These are the unit standards that provide a first-aid qualification that meet the requirements of the licensing criteria.

For centre-based services and kōhanga reo:

• 6401 – Provide first aid
• 6402 – Provide resuscitation level 2.

For home-based services:

• 25459 – Provide first aid for young children.

Core health unit standards 6401 and 6402 may also be considered for home-based services. They cover first aid for children and adults.

We also recommend that staff complete unit 6400, which will teach staff how to manage first aid in emergency situations.

The first aid qualification must be refreshed every 2 years.

Training providers

Staff must get their first aid qualification from a training provider accredited by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).

The NZQA website lists training providers who can assess the first aid unit standards we require you to have.

First aid – NZQA

First aid training delays for home-based educators

Sometimes, first aid training is difficult to access for new educators working for a licensed home-based service provider. This could be because they are geographically isolated or an unexpected event means they cannot get to planned training. This does not apply to existing educators who are renewing their first aid qualification.

In these cases, the service provider must make sure new educators have some first aid knowledge. They must gain an NZQA-accredited first aid qualification within 4 months of registering with the service. This is a licensing requirement as set out in clause HS22.

The service provider must record:

• the reason why access to first aid training is limited
• an assessment of the educator's current knowledge of first aid for young children – such as role playing an emergency situation or 111 call
• details of when first aid training is booked for.

Use this template to record the information and keep it on file.

The service provider must tell parents and caregivers:

• the educator does not yet have a first aid qualification
• what steps are in place to get the qualification
• by what date the educator will have the qualification.