CNESST-compliant workplace first aider training
Train your employees in workplace first aid according to CNESST requirements. 16-hour training delivered by a recognized provider.
Upcoming sessions
Friday
09:00
Formation PDSP
4865 Beaubien est, Montréal, QC H1T 1T8
Training delivered by Formations Laissi
Saturday
09:00
Formation PDSP
4865 Beaubien est, Montréal, QC H1T 1T8
Training delivered by Formations Laissi
Monday
09:00
Formation RCR et DEA certifiée Croix-Rouge à Montréal et Laval
4865 Beaubien est, Montréal, QC H1T 1T8
Training delivered by Formations Laissi
Saturday
09:00
Secourisme intermédiaire/général RCR/DEA niveau C 16h — Croix-Rouge canadienne
1062 rue Sauvé est, Montreal, H2C 2M4
Training delivered by Formations Laissi
Saturday
09:00
Secourisme intermédiaire/général RCR/DEA niveau C 16h — Croix-Rouge canadienne
1062 Sauvé Est H2C 2M4
Training delivered by Formations Laissi
In Quebec, workplace first aid is not a good practice: it is an employer obligation, governed by the CNESST. Since the Regulation respecting minimum standards for first aid and first aid kits (RNMPSPS) came into force on February 12, 2026, several requirements have been clarified — the training expected, the number of first aiders to plan for, and the contents of kits. This page explains what the regulation asks for, how to choose the right course for your headcount, and what happens once your employees are certified.
First aid in the workplace (CNESST)
Intermediate-level training (CSA Z1210 standard), about 16 hours
Number of first aiders required based on workers present simultaneously
Compliant with the new regulation (RNMPSPS) in force since February 12, 2026
First aid kits compliant with the CSA Z1220 standard
Not sure which one applies to you?
The text above targets several jobs, and not in the same way. Three questions — your role, your situation, your city — and we name the course the regulation expects of you.
Answer the 3 questions All coursesWhat the employer must ensure
Four obligations come up in every covered establishment. They hold together: training first aiders without an accessible kit, or the reverse, leaves no one compliant.
- Have first aiders complete intermediate-level training (CSA Z1210) with an organization recognized by the Commission — about 16 hours in practice.
- Ensure a qualified first aider is available at all times during working hours.
- Plan at least one first aider for up to 50 workers present simultaneously, then one more per additional hundred or part of a hundred.
- Provide enough kits compliant with the CSA Z1220 standard, easy to reach and as close as possible to the work areas.
Worth checking — The scale above is the one for establishments. Construction sites and forestry work have their own, and your situation may involve particulars (a nurse’s room, vehicles). The text of the regulation governs: if in doubt, confirm with the CNESST before planning any training.
Why 16 hours, and not four
This is the most common confusion, and the most expensive one. A few hours of CPR/AED teaches you to recognize cardiac arrest, perform compressions and use a defibrillator. That is essential, but it is one scenario.
Workplace first aider training covers the range of situations a first aider actually meets at work — bleeding, fractures, burns, poisoning, medical emergencies — and adds the organizational part: the first aider’s role, what to record, when to call emergency services. A CPR/AED course does not replace part of it; it covers part of it.
Training a team without ending up short
The required number is worked out per shift, not on total headcount. A thirty-person company running two shifts covers nothing by training three first aiders who all work the same hours.
Two habits avoid unpleasant surprises: keep a margin above the minimum, because vacations, absences and departures give no notice; and stagger training dates across part of the team, so that not every card expires in the same month.
Which course for whom
Not everyone needs the same course. This table avoids sending a whole team to the longest one — or believing a position is covered when it is not.
| Your situation | The course to aim for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A designated first aider | Workplace first aid, 16 h | The course the regulation targets. Certificate valid for a maximum of 3 years. |
| An employee you simply want equipped | CPR/AED, 4 to 5 h | Covers cardiac arrest and the defibrillator. Useful to everyone, but does not stand in for a designated first aider. |
| A team that moves people | Safe patient handling (PDSP) | Addresses an injury risk specific to transfers. It adds to first aid, it does not replace it. |
| A first aider whose card is about to expire | Renewal format | Shorter and cheaper than starting over — provided the card has not already lapsed. |
Courses
Formation PDSP
Ce cours PDSP est donné par des instructeurs agéés par l'ASSTSAS, il introduit les bases d'une approche globale et préventive en matière de santé et sécurité au travail.
Formation RCR et DEA certifiée Croix-Rouge à Montréal et Laval
Apprenez les techniques de réanimation cardiorespiratoire (RCR) et l'utilisation du défibrillateur (DEA) avec une certification officielle de la Croix-Rouge canadienne. Formation disponible à Montréal et Laval.
RCR/DEA niveau C 5h — Croix-Rouge canadienne
Formation RCR niveau C de 5h couvrant les interventions pour adultes, enfants et nourrissons avec DEA. Certifiée Croix-Rouge canadienne, valide 3 ans.
Secourisme intermédiaire/général RCR/DEA
Ce cours de RCR et de secourisme complet, englobe la RCR ainsi que les premiers soins.
Secourisme intermédiaire/général RCR/DEA niveau C 16h — Croix-Rouge canadienne
Formation complète de secourisme intermédiaire/général sur 2 jours avec RCR/DEA niveau C. La formation la plus complète en premiers soins, certifiée Croix-Rouge canadienne, valide 3 ans. Anciennement appelée « Secourisme général ».
After the training: what still needs watching
A first aid certificate is valid for a maximum of three years from issuance. Past that date, the person is no longer a first aider within the meaning of the regulation, however much they remember.
One detail employers often discover too late: the card is issued in the person’s name, not the company’s. It leaves with the employee who leaves. Keeping a register of names and expiry dates — and planning renewals a few weeks ahead — costs less than finding yourself uncovered on a Monday morning.
Frequently asked questions
Is my company covered?
The regulation covers every establishment, whatever its size, and construction sites employing at least 10 workers simultaneously. What varies is the number of first aiders: at least one for up to 50 workers present at the same time, then one more per additional hundred begun.
Is a CPR/AED course enough to be a designated first aider?
No. A first aider certificate requires intermediate-level training within the meaning of the CSA Z1210 standard, issued by an organization recognized by the Commission — about 16 hours in practice. A shorter CPR/AED course covers part of it but does not confer the status.
Can the training be done entirely online?
No, and it is the regulation that says so: the training must include a practical demonstration by the person of the skills to be acquired. Some courses offer online theory followed by a practical day, but that demonstration remains required.
What happens if a first aider leaves the company?
Their certification goes with them: it is in their name. If their departure takes the establishment below the required number, someone else must be trained.
Who pays for the training?
When it is required by the position, it is normally covered by the employer, like any other obligation attached to the job.
Not sure which one applies to you?
The text above targets several jobs, and not in the same way. Three questions — your role, your situation, your city — and we name the course the regulation expects of you.
Answer the 3 questionsRead next
To go further before choosing.