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Courses

Accepted non-FA Medical Courses

Details

Introduction to Coaching Football

Last updated:

August 2024

Accepted Courses

In August 2017 we launched our new medical pathway, with a suite of courses for all parts of the game. In April 2021 our Introduction to First Aid in Football course was redesigned to be a digital offering.

Like other awarding bodies, we acknowledge First Aid, First Aid at Work and Sports Specific First Aid are different entities, which is why a variety of courses already exist within other awarding organisations.

Our courses are designed to equip you with the knowledge and understanding to deal with first aid specific to the football environment that may not occur within the workplace, with an emphasis on saving a life and limb in football. Our courses are a continuum of first aid, emergency first aid and trauma provision throughout football from grassroots to the professional game. The focus is on injuries that pose a threat to life or limb.

This football specific aspect of medical training is not covered through generic first aid courses, which is why we do not accept these courses as an alternative to ours.

Whilst it is universally accepted that there are many first aid courses that exist that span one or more days, our sole aim in creating a list of accepted non-fa medical courses is ultimately ensuring safety on and off the football field. 

We regularly review which courses we accept as alternatives to our courses. So, all learners who are considering renewing their first aid certificates should check our requirements and review this page for equivalency information each time they renew.

Important Information

Please note: any new regulatory guidance issued after August 2022 regarding medical and first aid requirements in football from the various governing bodies or NLS will supersede this information. We will update this page as soon as possible after any new guidance is issued.

Accepted non-FA medical courses at Introduction to First Aid in Football (IFAiF) and Emergency First Aid in Football (EFAiF)

All FA coaches must initially attend The FA courses as part of their training. Any exemptions apply on renewals only.

The first aid courses now accepted by The FA are sports-specific first aid courses and must be on the list detailed below. The FA do not accept Ofqual Approved First Aid at Work and Emergency First Aid at Work certificates. This list has been reviewed and updated in August 2022.

The exemption and equivalency detailed on this page is applicable to those who work/provide first aid/on-field trauma care or require a first aid certification or qualification for their role in football across the professional game and within steps 1-6, and all accredited clubs.

In addition all exemptions must be supported by evidence of completing the online FA modules for Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Concussion Guidelines.

We advise all current and future learners to consider the COVID-19 specific first aid updates for football. Please click here to read the guidance.

Accepted Courses for Introduction to First Aid in Football (IFAiF)

The following courses are accepted instead of IFAiF at the point of recertification.

  • Hampden – National Sports First Aid course
  • World Rugby – First Aid in Rugby Level 1 course
  • RFU Emergency First Aid in Rugby Union (EFARU) (Please note, the RFU EFARU training videos they are NOT a replacement for the face to face EFARU course).
  • Irish Rugby Union SAFE Level 1 course
  • Battlefield Advanced Trauma Life Support (BATLS)
  • First Response Emergency Care Level 3 & requalification course (FREC Level 3)
  • First Response Emergency Care Level 4 (FREC Level 4)
  • FREC Immediate Life Support [ILS] Level 4
  • St Johns Basic Sports First Aid
  • The Red Cross First Aid for Sports Course Fitness First Aid – Level 3 award in First Aid for Sport (RQF)
  • ITC Level 3 Award in First Aid for Sport, Exercise and Fitness ITC Certificate for Sport Exercise and Fitness at SCQF Level 6
  • First Responder for Sport (FRS) Level 2 First Aid delivered by the FAW

Allied Health Professionals* with:

  • Advanced Life Support (ALS)
  • Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS)
  • Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS)
  • PILS Paediatric Intermediate Life Support (consider completing adult life support course EFAiF or above)
  • PALS Paediatric Advanced Life Support (consider completing adult life support course FA Level 2 EFAiF or above)

Note: Allied Health Care Professionals with one of the above do not need to complete an FA medical course first; they do however need to complete the Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Concussion eLearning modules.

Accepted courses for Emergency First Aid in Football (EFAiF)

The following courses are accepted instead of EFAiF at the point of recertification.

