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Lifeguards monitor leisure pools and beaches to keep swimmers safe and respond to emergencies.
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on a rota
As a pool or beach lifeguard, you would:
As a pool lifeguard, you would also:
As a beach lifeguard you could:
You could work at a fitness centre.
Your working environment may be humid and outdoors some of the time.
You can get into this job through:
You can apply to do a Leisure Team Member Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, through your place of work.
As part of this apprenticeship, you will gain a first aid certificate along with a lifeguarding qualification.
You may be able to work as a leisure centre pool attendant or assistant, and complete lifeguard qualifications on the job.
You can qualify as a lifeguard by taking one of the following courses:
To be a beach lifeguard, you'll need to complete the National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ).
You can take a qualification by:
You can also apply to train with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
You'll need to:
Lifeguards often work part time and are paid by the hour. Rates can vary between £10 and £14 an hour.
You can find out more about training to be a pool or beach lifeguard from:Surf Life Saving GB; Royal Life Saving Society UK; Swimming Teachers' Association
You could complete the National Pool Management Qualification to become a pool manager, or to take up a wider management position in a leisure centre.
You could take further training to become a:lifeguard mentor or instructor; swimming teacher; safety instructor for beach activities, like paddleboarding and surfing, and operating motorised craft, like jet skis
There are also opportunities to get qualified in pool plant operation and maintenance, with responsibility for water testing and pool safety.