OFA Level 1 (Basic First Aid) Courses in Burnaby
OFA Level 1 (Basic First Aid) is a one-day workplace first aid course designed and approved by WorkSafeBC.
If you live or work in Burnaby and need a straightforward way to meet WorkSafeBC requirements, our OFA Level 1 Burnaby course keeps it simple. It runs in a single day, and you leave certified. At Fundamental First Aid, students learn through clear instruction, hands-on practice, and realistic scenarios that actually stay with you, taught by instructors who work in emergency medicine.
We’re a WorkSafeBC-approved training provider located at 4725 Kingsway in the heart of Metrotown, directly across from Metropolis at Metrotown and a two-minute walk from the Metrotown SkyTrain station. Every week, students come to us from Metrotown, Edmonds, Brentwood, Burnaby Heights, and Lougheed, along with nearby New Westminster and East Vancouver, to get certified for work or for their own peace of mind. WorkSafeBC renamed OFA Level 1 to Basic First Aid in November 2024. It is the same certification, and this is the course.
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OFA Level 1 (Basic First Aid) Schedule
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Included in Basic First Aid (OFA Level 1)
- Roles and Responsibilities of a First Aid Attendant
- Priority Action Approach
- Repositioning an injured worker
- Wound Assessment and Treatment
- Identifying Breathing Emergencies
- Clearing an obstructed Airway
- Use of a pocket mask
- Performing CPR and using an AED
- Managing Bleeding
- Identifying signs of Anaphylactic shock
- Identifying and managing serious medical conditions
- Burn Management
Who should take Basic First Aid (OFA Level 1)?
People who work in offices, restaurants, bars, small construction sites, tourism, warehouses, fitness studios, retail, municipalities.
Certification
Upon successful completion of the course, you will leave at the end of the day with your official WorkSafeBC Basic First Aid certificate. Certifications expires 3 years from the date of your course.
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Private Basic First Aid (OFA Level 1) Course at your Workplace
Bring the training to your team instead of sending your team to the training.
We deliver OFA Level 1 on site at workplaces across Burnaby and the rest of the Lower Mainland, from Big Bend and Still Creek to the towers at Metrotown and Brentwood. Our instructor brings every piece of equipment and all course materials, so all you need is a room and your staff.
Your crew certifies without losing time to travel, you get group rates, and we handle the certificate records so your files stay audit-ready. Email [email protected], call 236-613-3267, or click the button below to book a date.
About Fundamental First Aid Courses
Fundamental First Aid is a locally owned training school built around real practice, not memorizing a workbook. Our instructors are working paramedics, nurses, and safety professionals who deliver first aid training in Burnaby with patience and examples drawn from calls they have actually run.
Classes stay small, the room stays relaxed, and everyone gets individual coaching. Whether your ticket has expired or you are starting from scratch, you will leave able to act in a real emergency, at home or on a job site.
Our Metrotown classroom is a modern, purpose-built training space with feedback CPR manikins, AED trainers, and clean, organized practice stations. Getting here is easy from anywhere in Burnaby: the Metrotown SkyTrain station is a two-minute walk, the 19, 49, and R5 all stop within a block, and there is plenty of nearby parking.
OFA Level 1 Burnaby Course Overview
Occupational First Aid Level 1, now known as Basic First Aid in Burnaby, is the entry-level certification WorkSafeBC recognizes for lower-risk workplaces. WorkSafeBC changed the name in November 2024, but the certification is the same one employers and job postings still call OFA Level 1. It teaches the skills that matter in the first few minutes of an emergency and satisfies provincial workplace requirements.
The course runs a single day at our Metrotown classroom and covers:
- Scene assessment and the primary survey
- Airway management and checking for breathing
- CPR and AED use
- Bleeding control and wound care
- Recognizing and managing shock
- Burns, strains, and musculoskeletal injuries
- Recordkeeping and incident reporting for WorkSafeBC
Most of the day is spent on your feet practising rather than sitting through slides. There is a written exam and a hands-on assessment at the end, and there is nothing to study beforehand. Everything on the exam is covered in class, and your instructor’s job is to make sure you are ready for it.
