HS216 First aid qualifications

There is an educator present at all times while children are attending, who: 

• holds a current first aid qualification gained from a New Zealand Qualification Authority accredited first aid training provider; or

• is a registered medical practitioner, nurse or midwife with a current practising certificate; or

• is a qualified ambulance officer or paramedic.

If access to first aid training is limited due to circumstances beyond the service provider’s control, the service provider must ensure that educators have knowledge of first aid and gain a first aid qualification within 4 months of starting work at the service.

If a child is injured, any required first aid is administered or supervised by an adult meeting these requirements.

Documentation required (written or digital) 

1. Copies of current first aid (or medical practising) certificates counting towards this requirement.

2. Where access to first aid training for an educator is limited, a record of the actions taken by the service provider to ensure the educator has knowledge of first aid and achieves a first aid qualification within 4 months of starting work at the service.

How to show you are complying 

First aid qualifications

There must always be an educator who holds a current first aid qualification or equivalent present while children are attending. 

• Home-based educators without a current first aid certificate must complete a certificate with unit standards 6401 and 6402.

• Home-based educators holding a current first aid certificate with unit standard 25459 will continue to meet licensing requirements until their certificate expires. Then they must gain a new certificate with unit standards 6401 and 6402.

To be valid, they must have received the qualification(s) by a New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) accredited provider. 

If an educator is a qualified and practising medical practitioner, nurse or midwife, they can also count towards the requirement if they hold a current practising certificate. See 'tools to help you comply' for links to the relevant registers.  

Likewise, if educators are qualified ambulance officers and paramedics, these qualifications can also be counted towards HS216. 

• Qualified ambulance officers must hold a New Zealand Certificate in Emergency Care (First Responder) or equivalent (Level 3 or 4 on the NZQA credentials framework).

• Qualified paramedics must hold a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Paramedicine) or equivalent (Level 7 on the NZQA credentials framework).

Keeping first aid qualifications ‘current’

The qualifications remain ‘current’ and up to date for 2 years. To extend the qualification for another 2 years, a first aid qualification course, or a revalidation course run by an accredited provider must be completed. It’s a good idea to track all educators’ certificate expiry dates and remind them at least 6 weeks out to ensure they do not expire.  

Limited access to first aid training

If access to first aid training is limited due to circumstances beyond the service provider’s control, the service provider must ensure that educators have knowledge of first aid and gain a first aid qualification within 4 months of starting work at the service. Where access to first aid training is limited, the service provider must record their decision to apply the condition, including:

• their assessment of the educator’s interim first aid knowledge and

• the date of booked first aid training.

There is a template you can use to record the required information in the tools to help you comply section.

Documentation requirements 

You must keep copies of current first aid (or medical practising) certificates held by adults counting towards this requirement.

Where access to first aid training is limited, you must keep a record of the actions taken to ensure the educator has knowledge of first aid and achieves a first aid qualification within 4 months of starting work at the service.