For a German driving licence, the required first aid training includes at least nine teaching units of 45 minutes and practical exercises. A suitable driving-licence certificate generally has no expiry date. Workplace first aiders normally need refresher training every two years. Confirm the provider, course purpose and teaching language before booking.
Which first aid course do I need?
Start with the organisation asking for your certificate. A driving-licence application, a workplace role, a sports qualification and a university course can involve different requirements. A private short seminar is not automatically suitable just because its title includes first aid.
For a German driving licence, section 19 of the Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung sets the training requirement. Section 68 explains which training organisations are suitable, including the relevant authorised organisations publicly listed by accident insurance bodies. Ask the actual provider which certificate your selected course will issue. § 19 Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung: Schulung in Erster Hilfe § 68 FeV: Anerkannte und ermächtigte Ausbildungsstellen
How long does the course take?
Nine teaching units are not nine full clock hours. Nine times 45 minutes equals 405 minutes, or six hours and 45 minutes of teaching. Breaks and any additional organisational time must be added. Check the published start and finish times rather than planning to leave after the net teaching time.
For standard workplace courses, the DGUV specifies at least 45 minutes of breaks in addition to the nine units. A short online video or a four-hour private session does not automatically replace the required complete training. DGUV: Fragen zu Kursen, Fortbildung und Abrechnung
| Item | What to check |
|---|---|
| Training duration | At least nine 45-minute units for the driving-licence course |
| Breaks | Additional to teaching time |
| Course language | Confirmed for the selected event |
| Certificate | Suitable for your stated purpose |
How much does a first aid course cost?
Private course prices depend on the actual provider and the included services. Published examples checked for this guide include 55 euros at DRK Ahrweiler, 60 euros at DRK Paderborn and 65 euros in the Malteser Campus Wilhelmsburg offer. These are examples, not a national fixed price or a promise that places are available. DRK Ahrweiler: Kursinhalt und veröffentlichte Privatkundengebühr DRK Paderborn: Kursgebühr und Buchungsbedingungen Malteser Campus Wilhelmsburg: Angebot mit Preisangabe 2026
Compare the full amount you will pay. An eye test, photographs, travel or other items may be separate. For eligible workplace participation, authorised providers use a different direct billing process with the responsible accident insurance body. The published DGUV standard-course allowance for 2026 is 46.31 euros per participant; it is not a universal private-customer price. DGUV: Lehrgangsgebühren ab 1. Januar 2026 DGUV: Abrechnungsverfahren
Can I take the course in English or online?
Look for a specifically advertised English-language event. An English website or booking button does not prove that teaching will be in English. Confirm the language, location and certificate before paying, particularly if your application deadline is approaching.
For foreign-language workplace courses, the DGUV sets conditions including the approved teaching framework, a single course language and a certificate issued in German. Additional language-related costs may apply. Standard workplace training must take place in person; purely online training is not a substitute. DGUV: Fragen zu Kursen, Fortbildung und Abrechnung
How long is the certificate valid?
For the driving-licence purpose, a suitable first aid certificate generally has no expiry date. The Berlin licensing authority explicitly confirms this. Older documents described as lifesaving immediate measures, unclear foreign records or incomplete evidence should be checked with your responsible licensing authority rather than treated as automatically equivalent. Landesamt Berlin: Gültigkeit der Erste-Hilfe-Bescheinigung Landkreis München: Führerschein – Fragen und Antworten
A workplace role is different: refresher training is normally required every two years. A sports body or university can also set its own requirements. If you need an eye-test certificate for a driving-licence application, the documents covered by section 12 FeV must be no more than two years old when you apply. That time limit should not be confused with first aid certificate validity. DGUV: Fragen zu Kursen, Fortbildung und Abrechnung § 12 FeV: Sehvermögen und Alter der Nachweise
Where can I book, and what should I bring?
Use the portal city directory to compare nearby schools, then check an actual course with the provider. A registered contact address is not necessarily the classroom. A calendar entry does not by itself confirm an available seat, and a contact form may only submit an enquiry.
Read your booking information for identification, payment and other documents. Comfortable clothing is useful for practical exercises. If an eye test is included, follow the test provider’s identification and visual-aid instructions. If you have lost an old course certificate, ask the original training organisation whether a replacement is possible; a reissued copy does not turn the old course into a new one.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a certificate without attending?
A payment or downloadable template does not prove that you completed the required training. Obtain the relevant certificate from a suitable provider after the actual course. Check unusual online-only offers carefully before relying on them for an official purpose.
Does my driving-licence course expire after two years?
Not simply because two years have passed. A suitable driving-licence first aid certificate generally has no expiry date. Workplace refresher requirements and the age limit for eye-test evidence are different rules.
Can I use the same course at work?
The DGUV allows a driving-licence course to serve as workplace first aid training when it was completed with an authorised provider and is no more than two years old. Confirm the evidence and appointment with your employer.