NATIONAL POOL LIFEGUARD QUALIFICATION
Through IQL UK, the leading provider of lifeguard training, there are more than 90,000 RLSS UK pool lifeguards trained in the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ). IQL UK is the awarding organisation recognised and monitored by Ofqual, Qualifications Wales, CCEA Regulation in Northern Ireland and accredited by SQA Accreditation in Scotland.
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Lifeguards benefit from varied working hours which you can easily fit around your other commitments, working within a team and there’s also the opportunity to progress your career within the leisure industry as most leisure managers start off as Pool Lifeguards.
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We offer additional bolt on qualifications during our NPLQ courses. Each course listed on our website or on RLSS UK course finder will detail which will be offered alongside the NPLQ, each of these will include additional hours:
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The benefits of becoming a lifeguard:
Excellent starting point for a career in the leisure industry
Opportunity for career progression, as most leisure managers start off as Pool Lifeguards
Varied working hours
Work within a team
The NPLQ is recognised around the world, so potential to work and travel
Great way for students to fund studies
Learn essential life skills, including First Aid and CPR
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Course content
The NPLQ covers all elements of Pool Rescue Techniques, Lifeguarding Theory, First Aid and CPR. The course is physically demanding and will include swimming to set times, lifting casualties and diving to the deepest part of the swimming pool. Training and assessment for the NPLQ is in three sections and all must be successfully passed to attain the qualification.
Section 1 – The Lifeguard and the Law, Swimming Pool Supervision
Element 1 – The Lifeguard and the Law
Element 2 – Swimming Pool, Hazards and Control Measures
Element 3 – Swimming Pool Supervision
Section 2 – Intervention and Rescue and Emergency Action Plans
Element 1 – Intervention and Rescue
Element 2 – Rescue of a Casualty with a Suspected Spinal Injury
Element 3 – Emergency Action Plan
Section 3 – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, AED and First Aid
Element 1 – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Element 2 – First Aid
Element 3 – Automated External Defibrillation (AED)
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About the assessment
Assessment for the NPLQ takes place at the end of the course. It determines your knowledge and understanding of the principles of working as a pool lifeguard and assesses your ability to apply the skills and knowledge in a work-related environment.
The assessment is split into three sections:
Practical pool assessment
Theory Assessment for all 3 sections
Practical First Aid & CPR assessment
About the renewal
NPLQ renewal candidates may renew their qualification within the period of validity of their existing qualification as stated on their certificate. This will include a full assessment of lifeguard knowledge. Candidates must have access to the most up to date copy of ‘The Lifeguard’ manual prior to assessment.
The following is required to be completed by candidates prior to the renewal assessment of their qualification to demonstrate their ongoing professional competence:
20 hours Continued Professional Development within the last two years from the date of previous assessment covering content from the NPLQ syllabus:
In-water swimming pool rescue skills (at least 4 hrs)
CPR (at least 4 hrs)
First Aid (at least 4 hrs)
Lifeguard theory (at least 4 hours)
Continued Professional Development can be achieved by:
Attendance at Lifeguard ongoing training and competency assessment* (strongly recommended)
Attendance at alternative training, face-to-face or online, relating to In-water swimming pool rescue skills, CPR, First Aid and Lifeguard theory
We can provide ongoing lifeguard training at Boldon CA, it takes place on the first Thursday of every month, please contact us to arrange this.
NATIONAL VOCATIONAL BEACH LIFEGUARD QUALIFCATION
The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) has teamed up with Surf Life Saving Association (SLSA) Wales and Surf Life Saving (SLS) GB to develop a new national standard for beach lifeguarding called The National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ).
NVBLQ complies with the International Life Saving Federation beach competency framework. It is offered by all three organisations and is endorsed by the National Water Safety Forum and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). The NVBLQ will be recognised and promoted by RLSS UK, SLS GB, SLSA Wales as the national standard for vocational beach lifeguarding.
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The NVBLQ course is a minimum of 40 hours long followed by a practical assessment on beach theory, life support, first aid, swimming pool practical and open water practical.
Upon qualifying with the NVBLQ, the certificate is valid for two years from the date of successful completion.
Benefits
The NVBLQ is internationally recognised, so potential to work and travel
Work within a team
Great way for students to fund studies
Learn essential life skills, including First Aid and CPR
NVBLQ Course Pre-Requisites
Every candidate attending a NVBLQ course must:
Be 16-years-old or over at the time of the assessment
Have a good level of fitness
Surface dive to a depth of 1.5 metres
Tread water for two minutes
Climb out of deep water unaided and without steps
Be competent at swimming in the sea
Before the course, candidates must be able to swim at least 200 metres in a pool (of recommended length 25 metres, but no less than 20 metres) in five minutes or less
For the assessment, candidates must be able to swim 400 metres in a pool (recommended 25 metres, but no less than 20 metres) in eight minutes or less using a continuous front stroke and showing urgency
Course Content
The NVBLQ covers all elements of beach lifeguard theory, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, pool skills and open water skills. The course is physically demanding and will include swimming to set times and lifting. The NVBLQ is comprised of four modules and all must be successfully passed to attain the qualification.