By the end, you will be able to spot hazards, act on the injuries that actually happen at work, and hand off clearly to paramedics when they arrive.
Certificates are valid for three years across BC and are issued the same day you finish.
Who the OFA Level 1 Course Is For
This course is for anyone who needs WorkSafeBC-recognized certification for work. In Burnaby that covers a wide range of people, including:
- Office and retail staff, including the towers and shops around Metrotown and Brentwood
- Construction crews on the residential and commercial builds going up across Burnaby
- Warehouse, distribution, and manufacturing workers in Big Bend and along Still Creek
- Hospitality and recreation staff
- Film and TV crew working out of Burnaby’s production studios
- Students and apprentices at BCIT or SFU starting a trade or program
- Building managers and strata staff responsible for on-site safety
If your employer has designated you as the workplace first aid attendant, or a job posting lists OFA Level 1 or Basic First Aid as a requirement, this is the course you need.
You do not need a work reason to take it. Plenty of our students sign up simply because they want to know what to do when something happens to a family member, a friend, or a stranger on the street.
What to Expect in Class
Long lectures do not teach anyone to save a life. At Fundamental First Aid, you will spend most of the day on your feet, practising, and working through real scenarios with your instructor.
Here is how the day usually runs:
Morning: WorkSafeBC first aid standards and what a workplace attendant is actually responsible for. Learning and practising the Priority Action Approach.
Late morning: Hands-on practice assessing injuries and providing basic wound care.
Lunch break: You are in the middle of Metrotown, so options are everywhere. Metropolis has a full food court, and there are dozens of restaurants and cafés along Kingsway within a short walk.
Afternoon: Choking emergencies, CPR, and AED use. Group scenarios and skill assessments.
Wrap-up: Written exam and debrief, then certificates printed on site before you leave.
You do not need medical experience or any special gear. Bring comfortable clothes you can kneel in and a willingness to get involved. We provide all equipment and materials.
Why Choose Fundamental First Aid for OFA Level 1 in Burnaby
People choose our OFA Level 1 Burnaby course because it feels personal, not corporate. We focus on the skills that actually matter and on making sure every student walks out able to use them.
Here is what sets us apart:
- WorkSafeBC-approved training provider and Canadian Red Cross Training Partner
- Instructors who work in emergency medicine, not career classroom presenters
- Small classes, so everyone gets real practice time and individual coaching
- Weekday, evening, and weekend classes to fit around work
- A modern, purpose-built classroom at 4725 Kingsway, not a rented boardroom
- Two-minute walk from Metrotown SkyTrain, with plenty of nearby parking
- Certificates printed on site the same day
We have certified more than 70,000 people across Metro Vancouver, and we hold hundreds of five-star Google reviews.
How OFA Level 1 Certification Helps Employers
If you manage a team or run a business, getting your staff certified in Occupational First Aid Level 1 is not just a compliance box. It changes how quickly people act when something goes wrong.
Employers across Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, and East Vancouver use our courses to:
- Meet WorkSafeBC first aid coverage requirements
- Cut the time between an injury happening and someone competent responding
- Keep certification records organized and ready for an audit
- Give staff the confidence to step in instead of freeze
We can run private sessions at your workplace or hold seats for your team in our regular Metrotown classes. For groups of nine or more, on-site training usually costs less per person than sending everyone out, and it costs far less in lost production time.
Group bookings include flexible payment terms, consolidated invoicing, and expiry tracking so you know who needs renewing before the certificate lapses.
Areas We Serve
Our OFA Level 1 Burnaby classes bring in students from across the area:
- Metrotown
- Edmonds
- Brentwood
- Burnaby Heights
- Lougheed
- Big Bend
- New Westminster
- East Vancouver
At 4725 Kingsway, we are about as central as it gets in Burnaby. The Metrotown SkyTrain station is a two-minute walk, several bus routes stop within a block, and there is plenty of nearby parking. Metropolis at Metrotown is right there, so lunch and coffee are never a problem.