  • Hampden – National Sports First Aid course
  • World Rugby – First Aid in Rugby Level 1 course
  • RFU – Emergency First Aid in Rugby Union (EFARU) note, the RFU EFARU training videos are NOT a replacement for the face to face EFARU course
  • Irish Rugby Union SAFE Level 1 course
  • Battlefield Advanced Trauma Life Support (BATLS)
  • First Response Emergency Care Level 3 & requalification course (FREC level 3)
  • First Response Emergency Care Level 4 (FREC level 4)
  • First Responder for Sport (FRS) Level 2 First Aid delivered by the FAW

Allied Health Care Professionals* with:

  • Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS)
  • Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS)

Note: Allied Health Care Professionals with one of the above do not need to complete an FA medical course first; they do however need to complete the Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Concussion eLearning modules.

Who are considered Allied Health Care professionals?

  • Paramedics with IHCD paramedic course; Paramedic foundation degree or MSc in Paramedical Science, registered with the HCPC who have proof of regular annual training and are currently practising on the road or in a training centre.
  • Nurses registered with NMC currently working in an emergency environment (Emergency department)
  • Therapists with a Graduate qualification in sports therapy or rehabilitation who also hold registration with SST, STA, STO, FHT or BASRAT.
  • Physiotherapists registered with the HCPC
  • Doctors registered with the GMC

In addition other professionals including Military Service Personnel, Firefighters, Police and Prison Officers will now need to have completed one of the Sports First Aid courses as listed above at the appropriate level and show evidence of completing the online modules for Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Concussion Guidelines. These professions are no longer able to use training completed as part of their job.

Follow this link to visit our help centre if you have any further questions on this topic.

Submitting non-FA medical courses

Your first step will be to complete the Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Concussion Guidelines e-learning modules. Once you have done this please email a copy of your sports first aid certificate along with your name and FAN to our Education Services team.

Equivalent courses for Emergency Medical First Aid in Football (EMFAiF)

This is a one day course designed for the learner to assist on pitch side. It is suitable for undergraduates in the allied health care professions, sports scientists and interested coaches, advanced first aiders and newly qualified health care professionals*

The following courses will be accepted as an alternative course:

  • The RFU Pre Hospital Immediate Care in Sport (PHICIS) Level 2 course
  • Any course listed in the ITMMiF and ATMMiF equivalency list

The following courses will be accepted as an alternative course along with completing the online modules for Sudden Cardiac Arrest, The FA Grassroots Concussion guidance: “Concussion If in doubt sit them out“ and The FA Medical Emergency Action planning.

  • Battlefield Advanced Trauma Life Support (BATLS)
  • First Response Emergency Care Level 3 & requalification course (FREC Level 3)
  • First Response Emergency Care Level 4 (FREC Level 4)
  • Paramedics with IHCD paramedic course; Paramedic foundation degree or MSc in Paramedical Science, registered with the HCPC who have proof of regular annual training and are currently practising on the road or in a training centre

Equivalent courses for Intermediate Trauma Medical Management in Football (ITMMiF)

ITMMiF is Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh (RCSEd) Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care (FPHC) endorsed course.

The FA are working cross-football with the leagues to ensure healthcare professionals who work pitch-side have received bespoke training on concussion management and return to play as part of their wider emergency care training on ITMMiF.

ITMMiF is a medical course and a pre-requisite is to be a graduate health care professional (HCP) or to be a graduating HCP within the next 6-months, to complete the course

Please note: Whilst the college provide academic endorsement they do not provide cross course equivalency. Equivalency is provided by The FA quality assurance and review process to those courses who have applied for/or who are part of the cross sport equivalency list and are curriculum matched to the ITMMiF course. For ITMMiF equivalency to apply, a learner must also have successfully completed The FA professional game concussion e-learning module.

In view of this process the equivalency, as of August 1st 2024, is only for the courses listed below. This equivalency list is an FA due diligence process and may not be applicable across other RCSEd endorsed courses.

