Emergency First Aid at Work exam-day guide
Emergency First Aid at Work · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the same ID document you used when booking. Most providers require photo ID for registration and may refuse entry without it. Confirm with the provider which forms of ID they accept and whether a digital copy is sufficient.
Booking confirmation and joining instructions
Bring your confirmation email (printed or on your phone) showing the date, time, venue or platform, and any candidate number. Check the address and arrival time the day before, since venues sometimes change rooms.
Comfortable clothing suitable for kneeling and floor work
Practical assessment requires you to kneel beside a casualty, perform chest compressions, and demonstrate recovery and recovery-position techniques. Wear trousers or leggings you can move in and flat, closed-toe shoes. Avoid tight skirts, restrictive jackets, and loose jewellery that could interfere with CPR technique.
Hair tie and short nails
Long hair should be tied back and fingernails kept short so you can demonstrate correct hand placement and seal on a manikin. Remove dangling jewellery and watches during practical stations.
Water and a light snack
Courses often run a full day with scheduled breaks. Confirm with the provider whether refreshments are provided and whether you may bring your own. Staying hydrated helps if you are nervous.
Notebook and pen
Some providers permit note-taking during taught sessions but not during assessment. Confirm with the provider what materials are allowed at your assessment station.
Any agreed access arrangements confirmed in writing
If you need extra time, a reader, a scribe, a ground-level manikin, or other adjustments, confirm them with the provider well before the day and bring the written confirmation. Do not assume adjustments will be available on request on the day.
Medication and personal essentials
Bring any prescribed medication you may need, plus an inhaler or adrenaline auto-injector if prescribed. Tell the instructor privately at the start if you have a condition that affects physical exertion, so they can plan around it.
Knowledge of the course syllabus and assessment format
Confirm with the provider whether assessment is by practical observation, oral questioning, a written paper, or a combination, and what the pass criteria are. Review the core topics: scene safety, primary survey, CPR and AED use, choking, bleeding, burns, fractures, and medical emergencies.
Plan for arriving early
Aim to arrive at least 15 to 30 minutes before the start to allow for registration, ID checks, and finding the room. Confirm with the provider the exact arrival time and what happens if you are late.
Arrangements for the day
Tell work or family you will be unavailable for the day, arrange transport and parking in advance, and check whether the venue has parking or is near public transport. Confirm with the provider whether phones must be switched off during assessment.
A positive, hands-on mindset
Practical assessment rewards clear communication, safe technique, and calm decision-making. Practise saying your actions aloud, for example announcing scene safety, calling for help, and delegating tasks, because assessors look for these behaviours as well as physical technique.
Plan the day
Re-read your course materials and the provider's assessment guidance. Confirm the venue, start time, arrival time, and what to bring. Check that your ID is valid and matches your booking. Confirm any access arrangements in writing. Practise the sequence for the primary survey, CPR, recovery position, choking, and severe bleeding on a cushion or pillow at home, narrating each step aloud. Get two good nights of sleep before the day, since fatigue affects both recall and physical technique.
Lay out clothing, shoes, ID, confirmation email, water, and any medication. Check travel times and plan a route with a buffer for delays. Avoid cramming new material late at night. Eat normally and avoid alcohol. If you feel unwell, contact the provider to ask about their illness or rescheduling policy rather than simply not attending.
Eat a proper breakfast and drink water. Arrive early for registration and ID checks. Tell the instructor privately about any injury, pregnancy, or medical condition that affects kneeling, compressions, or physical exertion. Listen carefully to the briefing on station format, timings, and safety. Warm up briefly and check the manikin and equipment layout before you begin.
Before each scenario, state that the scene is safe, then introduce yourself and check for response. Narrate your actions clearly: shout for help, ask someone to call emergency services and fetch an AED, and check breathing. Perform compressions at the correct rate and depth with minimal interruptions, and use the AED as instructed. Treat the manikin as a real casualty: speak to it, explain what you are doing, and reassure it. If you make a mistake, correct it calmly and continue. Ask the assessor to repeat an instruction if you did not hear it clearly.
Read each question fully before answering and watch the time. For oral questions, answer in short, structured sentences and state your reasoning where asked. If you are unsure, give your best safe answer rather than leaving it blank, and do not guess at specific numbers you cannot recall confidently.
Ask the instructor when and how results will be issued and what the appeals or reassessment process is. Confirm with the provider how long your certificate is valid and whether your employer requires a refresher before expiry. Note the date in your calendar.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo ID matching your booking and present it at registration. If you cannot produce acceptable ID, entry may be refused. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether digital copies are allowed.
Arrive by the stated registration time. Late arrivals may not be admitted once assessment has begun, because practical stations run to a fixed schedule. Confirm with the provider their late-arrival and rescheduling policy before the day.
Follow all safety instructions from the instructor, especially during CPR, choking, and bleeding scenarios. Report any injury, pregnancy, recent surgery, or condition that limits physical exertion before practical work begins so the instructor can adapt the station.
Treat manikins and equipment with care and follow hygiene instructions, including cleaning manikins and using barriers where directed. Do not improvise equipment or techniques that were not taught on the course.
Do not coach or prompt other candidates during assessment, and do not discuss station content with candidates who have not yet been assessed. Follow the provider's rules on phones, recording, and note-taking during assessment.
Breaks are usually scheduled and announced by the instructor. If you need to leave the room for medical or personal reasons, tell the instructor first. Confirm with the provider whether unscheduled breaks affect your assessment.
Assessment is normally criterion-based: you must demonstrate the required practical skills and meet the knowledge standard to pass. Confirm with the provider the exact pass criteria, whether resits are offered, and any fee for reassessment.
If you believe an assessment was conducted unfairly or you were unwell, raise it with the instructor on the day and follow the provider's appeals procedure in writing afterwards. Do not wait until the certificate is issued to report a problem.