and teaching standards matter too.
- Training time. HSE guidance says the Emergency First Aid at Work course should include at least six hours of training time, not counting breaks.
- Syllabus content. The course should cover assessing an incident, adult CPR, using an AED, the recovery position, choking, bleeding, shock and minor injuries.
- Practical training and assessment. HSE guidance expects practical teaching and in person assessment for a workplace first aider. Online only courses are generally not suitable.
- Currently accepted practice. The teaching should follow current first aid guidance, for example from recognised bodies.
- Class size and equipment. Many awarding organisations set a maximum of around 12 learners per trainer, and there should be enough manikins and training AEDs for everyone.
Check 7: Is the Certificate Traceable and Verifiable?
This is the final key area. Industry guidance notes that certificates should be traceable and, ideally, verifiable by a QR code or online validation.
What to ask before you book:
- Which awarding organisation issues the certificate?
- What details will appear on it? Your name, qualification title, level, awarding organisation, dates, certificate number and provider.
- Is the certificate digital, printed or both?
- Can it be verified online or by contacting the awarding organisation?
- When will I receive it?
- Is it included in the price?
For a full list of what a valid certificate should show, see our guide on what information should appear on a valid EFAW certificate.
When Your Certificate Arrives: Verify It Yourself
Even after careful checks, verify your own certificate.
- Read every detail. Check your name, the qualification title, level, awarding organisation, dates and certificate number.
- Check the expiry date. EFAW certificates are valid for three years.
- Use any verification tool. If there is a QR code, web address or code, follow it and check that the details match.
- Search the qualification on the register. Make sure it appears as regulated.
- Contact the awarding organisation if you want extra reassurance. Ask whether your certificate number and name match its records.
- Save a copy. In at least two places.
A Simple Due Diligence Log
Employers, in particular, should record their checks, because it helps show that you chose a competent provider. Here is a simple layout.
- Provider name and contact details.
- Date of checks.
- Company registration details checked.
- Qualification title, level and awarding organisation.
- Qualification number and register check.
- Awarding organisation confirmation of centre approval.
- Trainer qualifications seen.
- Quality assurance information.
- Course length and practical assessment confirmed.
- Certificate details and verification method.
- Price and what is included.
- Person who carried out the checks.
Keeping this log takes a few minutes per provider and can be very useful later.
Questions You Can Ask on the Phone
Here is a short script.
- Is this a regulated Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF), and which awarding organisation issues it?
- Are you an approved centre for that awarding organisation?
- What qualifications do your trainers hold?
- How many hours of training time does the course include, and how is it assessed?
- How many learners are in a class, and how many manikins do you bring?
- What will appear on the certificate, and how can it be verified?
- Is the certificate included in the price, and when will I receive it?
Red Flags That a Certificate May Not Be Genuine
Watch out for these warning signs.
- No named awarding organisation.
- No level or RQF in the qualification title.
- An instant or same hour certificate with no practical assessment.
- A course much shorter than six hours of training time.
- A claim that the course is HSE approved.
- A guaranteed pass.
- No way to contact the provider by phone or in person.
- No information about trainers.
- Company details that do not match, or a very new company with a long history claimed.
- Certificates with no number, no date or poor print quality.
- Prices far below the normal range, with no explanation. In London in 2026, public prices commonly range from about £65 to £150 per person for a one day course.
- Pressure to pay quickly or by unusual methods.
One flag alone may have an innocent explanation, but several together are a strong sign to walk away.
What to Do If You Suspect a Fake or Misleading Provider
If something does not feel right, take these steps.
- Stop and do not pay more. If you have already paid, keep records.
- Check with the awarding organisation. Ask whether the provider is approved, and whether your certificate details are valid.
- Ask the provider to explain. Give them a chance to answer your questions in writing.
- Contact your payment provider. If you paid by card, ask whether you can dispute the payment.
- Seek advice. Citizens Advice can explain your consumer rights, and Trading Standards deals with misleading business practices.
- Report fraud. If you think you have been the victim of fraud, you can report it to Action Fraud.
