CPR Certificate Expiry: How Long Does it Last?

If you’ve completed a CPR course for work, study or simply to be prepared for an emergency, you might be wondering how long the certification lasts, whether the certificate expires and when you would need to complete the training again.

The simple answer? CPR training should generally be refreshed every 12 months in Australia. But CPR certificate expiry isn’t quite as straightforward as it sounds. CPR certificates don’t technically have an expiry date. A nationally recognised Statement of Attainment does not simply disappear or become invalid after 12 months. 

Instead, workplace first aid guidance recommends annual CPR refresher training to keep your skills current.

Does a CPR Certificate Expire in Australia?

Technically, a nationally recognised CPR Statement of Attainment does not have an expiry date in the same way that a driver’s licence or passport does.

However, that doesn’t mean you can complete CPR training once and consider yourself current indefinitely.

Safe Work Australia workplace first aid guidance recommends that first aiders attend regular training to refresh their knowledge and skills. In particular, they state CPR refresher training should be carried out annually, while broader first aid qualifications should generally be renewed every three years.

So, when an employer asks for a “current CPR certificate”, they will commonly be looking for evidence that you have completed CPR training within the previous 12 months.

How Long Is a CPR Certificate Valid For?

For practical purposes, you should think of your CPR training as needing to be refreshed every 12 months.

The nationally recognised CPR unit is HLTAID009 – Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. It covers skills including:

• recognising and assessing an emergency
• recognising when someone needs CPR
• contacting emergency services
• performing CPR
• using an automated external defibrillator (AED)
• communicating details of an incident
• reviewing the first aid response.

Importantly, CPR isn’t simply something you learn from a textbook. The assessment requirements for HLTAID009 include demonstrating CPR on adult and infant manikins and using an AED training device.

Regular refresher training gives you an opportunity to practise these physical skills and demonstrate that you can still perform them correctly.

Is CPR Certificate Expiry the Same Across Australia?

For most people, there is no major practical difference between states and territories when it comes to CPR renewal.

Safe Work Australia’s model workplace first aid guidance recommends annual CPR refresher training, and this approach is reflected in workplace first aid guidance around Australia. For example:

State/Territory	CPR refresher guidance	Relevant workplace safety authority
NSW	Every 12 months	SafeWork NSW
Victoria	Every 12 months	WorkSafe Victoria
Queensland	Every 12 months	WorkSafe Queensland
South Australia	Every 12 months	SafeWork SA
Western Australia	Every 12 months	WorkSafe WA
Tasmania	Every 12 months	WorkSafe Tasmania
ACT	Every 12 months	WorkSafe ACT
Northern Territory	Every 12 months	NT WorkSafe

As the table shows, the guidance is consistent across Australia: CPR training should generally be refreshed every 12 months, regardless of which state or territory you work in.

However, your workplace, industry or professional body may have its own requirements for keeping CPR training current. If you need CPR certification for your job, it is always worth checking whether any additional requirements apply to your role.

CPR vs First Aid Certificate Expiry

One common source of confusion is that CPR and first aid have different recommended refresher periods.

As a general guide:

• CPR – HLTAID009: refresh every 12 months.
• First Aid – HLTAID011: renew every three years, with CPR refreshed annually.

If you complete HLTAID011 – Provide First Aid, your training also includes HLTAID009 CPR. However, you don’t normally redo the entire first aid course every year just because the CPR component needs refreshing.

You can complete an HLTAID009 CPR refresher to maintain your CPR currency and then renew your broader first aid training when required.

What Happens If My CPR Certificate Is Out of Date?

If it has been more than 12 months since you completed CPR training, you can still use the knowledge and skills you have learned to assist someone in an emergency.

However, if you require current CPR training for your job, placement, licence, membership or professional registration, you may need to complete HLTAID009 again before you meet the relevant requirements.

Don’t assume that an old Statement of Attainment will satisfy your employer simply because it does not have a formal expiry date. Check the requirements of your workplace or industry if you’re unsure.

Can I Renew My CPR Certificate Before It Expires?

Yes. You don’t need to wait until 12 months have passed to refresh your CPR training. If you need to maintain current CPR training for work, completing your refresher before the 12-month mark can help ensure there is no gap in your currency.

Check with your employer or relevant professional body if your role has specific requirements around how frequently CPR training must be completed.

How Do I Check My CPR Certificate Is Still Current?

Check the date on your Statement of Attainment to see when you last successfully completed HLTAID009 – Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

If you need to maintain annual CPR currency, you can use that completion date to work out when your next refresher is due.

For example, if you completed HLTAID009 on 15 October 2025, you would generally plan to complete your next CPR refresher by around 15 October 2026.

It’s a good idea to book before the 12-month mark rather than waiting until your workplace tells you your CPR training is no longer current.