Man wearing lifeguard t-shirt sitting by pool, blowing a whistle

The National Pool Lifeguard course (NPLQ) offered by the Royal Lifesaving Society (RLSS) is suitable if you are aged 16 and over and would like to gain a qualification in order to work as a lifeguard. 

To complete the course and become a lifeguard, you must be able to: 

  • jump or dive into deep water 
  • swim 50m in less than 60 seconds  
  • swim 100m continuously on front and back in deep water 
  • tread water for 30 seconds 
  • surface dive to the floor of the pool 
  • climb out unaided without ladder/steps and where the pool design permits 

The week-long course will have both practical and theoretical elements.

At Riverside Leisure Centre we are also offering the Emergency First Aid at Work course (EFAW), also by the RLSS, with some National Pool Lifeguard courses.

Riverside Leisure Centre

Dates

  • Sunday 30 July to Friday 4 August 2023
  • Sunday 13 to Friday 18 August 2023 (National Pool Lifeguard Qualification only)
  • Sunday 22 to Friday 27 October 2023

Prices

  • £302 for National Pool Lifeguard Qualification and Emergency First Aid at Work
  • £280 for National Pool Lifeguard Qualification only

South Woodham Ferrers Leisure Centre

  • Dates: Sunday 23 to Friday 28 July 2023
  • Price: £280

For a course at Riverside, please email Julia.Freeman@chelmsford.gov.uk.

For a course at SWFLC, please complete your application through RLSS's website.

You will have to create an account with RLSS to do this.

You can find out more about the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification.

You can find out if there are currently any lifeguard vacancies at Riverside or South Woodham Ferrers Leisure Centre.

Lockers and changing rooms

  • If you want to use a locker, you will need a £1 coin to release the key. You will get the £1 back when you return the key. 
  • There are individual changing cubicles as well as group female and group male changing areas available.

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