1) Who can register in health and safety courses?
Anyone can register in the courses listed on the course calendar.
2) How can I pay for my course?
All registrations are done online via credit card using a secure payment gateway (Stripe).
- Ask if your health and safety co-chair or representative or human resources department can provide a corporate credit card number for your registration.
- Alternately, you may need to pay yourself and get reimbursed by your company. Stripe will provide an itemized receipt upon payment.
For large companies and organizations, that expect to register in more than 10 seats through the calendar year, we can establish an account. Read our Accounts page to find out how to set up an account.
3) My company or organization wants to be invoiced for my registration. How do I do that?
We cannot invoice companies for single registrations.
Large companies have the option of setting up an account with us if they expect to register in 10 seats or more during the current calendar year. Once an account has been set up, we can invoice the company after the course.
Refer your company to our Accounts page to find out how to set one up.
4) I can’t attend the course I registered in. What can I do?
Please provide us with as much advance notice as possible. This allows us to open up spots to waitlisted people. They need time to make arrangements to attend.
Here are your options:
- You can send someone else in your place. In the email, provide us with the course name, course date, your name, the new person’s name and email address before the course starts.
- You can transfer your registration to a course held on a later date within the calendar year (based on availability). We need more than 48 hours notice. Mental Health First Aid has different timelines and exceptions.
- Cancel your registration, if the course is 10 or more days away. (See the next line).
Once you’ve picked an option, email us at ohsadmin@bcfed.ca. Subject line: Reschedule/Cancel course, and in the body of the email: name & date of current course; and if applicable the name & date of the new course.
5) I must cancel my registration. Can I get a refund?
We know that life happens. As a participant, if you need to cancel your registration, provide us with as much advance notice as possible. When you give us notice, it allows time for us to invite the waitlisted folks.
- With 10 or more days notice – full refund*
- With 2 – 10 days notice – credit or rescheduling*
- With less than 2 days notice – no refund or credits*
*Mental Health First Aid is an exception – we need >14 days notice. No refunds or credits once the access codes have been issued.
To start your refund request, please contact us with your registered name, the course title, the delivery format (virtual or in-person) and the course date. If there are extenuating circumstances that we should be aware of, please indicate those as well.
6) I missed the course I was registered in. What can I do?
Sorry, we can’t transfer your registration or refund your money once the course date has passed.
7) I lost track of my registration receipt. Can you help me?
Yes. Email us at ohsacctg@bcfed.ca to request a copy of your receipt and include the course title with date in which you are registered.
8) What do I receive upon completion of the course?
We issue a “Certificate of Completion” after you have attended the course. A PDF will be emailed to you after the course.
If your employer needs a copy of the certificate for their records, you can forward it to them.
Mental Health First Aid certificates will be emailed directly from the Mental Health Commission of Canada. See Question 9.
9) I didn’t receive my Mental Health First Aid Certificate. Where is it?
Allow 2 weeks for e-delivery. The Mental Health Commission of Canada will email you individually (ie: the email that you registered with). Add @mentalhealthcommission.ca to your Safe Senders list.
Before you contact us, ensure you check
- the correct email address (ie: work vs. personal) and
- your junk, spam, quarantine and deleted folders.
If this fails,
- contact MHFA@bcfed.ca
- Subject line: Have not received MHFA cert and
- in the body of the email, include your full name, the date of the course and if it was virtual or the on-site version.
Once you receive your certificate, we suggest saving it and forwarding to an alternate email address for safekeeping (ie: send it from your personal email to your work email).
10) How do I access Module 1 for Mental Health First Aid Blended course?
Module 1 only needs to be completed for Mental Health First Aid Blended versions.
About 2 weeks prior, you will be emailed details.
- If the course is in less than 2 weeks and you have not yet received your instructions & access code, check your junk/spam.
- Check to see if you received any other emails about the course (ie: registration confirmation).
If you still do not have it, contact MHFA@bcfed.ca immediately.
- Subject line: URGENT: need access code for MHFA Virtual on <course date>.
- In the body of the email, indicate your full name and let us know that you have not received prior emails.
It is your responsibility to contact us in advance to allow us time to respond.
Mental Health First Aid Blended courses will be phased out in fall 2025.
11) My company needs a copy of our employee’s certificate. How can we get it?
Please ask your employee to forward you a copy.
12) I lost my certificate. Can I get another one?
Yes, you can sign into your Self Serve portal and find your certificate there.
Exception: A Mental Health First Aid certificate was emailed directly from the Mental Health Commission of Canada. We suggest you search your emails for "mentalhealthcommission.ca”.
If you still do not have it, contact MHFA@bcfed.ca with your full name, course name and date. The Commission can only send it to the original email that was on file. If you lost your certificate, but your email has changed, provide the old email and the new one.
13) Is there a chance my course could be cancelled?
We try our best to not cancel courses. We will provide as much notice as possible, and will provide rescheduling options where possible.
Reasons for cancelling a course:
- inclement weather makes it unsafe for our facilitators to travel (wildfires, snow, ice, unsafe roads),
- we do not cross picket lines,
- Mental Health First Aid courses require a minimum of 8 participants,
- our facilitator is unavailable due to illness.
14) I live in a rented apartment or house that has health and safety problems. What can I do?
For residential tenancy issues surrounding health and safety, contact the BC Residential Tenancy Branch.
For more advice, you can contact the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre (TRAC) at 604-255-0546 or 1-800-665-1185.
You can also contact the Vancouver Tenants Union.
