RLSS Level 3 Outdoor First Aid (OFA) Qualification
What is the Outdoor First Aid qualification? What does an Outdoor First Aider do?
The Outdoor First Aid Qualification is perfect for those who are responsible for others in the outdoor environment, especially when help may not be immediately available. This course will equip you with the skills to take on these situations if they arise and have a bigger role in the casualty care journey.
The Outdoor First Aid Qualification is considered the required standard for anyone working outdoors and will help towards employment in this sector
Are you looking for some Outdoor First Aid skills, but don’t think the 2-day course is for you? Check out the 1-day Emergency Outdoor First Aid Course
See more information below, find a course near you or book a group Outdoor First Aid course now.
| Feature / Topic | Emergency Outdoor (EOFA) | Outdoor First Aid (OFA) | Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) | First Aid at Work (FAW) |
| Typical Duration | 1 Day (8 hrs) | 2 Days (16 hrs) | 1 Day (6 hrs) | 3 Days (18 hrs) |
| Certification Level | RLSS Level 3 | RLSS Level 3 | RLSS Level 3 | RLSS Level 3 |
| Environment Focus | Rural / Remote | Remote / Wilderness | Office / Low-Risk | Industrial / High-Risk |
| Adult CPR & AED | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Child CPR & AED | ❌ Not in Depth (See EPFA/PFA) | ❌ Not in Depth (See EPFA/PFA) | ❌ Not in Depth (See EPFA/PFA) | ❌ Not in Depth (See EPFA/PFA) |
| Secondary Survey | ❌ | ✅ (Monitoring) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Recovery Position | ✅ (Incl. Slopes) | ✅ (Incl. Slopes) | ✅ Adult | ✅ Adult |
| External Bleeding | ✅ (Catastrophic) | ✅ (Catastrophic) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Fractures & Sprains | ✅ | ✅ (Splinting) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Head & Spinal Injuries | ✅ | ✅ (Long-term) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Hypothermia / Heat | ✅ (Outdoor) | ✅ (In-depth) | ❌ | ✅ (Basic) |
| Anaphylaxis & Asthma | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Bites, Stings & Ticks | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Major Illness (Heart/Stroke) | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Remote Care (2 hrs+) | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Evacuation & Triage | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| NGB Accepted (ML/BC) | ✅ (Varies) | ✅ Nationally Recognised | ❌ | ❌ |
Our current price is £95 for a single space, or £215 for a group session for up to 12 learners (there is a £14 additional fee per learner for course manuals)
16 hours in-person contact learning time (i.e not including lunch breaks) over 2 days
This course is suitable for anyone taking a more in depth interest in being outdoors, such as being further away from your next step of help
To work in the outdoors and be responsible for others means you must have the skills to safely deal with situations as they are reasonably likely to happen. This is the most common and nationally recognised qualification, and employers will often look at this for roles in the outdoor environments, catapulting you to the front.
Common roles that will often require this qualification are:
🥾 Mountain Leader (ML) / Hill Walker
🏹 Forest School Leader / Practitioner
🛶 Paddlesport Coach / Kayak Instructor
🚵 Mountain Bike Trail Leader
🧗 Climbing Wall Instructor / Rock Guide
🏕️ Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Leader & Assessor
🌲 Forestry & Agricultural Worker (+F)
🏃 Trail Run / Outdoor Event Marshal
🎒 Expedition Leader / Overseas Trek Guide
🔬 Ecological Surveyor / Field Researcher
🦌 Gamekeeper / Estate Warden
🏫 School Trip Leader / Outdoor Education Teacher
🐕 Professional Rural Dog Walker
The OFA course is designed to be the first step to becoming an Outdoor First Aider and will cover a wide range of skills from scratch, this means the course is suitable for anyone. We recommend having the following to ensure you maximise your time on the course:
- Must be a minimum age of 16 years old
- To have the ability to kneel for a short period of time
- A basic level of English and hearing
Three years
There are three method of assessment for this course:
- Continual observation throughout by the trainer
- A Multiple Choice Quiz
- Practical Scenario Observations
We don’t want learners to worry about any assessment, as the trainer is there to help you through it and make sure you have the skills required after the course
You will receive the following certificate upon successful completion of the course:
- RLSS Level 3 Outdoor First Aid Qualification
This qualification is Ofqual and Qualification Wales accredited
To renew your certificate, you must re-do the course
Yes! The following points are awarded upon successful completion:
8 CIMSPA Points
0 UCAS points
Please feel free to drop our course training a quick email with your question, and they’ll get back to you with the answer:
Dylan@RPRTtraining.co.uk