- Tell your employer. If the course was for work, explain what happened and arrange a proper course.
If your certificate turns out to be invalid, you may need to retake the course with a genuine provider.
What Employers Should Do About Existing Certificates
If you have first aiders already, you can check their certificates using the same methods: read the details, check the register, use any verification code and contact the provider or awarding organisation if needed. Keep a record of what you checked and when. 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.
What a Good Provider Looks Like
After all these checks, what are you hoping to find? A good provider will typically:
- Be a real, contactable business with a clear track record.
- Offer a regulated Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF) from a named awarding organisation.
- Be approved as a centre by that awarding organisation.
- Use qualified, experienced trainers.
- Provide at least six hours of training time, with plenty of hands on practice and in person assessment.
- Keep classes to a sensible size.
- Issue a clear certificate that can be verified.
- Quote a clear total price, with the certificate included.
- Answer your questions openly.
You can review the Emergency First Aid at Work training page to see how one provider presents its price, group rate and booking options, and run the checks above on it and on any other provider you consider. One provider page 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.
Why London Learners Should Be Careful and Confident
London has a very large number of training providers, venues and dates, which is good for choice but means quality varies. Taking ten minutes to check a provider is a small price for peace of mind. Many providers also deliver training at your workplace, and the same checks apply. With busy roads and crowded transport, having genuinely trained first aiders on site matters in an emergency, because they are often the first help available.
Final Thoughts
So, how do you verify that an emergency first aid provider’s certificate is genuine? Check that the provider is a real, contactable business. Confirm that the course is a regulated Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF) from a named awarding organisation and that the provider is an approved centre. Ask about trainers, quality checks, training time and practical assessment, and check that the certificate can be traced and verified. When your certificate arrives, check every detail yourself.
A few questions now can save you a wasted day, a wasted fee and a gap in your first aid cover. 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. How can I check that a first aid training provider is genuine?
Check that the company is real and contactable, that the course is a regulated Level 3 qualification from a named awarding organisation, that the provider is an approved centre, that the trainers are qualified and that certificates can be traced and verified. HSE guidance on selecting a provider covers these areas.
2. Does HSE approve first aid training providers?
No. HSE stopped approving first aid training and qualifications in 2013. It has published guidance, updated in 2024, to help employers select competent providers, so be cautious of any claim that a course is HSE approved.
3. How do I know if a first aid qualification is regulated?
Check that the title includes Level 3 and RQF, that an awarding organisation is named and that the qualification appears on Ofqual’s online Register of Regulated Qualifications. You can also ask the provider for the qualification number.
4. How can I check that a provider is approved by the awarding organisation?
Ask the provider which awarding organisation approves it, then contact that awarding organisation to confirm that the provider is an approved centre. Some publish a directory of centres.
5. What should a genuine first aid certificate include?
Your name, the qualification title with level and RQF, the awarding organisation, the date of achievement, an expiry date or three year validity statement, a certificate number and the training provider. Many also include a signature or a QR code for verification.
6. Can I verify my certificate online?
Sometimes. Some certificates include a QR code, web address or verification code. You can also ask the provider or the awarding organisation to confirm that your certificate number and name match their records.
7. What are signs of a fake first aid course?
No named awarding organisation, no level or RQF, an instant certificate with no practical assessment, a course far shorter than six hours of training time, a claim of HSE approval, a guaranteed pass, no contact details, no trainer information and prices far below the normal range.
8. What should I do if I think my certificate is fake?
Stop paying, check with the awarding organisation, ask the provider to explain in writing, contact your payment provider, seek advice from Citizens Advice or Trading Standards and report suspected fraud to Action Fraud. Then arrange a proper course.
9. How can employers record their checks?
Keep a due diligence log with the provider’s details, the qualification and awarding organisation, register and centre checks, trainer qualifications, quality assurance information, course length, certificate details, price and who carried out the checks.
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 awarding organisation, centre approval, trainer qualifications, practical assessment, what the certificate will show and the total price before you book.
