TL;DR: On June 22, 2026, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) modernized Ontario's First Aid Program, renamed the certificate levels to Basic First Aid and Intermediate First Aid, and replaced its approved training-provider network with an expanded list of 65 providers aligned to CSA Z1210:24. Regulation 1101 itself did not change, so the rules for your practice's first aid station, kit contents, trained staff, quarterly inspections and treatment records still apply to every business covered by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act.
Who on your team is your designated first aider, and when does their certificate expire? Most practice owners can answer the first question faster than the second. As of October 2026, that gap matters more than it used to, because the WSIB has changed which providers are on its approved list and what the certificates are called. This guide walks through what changed, what stayed the same, and how to run a clean first aid compliance check at your practice in Toronto or anywhere in Ontario.
What changed in the WSIB First Aid Program on June 22, 2026?
The WSIB announced its modernized First Aid Program on June 22, 2026, and the changes took effect that day. According to the WSIB, the key changes are:
- A national training standard. Workplace first aid training now aligns with the Canadian Standards Association standard CSA Z1210:24, First aid training for the workplace — Curriculum and quality management for training agencies.
- New certificate names. The certificates are now called Basic First Aid and Intermediate First Aid. The WSIB states that Basic First Aid is equivalent to Emergency First Aid and Intermediate First Aid is equivalent to Standard First Aid. Regulation 1101 still uses the older names.
- A new approved-provider network. Workplace first aid training in Ontario must still come from a WSIB-approved provider, and the WSIB says its approved network expanded to 65 providers. Certificates issued by previously approved providers remain valid until they expire.
- Badges for verification. Approved providers and their affiliates display a First Aid Program badge so businesses can check status.
- Portability (unchanged, with one addition). The WSIB continues to accept workplace first aid certificates from anywhere in Canada if they meet the CSA Z1210 standard. What is new is that these certificates can now be recertified in Ontario before they expire.
What did not change is just as important. The WSIB's own FAQ states that Regulation 1101 "is not changing at this time." It also states that all first aid certificates issued up to June 21, 2026 remain valid until they expire. If your team trained last year, you do not need to retrain now.
Does Regulation 1101 apply to your dental practice?
According to the WSIB, all businesses covered by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act (WSIA) must follow Regulation 1101, and its requirements apply to all employees regardless of employment status and to all workplaces, including off-site locations.
The coverage question is worth checking rather than assuming. The WSIB notes that coverage "isn't mandatory for every business in Ontario," that the Government of Ontario decides which industries must have it, and that businesses not required to have coverage can choose it. Whether your practice is covered depends on whether the WSIA requires coverage for your industry or your practice has applied for optional coverage, so confirm it with the WSIB directly. If your practice is registered, whether by requirement or by choice, Regulation 1101 is part of your compliance file.
Pro Tip: Put your WSIB registration status and firm number on page one of your health and safety binder. When an associate, office manager or new owner asks "do these rules apply to us?", the answer should take ten seconds to find.
What must a first aid station include?
Section 1 of Regulation 1101 defines a first aid station as a first aid box containing the required items, plus a notice board displaying three things:
- the WSIB's "In Case of Injury" poster, known as Form 82;
- the valid first aid certificates of the trained workers on duty; and
- an inspection card with spaces for the date of the most recent inspection and the signature of the person who did it.
The station must be in the charge of a qualified worker who works in its immediate vicinity, and it must be located so it is easily accessible for prompt treatment whenever work is in progress. The box must be large enough that each item is in plain view, and every item must be kept in good condition. Form 82 must also be posted in other conspicuous places in the workplace.
The WSIB's guidance adds practical detail. A first aid kit should be portable, should not be kept in a locked cabinet, drawer or room, and should be visible or marked with a sign. There is no required ratio of kits to employees; the test is whether people can reach one quickly. Every station must be easily accessible under section 1(3), and for workplaces with more than five workers per shift, section 12 requires additional stations where one is not.
How many trained first aiders does your practice need?
The requirement turns on the number of workers in any one shift, not your total headcount. A practice with 14 staff spread across two shifts is measured shift by shift.
According to the WSIB:
- Five or fewer people on any one shift: at least one person must hold a Basic First Aid certificate, an 8-hour program.
- Six or more people on any shift: at least one person must hold an Intermediate First Aid certificate, a 16-hour program.
There is no fixed ratio of first aiders to employees. The WSIB asks businesses to assess size and layout, and gives a benchmark: a first aider should be able to reach an injured person within two minutes. For a single-floor practice that is usually easy. For a multi-floor clinic, a satellite office or a practice that runs evening hours with a skeleton crew, it deserves a second look.
Pro Tip: Count the busiest shift and the leanest one. A practice with eight people on weekdays needs an Intermediate holder on site, but the Saturday crew of four still needs a certificate holder present. Build the first aid roster into your scheduling software so a shift never opens without one.
