Can a CPR Refresher Course Count Toward APSA Update Points?

Updated

No, not if the CPR refresher was bundled into a First Aid Course. APSA's website states that you cannot claim a CPR refresher course toward your Update Points if it is included in your First Aid Course — it must be done separately to count. If your CPR refresher was a standalone course, the site's guidance does not exclude it on those grounds, but you should confirm the course meets APSA's requirements before logging it.

What the APSA guidance actually says

The notice on apsa.net.au (dated Sep 21) addresses this point directly:

  • Bundled CPR: "You cannot claim CPR refresher course towards your points if it is included in your First Aid Course."
  • Separate completion: "It must be done on a sep[arate basis]" — the sentence is cut off on the page, but the meaning is clear: the CPR refresher has to be completed separately from the First Aid Course to be claimable.

So the deciding factor is not the CPR content itself, but whether it was delivered as part of a First Aid Course. A CPR refresher that was part of a broader first aid program cannot be double-counted.

How to check before you log points

  1. Look at your course documentation. Check whether your CPR refresher was issued as a standalone course or as a component of a First Aid Course. The certificate or course outline usually shows this.
  2. If it was bundled, do not enter it on your Update Points log sheet. Only the First Aid Course itself would be relevant, subject to APSA's other requirements.
  3. If it was standalone, you can consider claiming it — but verify it satisfies APSA's general Update Points criteria before submitting.
  4. Record it on the current log sheet. APSA states the latest version of the spreadsheet is on its website, and that no other submission formats or links to external storage sites will be accepted.

Submitting your points

  • Deadline: Submit your Update Points log sheet before 30 June 2026 via the form on the APSA website.
  • Format: Use the current spreadsheet from the APSA website only. Save the worksheet to your local device before completing and uploading it.
  • What won't be accepted: Other submission formats, or links to external storage websites.

Practical takeaway

Before you add a CPR refresher to your log, check how it was delivered. If it came as part of a First Aid Course, leave it off — APSA will not accept it as a separate claim. If it was a standalone course, review it against APSA's Update Points requirements and log it on the official spreadsheet in time for the 30 June 2026 deadline.