The Nothelfer course (officially the emergency first aid course) usually consists of 10 lessons of 45 minutes each, roughly 10 hours, typically spread over two evenings or one full day. The content covers correct behaviour at an accident scene: securing the site, alerting emergency services (call 144), assessing casualties, the recovery position, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of a defibrillator (AED). The course is hands-on and practised on training manikins.
The process is straightforward: you register with an accredited provider (Samaritan associations, rescue organisations, driving schools with a partnership, the SLRG and others), attend the full course, and receive a certificate at the end. There is no formal exam; full and active participation is required.
The first aid certificate is valid for six years from the course date. Important: the certificate must still be valid when you register for the theory exam or apply for the learner's permit. So someone who takes the course at 15 but only applies for the permit at 22 may have to repeat it. The same first aid requirement applies to both car (cat. B) and motorcycle (cat. A/A1).
It is advisable to complete the course relatively early in your training plan, as it is a prerequisite for all further steps. Choose a provider recognised by your canton and make sure enough practical exercise time is included. As a price guide in Switzerland, expect roughly CHF 100 to 150 for the course (without guarantee, depending on region and provider).
For people with older first aid training (e.g. from a healthcare profession), an equivalent certificate can be recognised in certain cases – but this must be clarified in advance with the road traffic office.