Does a CPR card count as first aid training?
No. This is the trap most likely to catch a dental team. The WSIB states plainly that CPR training is not the same as first aid training. CPR A, B, C or CPR-HCP (Healthcare Provider) can satisfy the CPR component of Regulation 1101 only when taken as part of an approved emergency or standard first aid program. A stand-alone CPR card in your binder, however current, does not make someone your designated first aider.
Who pays for first aid training?
Section 4 of Regulation 1101 makes the employer responsible for the cost of furnishing and maintaining first aid appliances and services. The WSIB's guidance is specific about training: businesses covered by Regulation 1101 must pay for first aid training for employees selected as designated first aiders, including their wages while they complete an approved program.
There is one hiring nuance. According to the WSIB, if a business makes first aid training a hiring requirement, the applicant covers the cost. If you want new dental assistants or receptionists to arrive certified, state it in the job posting rather than raising it after the offer.
How do you choose a WSIB-approved training provider?
Workplace first aid training must come from a provider on the WSIB's current approved list, which changed on June 22, 2026. The WSIB publishes its list of approved providers, and approved providers and their affiliates display the First Aid Program badge, whose QR code links back to the WSIB's list or to the approved provider's list of affiliates. If you are unsure, the WSIB invites businesses to email first_aid@wsib.on.ca before purchasing training.
Two more details from the WSIB help with scheduling:
- No online-only courses are approved. Some approved blended programs teach theory online, but skills must be demonstrated in person with an instructor.
- Certificates last three years. All first aid certificates in Ontario are valid for three years from the date of issue, and the WSIB notes an Intermediate certificate can be renewed once with a one-day recertification course before it expires.
Pro Tip: Book recertification 60 days before the earliest certificate expiry on your notice board. Booking early leaves room to reschedule if a preferred course date in Mississauga, Vaughan or North York does not work, and a lapsed certificate means a non-compliant station.
Your quarterly first aid compliance checklist
Section 6 of Regulation 1101 requires employers to inspect first aid boxes and their contents "at not less than quarter-yearly intervals," which the WSIB's guide explains as at least four times a year, and to mark the inspection card with the date and the inspector's signature. That makes the quarterly check the natural anchor for everything else.
What goes in the accident record?
Section 5 of Regulation 1101 requires a record of every accident, covering the circumstances as described by the injured worker, the date and time, the names of witnesses, the nature and exact location of the injuries, and the date, time and nature of each first aid treatment given. A needlestick, a burn from a heated instrument or a slip in the sterilization area all belong in that record, even when first aid is all that is needed.
When does a first aid case become a WSIB report?
The WSIB's Regulation 1101 guide lists what businesses must do when a worker is injured or becomes ill. Among other steps, the business must make sure first aid is given immediately, keep a record of the first aid or advice provided, report the injury or illness at wsib.ca/report within three business days if the person needs treatment from a health professional, give the employee a copy of the report, and pay the employee their full wage and benefits for the day or shift of the injury.
What should not be in the kit?
The WSIB recommends adding non-latex gloves in different sizes and a CPR barrier mask, and it notes that kits meeting CSA Z1220 also satisfy Regulation 1101. It advises against medications, ointments or equipment first aiders are not trained to use, and states that EpiPens are not required under Regulation 1101 and should not be included in first aid kits. This guidance covers the worker first aid kit only; how your practice prepares for patient medical emergencies is a separate topic.
Sources
- WSIB, "WSIB launches modernized first aid program to enhance workplace safety across Ontario," news release, June 22, 2026: wsib.ca
- WSIB, First Aid Program and FAQ: wsib.ca/en/firstaid
- WSIB, "Regulation 1101 First Aid Requirements" (0455A, 07/2026): PDF
- WSIB, "Can I choose to have WSIB insurance?": wsib.ca
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do Ontario dental staff need to retake first aid training because of the 2026 WSIB changes?
No. The WSIB states that first aid certificates issued up to June 21, 2026 remain valid until they expire. Staff renew at their normal expiry, and any new or renewal training must come from a WSIB-approved provider.
Q: Is a CPR-HCP card enough for a dental office first aider in Ontario?
No. The WSIB says CPR training is not the same as first aid training. CPR-HCP meets the CPR component of Regulation 1101 only when it is taken as part of an approved emergency or standard first aid program.
Q: What first aid certificate does a dental practice with six staff on a shift need?
According to the WSIB, a workplace with six or more people on any shift needs at least one person with an Intermediate First Aid certificate, a 16-hour program equivalent to Standard First Aid. With five or fewer on a shift, a Basic First Aid certificate, an 8-hour program, meets the requirement.
How does your practice track first aid certificates and quarterly kit checks today: a spreadsheet, your scheduling software or a sticker on the box? Tell us what works for your team. For more practice management guides for Ontario dental practices, visit ebiko.ca.