Course and certificate
First Aid and Emergencies at Work (Portugal): Basic Course
For people who work in Portugal and want to know the essentials of first aid and emergencies in the workplace. Eight simple lessons on the law and how emergencies are organised, 112 and the INEM, basic life support, the defibrillator (AED), bleeding and burns, choking and the recovery position, stroke, seizures and allergic reactions, and fire and evacuation, followed by a 25-question test. Theory only: it does not qualify you for rescue roles.
- Jurisdiction
- 🇵🇹 Portugal
- Languages
- Português, English, Español, Română, Українська
- Lessons
- 8
- Time needed
- About 45 minutes for the lessons and the test
- Assessment
- 25 questions, pass mark 80%
- Refresher
- Recommended after 2 years
- Content updated
- 29 October 2026
- Certificate fee
- €15.00, payable after passing
01Who this course is for
- People starting work at a company who want to know what to do in an emergency
- Workers in warehouses, shops, catering, cleaning, industry and services
- Office and customer-service staff who want to know how to call for help and what to do until it arrives
- Team leaders and small business owners who want to give their team a basic grounding
- Workers designated for emergencies who want to refresh the theory before practical training
02Syllabus
- 01The law and how emergencies are organised
- 02The chain of help and calling 112
- 03Basic life support for adults
- 04The automated external defibrillator (AED)
- 05Bleeding, burns and other injuries
- 06Choking, fainting and the recovery position
- 07Sudden medical emergencies: stroke, seizures, anaphylaxis and others
- 08Fire and evacuation
03Assessment
25 multiple-choice questions drawn from the whole course. The pass mark is 80%. The test is free and can be retaken as often as needed; wrong answers point to the lesson to read again.
04The certificate
- With your name, your score and the date you passed.
- A unique number, recorded in our register.
- Your employer or an inspector scans it to see that it is genuine.
- Download it, print it or show it on your phone.
05Sources
The course follows the published guidance below. We are not affiliated with the bodies that publish it.
- INEM, Gestos que salvam
- INEM, Suporte básico de vida
- Programa Nacional DAE (INEM)
- Portaria n.º 1532/2008
- INEM, Obstrução da via aérea
- Lei n.º 102/2009, art. 20.º, n.º 3
06Questions
Does this course qualify me as a first aider or an AED operator?
No. It is a theory-only course that gives basic knowledge of first aid, emergencies and evacuation at work. It does not qualify anyone as a first aider, as a defibrillator (AED) operator or as a member of an emergency response team. Those roles need practical training with an instructor and equipment, and the employer decides who receives it. To use an AED in a programme licensed by the INEM (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica, Portugal's national medical emergency institute) you need a basic life support course with AED and a delegation of competence from the programme's responsible doctor.
So what is this certificate?
It is a certificate of completion: it shows that you completed the course and passed the test. It is not a course certified by the DGERT (the Portuguese body that certifies training providers), nor a regulated qualification, and it is not accredited by any public body or by the INEM. The employer decides whether this training meets the needs of the job.
What does the employer have to do besides the course?
The course gives the general principles. Lei n.º 102/2009 (Law 102/2009, the occupational safety and health regime) requires the employer to set the first aid, firefighting and evacuation measures, to identify the workers responsible, to train enough of them and give them suitable equipment, to have an internal structure for emergencies and to inform workers. The employer must still carry out the workplace risk assessment, the emergency plan, the drills and the maintenance of equipment.
Does this course meet the training that the law requires for designated workers?
It was not designed for that. Article 20(3) of Lei n.º 102/2009 asks the employer to train the workers responsible for first aid, firefighting and evacuation, with suitable equipment. That training is practical and is chosen by the employer. This course can serve as preparation or revision, but it is for the employer to decide what counts towards its training plan.
Can I use a defibrillator (AED) after this course?
The course explains what an AED is and what the law says, but it does not teach you to use one in practice and does not give any authorisation. In a licensed AED programme, the operator completes a basic life support course with AED and receives a delegation from the responsible doctor. In a cardiac arrest, the essentials are to call 112, ask for the AED and give chest compressions, following the operator's instructions.
How long does it take?
Most people finish the lessons and the 25-question test in about two to three hours. You can stop and carry on later on the same device.
What if I fail the test?
You pay nothing. You see which lessons are worth revising and you can retake the test as many times as you need.
When do I pay, and how much?
Only after you pass: €15 for the certificate. The course and the test are free.
How can my employer or the labour inspectorate (ACT) check the certificate?
Every certificate has a number and a QR code. When it is scanned, or when the number is entered on our verification page, your name, the course and the date you passed appear.
How long is the certificate valid?
The certificate states a validity of 24 months, because first aid knowledge should be reviewed regularly. The law sets no period for this basic training, and the employer may ask for updates as often as it sees fit.
The certificate confirms that you completed this course and passed its test. It is not a regulated or accredited qualification; your employer decides whether this training meets their requirements.