Book Your OFA Level 1 Burnaby Course
Ready to get your OFA Level 1 certificate?
Register online in under two minutes, or call 236-613-3267 and we will get you into the next available class at our Metrotown centre. If you are booking for a team, we will help you sort out dates, on-site delivery, and invoicing.
Locally owned. WorkSafeBC-approved. Trusted by Burnaby employers and students for training people actually remember when it counts.
Basic First Aid (OFA Level 1) FAQ's
WHAT IS OFA LEVEL 1?
Occupational First Aid Level 1 is the entry-level workplace first aid certification set and approved by WorkSafeBC. WorkSafeBC renamed it Basic First Aid in November 2024, though most employers and job postings in Burnaby still call it OFA Level 1. Pass the course and you receive a certificate that qualifies you to serve as a designated first aid attendant at a worksite anywhere in British Columbia. It is valid for three years.
IS THIS COURSE WORKSAFEBC APPROVED?
Yes. Fundamental First Aid is a WorkSafeBC-approved training provider, and the OFA Level 1 curriculum is set by WorkSafeBC itself. Complete the course at our Metrotown centre and you leave the same day with an official WorkSafeBC certificate, valid for three years anywhere in the province. Employers can verify it directly through WorkSafeBC.
DO I NEED PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE?
No prerequisites at all. OFA Level 1 is an entry-level course built for people starting from zero, and there is nothing to read or study beforehand. If you have never done CPR, never touched an AED, and have no medical background, you are exactly who this course is designed for. Everything you need is taught and practised in class, and your instructor works with you until you have it.
WHEN WILL I GET MY CERTIFICATE?
We print your official WorkSafeBC OFA Level 1 (Basic First Aid) certificate on site and hand it to you before you leave, so you walk out of our Metrotown classroom with it the same day. No waiting weeks for something to arrive in the mail, and nothing to chase up afterward.
Certificates are valid for three years across British Columbia.
CAN YOU TRAIN MY TEAM ON-SITE?
Yes. We deliver on-site training at workplaces throughout Burnaby and the rest of the Lower Mainland, including New Westminster, Coquitlam, and Vancouver. Our instructor brings all the equipment and materials to you, so your team certifies in your own space without losing half a day to travel.
Group rates apply, and for most teams the on-site option works out cheaper per person than sending everyone to a public class. Email or call us and we will sort out a date.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OFA LEVEL 1 AND 2?
The two courses cover different levels of workplace risk.
OFA Level 1 runs a single day. It is intended for attendants at lower-risk worksites or at workplaces with a smaller number of staff, and it focuses on the immediate actions that matter most in the first few minutes.
OFA Level 2 runs two days. It is for attendants at higher-risk worksites or larger workplaces, and it goes considerably deeper into patient assessment, ongoing care, and handling more serious injuries until paramedics arrive.
Which one you need is determined by your employer’s first aid assessment, which factors in your worksite’s hazard level, the number of workers on shift, and how far you are from a hospital. If you are not sure which applies to your workplace, call us and we will help you work it out.
IS OFA LEVEL 1 EQUIVALENT TO CPR-C?
No, and this is one of the most common questions we get in Burnaby.
The A, B, and C labels are not levels of quality. They describe which age groups a course teaches CPR for. CPR-A covers adults only. CPR-B covers children and infants. CPR-C covers all three.
OFA Level 1 trains workplace first aid attendants to respond to their co-workers, and since almost every worker is an adult, the course includes CPR-A only.
So if a job posting, a school program, or a volunteer role specifically asks for CPR-C, OFA Level 1 will not satisfy it. You would want a Red Cross course such as Emergency First Aid or Standard First Aid instead, both of which include CPR-C. Not sure which one your employer is asking for? Call us and we will help you get it right the first time rather than paying for the wrong course.
IS OFA LEVEL 1 THE SAME AS STANDARD FIRST AID?
Not quite, and the relationship only runs one way.
WorkSafeBC recognizes Standard First Aid as equivalent to OFA Level 1, so someone holding a Standard First Aid certificate can work as an OFA Level 1 attendant. It does not work in reverse. If your employer specifically requires Standard First Aid, an OFA Level 1 certificate will not meet it.
