HLTAID009 vs HLTAID011: The Short Answer
The HLTAID009 course includes CPR only. If your workplace or regulator requires a current CPR certificate, this is it.
HLTAID011 is the full first aid qualification. It includes CPR (HLTAID009) plus a broader set of first aid skills covering injuries, illness, bleeding, burns, fractures, and more.
If you are unsure which applies to you, the safest choice is almost always HLTAID011 because it covers everything HLTAID009 covers, and more.
What Is HLTAID009 Provide CPR?
HLTAID009 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is the CPR training course. It is the unit most people mean when they book a standalone CPR course. It covers:
- DRSABCD action plan (Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR, Defibrillation)
- Adult CPR technique: 30 compressions to 2 breaths, correct hand placement and depth
- AED (Automated External Defibrillator) operation
- Recovery position
- Incident reporting
To reach successful completion of this course, you complete a practical demonstration of CPR on the floor, which must include at least 2 minutes of uninterrupted CPR on an adult manikin placed on the floor, in line with Australian Resuscitation Council guidelines.
Certificate validity: 12 months. The ARC recommends your CPR skills are renewed every 12 months.
Who needs HLTAID009:
- Healthcare workers, nurses, and allied health professionals who are up to date with first aid but need an annual CPR top-up
- Registered health professionals governed by bodies such as the Australian College of Nursing, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), or the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, who must keep CPR skills current for registration
- Workers who hold a current HLTAID011 (first aid) and only require the annual CPR renewal component
- Individuals whose role specifies CPR certification but not full first aid
What Is HLTAID011 Provide First Aid Training?
HLTAID011 Provide First Aid is the full first aid qualification and the most common workplace first aid training course in Australia. It covers:
- Everything in HLTAID009 (CPR, AED, DRSABCD)
- Management of unconscious casualties
- Bleeding control and wound care
- Burns assessment and initial management
- Fractures and musculoskeletal injuries
- Seizures, diabetic emergencies, asthma, and allergic reactions
- Shock recognition and management
- Head, neck, and spinal injuries
- Incident reporting and documentation
This comprehensive first aid course gives you the skills and knowledge required to provide a first aid response to a casualty and administer first aid in the workplace. The CPR component is assessed the same way as the standalone unit, including a practical demonstration of CPR on an adult manikin.
Who needs HLTAID011:
- Workers designated as workplace first aiders under WHS regulations and the First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice
- Teachers, school staff, and education professionals in most states
- Hospitality and retail staff in designated first aider roles
- Construction workers, fitness professionals, and community workers
- Anyone whose workplace, regulator, or insurer specifies “first aid certificate” without narrowing to CPR only
Does HLTAID011 Replace HLTAID009?
Yes and no. HLTAID011 includes HLTAID009 as a component, so when you complete HLTAID011, you receive HLTAID009 at the same time. Your nationally recognised Statement of Attainment will list both units.
However, because HLTAID009 has a 12-month validity, you still need to renew the CPR component annually even if your HLTAID011 is current (3-year validity). Many professionals do this by completing a standalone HLTAID009 refresher each year between their 3-yearly first aid renewals.
Which One Should You Book?
You do not need to enrol in HLTAID009 and HLTAID011 at the same time. If you complete HLTAID011, you receive HLTAID009 automatically as part of that unit. From there, you renew HLTAID009 annually, and complete full HLTAID011 renewal every 3 years.
If you are starting from scratch or your full first aid certificate has expired: book HLTAID011. If you hold a current HLTAID011 and only need your annual CPR renewal: book HLTAID009.
If your role requires CPR and basic emergency life support but not the full unit: ask about HLTAID010 Provide Basic Emergency Life Support, which sits between CPR-only and full first aid.
Book the Right Nationally Recognised Certificate Today
FAP First Aid is a registered training organisation offering flexible training options for both HLTAID009 and HLTAID011, with express sessions running across Australia, 7 days a week. Short practical. Same qualification. Faster outcome. Successful completion gives you a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment. View session availability and book at fastfirstaidcpr.com.au/calendar/.
FAQ
Do I Need to Renew HLTAID009 Every Year if I Have HLTAID011?
Yes. Although HLTAID011 is valid for 3 years, the CPR component (HLTAID009) should be renewed annually per ARC guidelines. Most professionals complete a standalone HLTAID009 each year between their 3-yearly HLTAID011 renewals.
Does My Workplace Require HLTAID011 or HLTAID009?
It depends on the first aid risk assessment for your workplace and the hazards your team faces. Safe Work Australia’s First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice asks your employer to assess those risks and decide how many trained first aiders are needed, which usually points to HLTAID011 for anyone in a designated first aider role.
Can I Complete HLTAID009 or HLTAID011 Online?
Not entirely. Both units use blended delivery, so you complete the online first aid theory at your own pace before attending a short face-to-face session. The practical demonstration of CPR must be assessed in person and includes at least 2 minutes of uninterrupted CPR on an adult manikin on the floor. No fully online first aid course can issue a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment without that face-to-face skills check.
