External first aid qualifications

Check if your external first aid qualification is suitable for guiding

If you have a first aid qualification from a provider outside of Girlguiding, or you plan to get one, you may be able to use it to qualify as a Girlguiding first aider. 

This page explains how to do that.

We have updated our syllabus. For more information see covering the 1st response syllabus.

Your qualification must cover all or most of the 1st response syllabus (Girlguiding's own first aid course). The standard syllabus for an Emergency First Aid at Work qualification does not cover the 1st response syllabus and so it’s not sufficient on its own. See 'What qualifications will count?' below for more details. 

If you prefer, you can complete our own first aid course, 1st response.
 
There are 2 steps to qualifying as a first aider with an external first aid qualification:

  1. Complete the 1st response elearning.
  2. Submit evidence of your external first aid qualification for verification.  

You must complete step 1 before you can move onto step 2. You’ll find further details on each step below. 

Elearning

You'll still need to complete the 1st response elearning even if you already have a first aid qualification. The elearning covers the policies and procedures you need to know when you're a first aider at Girlguiding. 
 
You can find the 1st response elearning on our learning platform. 

How to submit evidence of an external qualification

If you have a 16-hour first aid qualification that you need for outdoor activities, please see information on first aid for adventure activities below. 

First aid courses vary in terms of what they cover. Girlguiding needs to confirm that you have covered all the topics that you would cover if you did the 1st response training. This process is called verification. 

Here's a summary of the process - more details are given below.

  1. Pick the right first aid course.
    See 'What qualifications will count?' for more information. 
  2. Fill any gaps in the syllabus.
    See 'Covering the 1st response syllabus' for more information.
  3. Get all your evidence ready before you apply for verification.
    See 'Evidence you'll need to apply for verification' for more information.
  4. Apply for verification on the learning platform.
    See 'Submitting your evidence for verification' for more information.

What qualifications will count?

Your qualification must:

  • Involve a course of at least 6 hours.
  • Be provided and accredited by a recognised organisation or governing body, for example St John Ambulance, St Andrew’s First Aid, British Red Cross, the Football Association or many others.
  • Cover all or most of the 1st response syllabus (PDF, 84KB). If any part of the 1st response syllabus isn't covered in your training, you'll need to cover that elsewhere (see below). For example, the standard syllabus for an Emergency First Aid at Work qualification does not cover the 1st response syllabus, so it’s not sufficient on its own.

Tip: take a copy of the syllabus with you when you do your course. You can ask your trainer to make sure everything has been covered and to send you an email confirming this.

If you're a doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional, you'll need to provide evidence of a current, in-date training such as BLS, ILS or ALS, as well as your professional registration number (with for example GMC, NMC or HCPC). By submitting these you're confirming that your professional role provides you with the skills and knowledge to cover all elements of the 1st response course. 

Covering the 1st response syllabus

You must have completed training that covers the whole of the 1st response syllabus (PDF, 84KB). 

We’ve updated our syllabus in line with the Resuscitation Council guidelines for all first aid providers in the UK.  

Session Change in updated syllabus
1. Life support
2. Trauma and injury		 No changes
3. Major illness Title changes:
Heart attack changed to chest pain
Diabetes changed to hypoglycaemia
Meningitis/sepsis changed to sepsis
4: Environmental emergencies  New:
Drowning
Prevention of hypothermia
Heat stroke
Snake bite

 

If you're booking a first aid course through an external provider, you should find a course that meets the requirements of the updated syllabus. However, we will accept courses booked before 1 April 2026 and completed before 1 July 2026  that met our previous syllabus. 

Covering missing topics

If any of the following topics aren't included in your course, you can cover them by reading the following documents: 

If any other topics are missing from the course that you completed, you can cover these by attending the appropriate session of a 1st response course, or in a 1-to-1 session with a 1st response trainer. Please contact your country or region for support.

Evidence you'll need to apply for verification

It's important that you gather everything that the verifier will need before you start the process. That is: 

  • Your first aid certificate (as a PDF or image file).
  • A completed external first aid information form (requires log in to learning platform). 
  • Evidence that you’ve covered the full 1st response syllabus (PDF, 82KB). This means providing the syllabus of your course, plus either a) details of any extra training to cover missing topics or b) confirmation from your trainer that those topics were included.

Once you've got everything ready, you can begin the verification process.  

Submitting your evidence for verification

When you have all the items on the list above, go to the learning platform and select 'First Aid'. 

If you have completed the 1st response elearning, you will be able to select 'External first aid' and follow the instructions to submit your evidence. 

If the verifier needs anything more from you, you’ll hear from them by email. If the evidence you have submitted is sufficient, your first aid will be confirmed. 

Your external first aid qualification will appear as a 'First aid' course on GO once it’s been validated. This course will only show a valid-to date once you've completed both your external first aid course and 1st response elearning. The 'completed on' date will be the date on your certificate, and the valid-to date will be 3 years after this date.

Renewing your first aid

You'll need to submit a new first aid certificate before your existing one expires.

Your renewal period begins 6 months before expiry of a 3-year certificate, or 3 months for a 1-year certificate. At this point your old certificate and all other files will be removed from the platform, ready for you to submit the new one.

Locally organised first aid courses

Local guiding teams may arrange for external first aid providers to deliver a course for members. These courses must be pre-approved by a first aid verifier. 

This course must cover the full 1st response syllabus, and providers must use their own course materials rather than Girlguiding’s 1st response materials. The external provider is responsible for the content, quality, and issuing of any relevant certifications. Such courses don't need a Girlguiding trainer in attendance and we’re not responsible for how the session is delivered.  

How to do it 

  • If a local team wants to hold a training, they will contact their country/region to see if there are any local pre-approved providers. 
  • If yes, they can book with them. 
  • If no, they can work with the region verifier team to approve a provider. The verifier will ensure they are an accredited provider and gain written confirmation that the provider will cover the full 1st response syllabus. 
  • This provider will be added to the country/region’s pre-approved list. Countries/regions should re-confirm their agreement with approved training providers every two years, or whenever the syllabus changes.  
  • Once the course is complete, the local team can arrange to have it added directly to GO as ‘First Aid – External Course’. There is no need to go through the verification process on the platform.

First aid for adventure activities

For certain adventure activities, including the walking scheme levels 2 and 3, you’ll need a 16-hour first aid qualification. 
 
To submit your 16-hour course for verification, go to the learning platform and select the First Aid button. 
 
If you have completed the 1st response elearning, you will be able to select the External first aid button and then use the dedicated 16-hour first aid area to submit your evidence. 
 
Please note that this qualification is valid for adventure purposes only and does not by itself qualify you to be a first aider for unit, residential or event purposes. If you want to use your 16-hour qualification for this purpose, you will need to submit it separately to the appropriate verification area, along with any additional evidence required. 

More support for delivering inclusive training

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Including everyone in guiding

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