The reason is scope. Standard First Aid runs two days and covers material OFA Level 1 leaves out, including child and infant CPR, slings and splints, environmental illnesses, and poisoning. OFA Level 1 is deliberately narrower because it is built around adult co-workers on a jobsite.
If you are genuinely unsure which one you need, take Standard First Aid. It costs a bit more and takes an extra day, but it satisfies both requirements and you will not end up paying for a second course. If you would rather just ask, call us with the wording from your job posting or your employer’s requirement and we will tell you which one to book, even when the answer is the cheaper course.
CAN I DO OFA 1 ONLINE?
No. WorkSafeBC requires OFA Level 1 to be delivered in person with a qualified instructor present, so there is no online or blended version of this certification anywhere in BC.
The reason is straightforward. Compressions, bleeding control, and airway management cannot be assessed through a screen. An instructor has to watch your hands and correct you in the moment, which is also the part of the day that makes the skills stick.
If you see an OFA Level 1 course advertised as fully online, it will not be recognized by WorkSafeBC. Our Metrotown classroom runs in-person classes every week, so you should not have to wait long for a seat.
HOW LONG IS A FIRST AID LEVEL 1 COURSE?
It is an eight-hour course that runs over a standard workday. That breaks down into seven hours of training, a 30-minute lunch, and two 15-minute breaks.
You finish and receive your certificate the same day, so it costs you one day rather than several evenings or a full weekend. Being in the middle of Metrotown helps too, since the food court at Metropolis and dozens of spots along Kingsway are all within a couple of minutes of the classroom, so lunch does not eat into your break.
Exact start and finish times are listed on each class in our booking calendar.
WHAT ARE OUR FOOD OPTIONS DURING THE COURSE?
We keep water, coffee, and tea available free all day, and there is a fridge and microwave if you would rather bring your own lunch.
If you want to head out, you will not have to go far. Mui Garden and Ha Cafe are both in our building, so Chinese and Vietnamese food are literally downstairs, and there is a Subway on the block. The food court at Metropolis at Metrotown is a few minutes away if you want more options.
IS THERE AN OFA LEVEL 1 WRITTEN EXAM?
Yes. The course ends with a 25-question multiple choice exam. You have 30 minutes, and you need 18 correct to pass, which works out to 72 percent.
There is nothing to study beforehand. Every question comes from material covered and practised during the day, and your instructor spends the class making sure you are ready for it. The overwhelming majority of students pass on their first attempt.
HOW DO I KNOW IF A LEVEL 1 FIRST AID CERTIFICATE IS RIGHT FOR ME?
Every employer in British Columbia needs first aid coverage, and the level required depends on your specific worksite rather than a single blanket rule.
Three factors determine how many attendants you need and what level of certification they must hold, as set out in Schedule 3-A of the WorkSafeBC OHS Regulation:
- The number of workers on shift at the same time
- The travel time to the nearest hospital by ambulance
- The injury risk at your worksite, classified as low, moderate, or high
To find your risk classification, look up your industry on the WorkSafeBC classification unit page. Once you know it, check it against Schedule 3-A to find your minimum requirement.
For most Burnaby workplaces the hospital factor is favourable, since Burnaby Hospital and Royal Columbian in New Westminster are both close. That often means the number of workers on shift and your risk classification are what actually drive the requirement.
Working it out is more confusing than it should be. Email us at [email protected] or use the chat on this page with your industry and headcount, and we will tell you what you need.
DO YOU OFFER THIS COURSE IN BURNABY?
Yes. We run OFA Level 1 classes every week at our Burnaby training centre at 4725 Kingsway, right in the heart of Metrotown. It is a two-minute walk from Metrotown SkyTrain station, directly across from Metropolis at Metrotown, with plenty of nearby parking.
We also deliver private on-site training at workplaces throughout Burnaby, from the Big Bend industrial area to the office towers at Metrotown and Brentwood.
Check the map below for directions, or head to our booking calendar to see the next available Burnaby dates.