OFA Level 1 vs Level 2 vs Level 3: Which WorkSafeBC Certification Do You Need?
Every BC employer is required by WorkSafeBC to provide workplace first aid coverage. The level required depends on a workplace's hazard rating, number of workers per shift, and how long an ambulance would take to reach the site. That is where Levels 1, 2 and 3 come in.
OFA Level 1
A one-day, eight-hour basic course. Covers CPR, AED, scene assessment, severe bleeding, choking and common medical emergencies. Designed for low-hazard workplaces: offices, small retail, small restaurants. A Level 1 attendant stabilises and calls for help; they do not perform invasive skills.
OFA Level 2 (the Intermediate First Aid course)
A two-day, approximately 14-hour intermediate course. Covers everything in Level 1 plus airway adjuncts, oxygen therapy, BVM ventilation, shock management, spinal immobilisation, fracture splinting, advanced wound care and tourniquets, and extended assessment. This is the certification most BC employers ask for. See our full guide to OFA Level 2.
OFA Level 3
A ten-day, 80+ hour advanced course. Turns a worker into a primary first aid attendant for high-risk or remote BC workplaces. Required for logging camps, mining, oil and gas, and any site where EMS response is measured in hours. If you currently hold OFA Level 2, see our guide to upgrading to Level 3.
Which level do you need?
- Check the job posting. If a level is specified, match it.
- Check WorkSafeBC Schedule 3-A (see our Schedule 3-A explainer) for your workplace's minimum.
- For career flexibility across BC industries, OFA Level 2 is usually the right starting point.
Not sure which level applies to your workplace? Call Mainland Safety at 604-617-0211 and we will help you figure it out.
About this site: IntermediateFirstAidTraining.ca is operated by Mainland Safety Training, a WorkSafeBC and Canadian Red Cross authorized provider. Our OFA Level 2 Intermediate First Aid course is delivered across Surrey, Vancouver, Burnaby, Langley, Richmond, Delta, Coquitlam, Abbotsford, Kelowna and Victoria.