  • The UEFA FDEP Workshop 1 delivered by FA Wales, for those who have also completed The FA pro game concussion for FAW UEFA FDEP Workshop 1^

The FA has a partnership with FA Wales, to jointly award The FA pro game concussion for FAW. Only on successful completion of both components UEFA FDEP workshop 1 FAW and The FA pro game concussion e-learning, will a learner have an equivalent qualification

Please note: Any learner who completed the UEFA Workshop 1 with FA Wales / FA Scotland SportPromote, The RFL IMMOFP, The RFU PHICIS 3 and The SRU SCRUMCAPS qualification prior to August 1st 2024, ITMMiF equivalency will stand until the qualification expiry. However, these learners are recommended to complete the module at the earliest opportunity. In practice this means either attending an FA ATMMiF-R at the earliest opportunity or attending an ITMMiF course in full

*Update* August 1st 2024

  1. The requirement to hold a valid ITMMiF qualification is role dependent. Learners are encouraged to refer to their professional league guidance on the level of qualification required.
  2. The FA pro game concussion e-learning module will become an essential part of ITMMiF as of 01st August 2024.
  3. For equivalency to be provided to The FA ITMMiF course, a learner must also have successfully completed The FA professional game concussion e-learning module.
  4. Those practitioners who have completed an FA ITMMiF course prior to August 1st 2024, and whose qualification is still valid (i.e. completed in the last 3-years), can log into their FAL platform and complete the module from 15th July 2024.

Discussions are in process for equivalency moving forwards with other NGB’s in sport for

  • The UEFA FDEP Workshop 1 delivered by Sport Promote on behalf of The Scottish FA. 
  • The UEFA FDEP Workshop 1 delivered by FA Ireland (FAI)
  • The RFU PHICIS level 2

Equivalent courses for Advanced Trauma Medical Management in Football (ATMMiF)

The FA are working cross-football with the leagues to ensure healthcare professionals who work pitch-side in the Premier League, WSL/WCL, EFL and NLS have received bespoke training on concussion management and return to play as part of their wider emergency care training on ATMMiF.

ATMMiF is a RCSEd FPHC endorsed course and part of the Cross Recognition of Emergency Care Courses in Sport agreement. Only endorsed courses listed in this agreement, as advised by the joint statement released by the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine, the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care and the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine will be accepted as equivalent by The FA.

  • The Rugby Football League (RFL) Immediate Medical Management on the Field of Play (IMMoFP) 
  • The RFU Pre Hospital Immediate Care in Sport (PHICIS) Level 3 course
  • The Scottish Rugby Union Medical Cardiac & Pitch Side Skills (SCRUMCAPS) 

Please note: Whilst the RCSEd provide academic endorsement they do not provide equivalency. The sports trauma courses endorsed but not listed in the cross-sport recognition agreement or the non-sports trauma courses endorsed by the RCSEd FPHC will not be accepted for ITMMiF or ATMMiF equivalency.

*Updates as of August 1st 2024.

  1. It remains an FA and Premier League requirement to hold a valid ATMMiF qualification and complete regular ATMMiF-R updates (Premier League Medical rules 0.3.1, 0.3.2).
  2. The FA pro game concussion e-learning module will become an essential part of ATMMiF as of 01st August 2024.
  3. Those practitioners who have completed an FA ATMMiF course prior to August 1st 2024, and whose qualification is still valid (i.e. completed in the last 3-years), can log into their FAL platform and complete the module from 15th July 2024.
  4. For any practitioner who wishes to manage players according to the Enhanced Care Setting (as referred to in the FA Concussion guidelines) then the module is essential part of the minimum criteria to enable this.
  5. As this is a football specific concussion module, individuals with alternative FA equivalent qualifications [limited to those listed above] should be expected to complete the module at the earliest opportunity. In practice this means an expedited ATMMiF-R at the earliest opportunity.