Module 1 – Beach Lifeguarding – Knowledge and Understanding
Module 2 – Life Support and First Aid
Module 3– Ocean Skills
Module 4 – Pool Skills
Assessment
The NVBLQ assessment takes place at the end of the course. It determines your competence, skills and knowledge of working as a beach lifeguard and assesses your ability to apply the skills and knowledge in a beach environment.
The assessment is split into five elements:
Beach Lifeguard and First Aid Theory
Life Support and First Aid
First Aid Practical
Ocean Skills
Pool Skills
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Renewal
Beach Lifeguards may renew their qualification only within the validity of their existing qualification. Lifeguards are recommended to engage in continuous training to ensure they are ready for duty. We provide training throughout the year for our members.
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Courses
We usually run one course per year starting in February. Please message us for more information.
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OPEN WATER LIFEGUARD QUALIFICATION
The Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) Qualification was developed by the Royal Life Saving Society UK to address the role of open water lifeguards and the needs of open water operators. The OWL qualification can be used to supervise and provide rescue cover for planned, organised and risk assessed activities in still, non-tidal water.
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RLSS UK has also developed an Open Water Lifeguard ‘bolt-on’ Module, targeting qualified swimming pool lifeguards. The ‘bolt-on’ module equips lifeguards with both the knowledge and experience to supervise and provide rescue cover for planned, organised and risk assessed activities in still, non-tidal water. Note - the Open Water Lifeguard ‘bolt-on’ Module will only be available until the end of the 2019 open water season. Candidates that hold a current RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) can now attend a one-day RPL OWL qualification course and will be externally assessed, to gain a 2 year OWL qualification
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Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) Qualification
The Open Water Lifeguard qualification enables candidates with no previous lifeguard experience to become qualified. By attaining this qualification candidates will have been assessed as competent to provide supervision and rescue cover for planned, organised and risk-assessed activities in open water still, non-tidal.
The Open Water Lifeguard Qualification, delivered over three days, is valid for two years and is independently assessed. The candidate manual and trainer resources help the Open Water Lifeguard Trainer Assessor deliver through the three sections:
Section 1 - The Open Water Lifeguard, environment, hazards and supervision
Section 2 - Responding to an emergency and taking action
Section 3 - CPR and First Aid
New candidates: 18hrs + Assessment
Renewal candidates: 10hrs +
Assessment
Pre-requisites:
Must be 16 years of age at the date of assessment
Be able to meet the following criteria:
Confident in open water
Able to swim at least 400 metres in a pool/ open water swimming continuously on their front and showing urgency
Able to submerge under the water confidently
Must complete minimum guided learning hours
Successfully complete the course assessment
Current National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) holders can use RPL* from their NPLQ and attend a one-day RPL OWL qualification course, which will include an assessment by an OWL Assessor if successful they will be awarded an OWL qualification valid for 2 years.
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RPL Open Water Lifeguard Qualification
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the process of recognising a candidate’s previous achievement towards part of a qualification.
Candidates that hold a current RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) can attend a one-day RPL OWL qualification course and will be externally assessed. Once successfully obtained the OWL qualification can be used as a standalone qualification to supervise and provide rescue cover for planned, organised and risk assessed activities in still, non-tidal water.
Note, this course must only be delivered to current RLSS UK NPLQ holders only and should not include non-NPLQ candidates or a combination of the both.
The RPL Open Water Lifeguard Qualification, delivered over one day, is valid for two years and is independently assessed. The candidate manual and trainer resources help the Open Water Lifeguard Trainer Assessor deliver through the two sections:
Section 1 - The Open Water Lifeguard, environment, hazards and supervision
Section 2 - Responding to an emergency and taking action
RPL New candidates: 7hrs + Assessment
Pre-requisites:
Must hold a current RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ).
Be able to meet the following criteria:
Confident in open water
Able to swim at least 400 metres in a pool/ open water swimming continuously on their front and showing urgency
Able to submerge under the water confidently
Must complete minimum guided learning hours
Successfully complete the course assessment
Open Water Lifeguard ‘bolt-on’ Module
The Open Water Lifeguard ‘bolt-on’ module allows all pool lifeguards who hold the RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) to develop their skills and knowledge to lifeguard open water.
The ‘bolt-on’ module will bridge the gap and equips lifeguards with both the knowledge and experience to keep people safe in open water. This bolt-on will only provide an OWL module whilst their NPLQ is valid.
The module is delivered over 1 day at an open water venue and is split into the following:
Section 1 - Open Water Hazards
Section 2 - Lifeguarding an Open Water Site
Section 3 - Practical in-water training
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New candidates – 6hrs minimum (including continuous assessment)
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Pre-requisites:
Must hold a current RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ).
Be able to meet the following criteria.
Candidates should be able to complete a continuous swim of at least 400 metres in a pool.
Candidates should be able to dive to a depth of up to two metres without danger to their hearing
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Courses
We run OWL courses annually to coincide with our annual summer camp. Please contact for more information.
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