Become a Rookie Lifeguard Instructor RLSS UK's Rookie Lifeguard programmes offer a fun and exciting way to teach children valuable basic rescue and lifesaving skills. As a Rookie Lifeguard Instructor, you can feel empowered knowing that you teach children how to save themselves and others if they get into trouble in water and help them gain confidence and personal development skills. Leisure centres, lifesaving or surf clubs, and swim schools can run the Rookie Lifeguard programmes as stand-alone programmes or as part of school swimming lessons. Skip to a specific programme to learn how to become a Rookie Instructor: Pool Beach Rescue Skills Rookie Lifeguard Instructor FAQs Become a Rookie Lifeguard Pool Instructor There are three routes to become a Rookie Lifeguard Pool Instructor: Route 1) You are an existing RLSS UK Trainer Assessor (TA) or Instructor. Route 2) You are a qualified Swimming Teacher with a lifesaving or lifeguarding qualification. Route 3) You do not meet any of the other requirements listed. Route 1) You are an existing RLSS UK Trainer Assessor (TA) or Instructor: To complete this route to become a Rookie Lifeguard Pool Instructor, you must be a current member of the RLSS UK and hold one of the following Trainer Assessor (TA) or Instructor qualifications: National Pool Lifeguard Qualification Trainer Assessor (NPLQ TA) National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification Trainer Assessor (NVBLQ TA) National Water Safety Management Programme (NWSMP) Instructor National Lifesaving Academy (NLA) Instructor OR a higher RLSS UK qualification or award. If you hold these prerequisites, you can easily upskill to become a Rookie Lifeguard Instructor via an Opportunity within the Online Learning section of your RLSS UK Account. Login to your RLSS UK Account How to view available Updates and Opportunities Route 2) You are a qualified Swimming Teach with a lifesaving or lifeguard qualification: To complete this route to become a Rookie Lifeguard Pool Instructor, you must hold one of the following Swimming Teacher and lifesaving qualifications: Swimming Teacher Qualifications: You must also hold or have held one of the following lifesaving awards or qualifications: Swim England Level 2 Swimming Teacher* Swim Ireland Level 2 Swimming Teacher Scottish Swimming Teacher Qualification (SSTQ)* TLEQ Level 2 Swimming Teacher* Swim Teacher Level 2 STA Level 2 Award and Certificate in Teaching Swimming Sports Coach (Any organisation) Award in Education and Training (AET) Level 3 Qualification (or higher) School Teacher (Fully Qualified) Irish Water Safety Instructor SLS Wales Training Assessor SLS GB Training Assessor STA Lifesaving Tutor STA Aquatic Tutor *If you hold a Swim England, Swim Ireland or TLE Level 2 Swimming Teachers qualification or a Scottish Swimming Teacher Qualification (SSTQ), you are eligible for the discounted rate of £10 for the Rookie Lifeguard Pool Instructor application. For other qualification holders, the cost is only £15. Lifesaving Awards and Qualifications: You must also hold one of the following lifesaving awards or qualifications: RLSS UK National Lifesaving Academy Bronze Star or Bronze Medallion RLSS UK Survive & Save Bronze, Silver or Gold Award RLSS UK Heritage Bronze Medallion, Award of Merit, Bronze Cross, Silver Cross, or Distinction. RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) RLSS UK Swimming Pool Emergency Rescue Award RLSS UK Emergency Response Pool (ER Pool) RLSS UK National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches (NRASTC) RLSS UK National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches LIGHT (NRASTC LIGHT) STA Safety Award for Teachers To apply to become a Rookie Lifeguard Pool Instructor, create or login to your RLSS UK Account and visit the 'Applications/Forms' section. Create an RLSS UK Account Login to your RLSS UK Account How to view and complete Instructor/Trainer applications Route 3) You do not meet any of the other requirements listed: If you don't meet the requirements, you can become a Rookie Lifeguard Pool Instructor by attending a Rookie Lifeguard Pool Instructor one-day course. You can find a course near you on RLSS UK Course Finder or speak to your ATC/P Coordinator to ask if one is running or can be arranged. Rookie Lifeguard Pool Instructor courses can be delivered by: National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) or National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ) Trainer Assessor (TAs) that also hold the Rookie Lifeguard Instructor status. National Lifesaving Academy (NLA) Tutors and Mentors that also hold the Rookie Lifeguard Instructor status. Find a Rookie Lifeguard Instructor course near you Become a Rookie Lifeguard Beach Instructor To become a Rookie Lifeguard Beach Instructor, you must: Be 18 years old or over. Have completed the Rookie Lifeguard Beach Instructor Endorsement (within your RLSS UK Account). To have access to the endorsement, you need to hold RLSS UK Membership Hold a current Life Support 3 (or equivalent) AND hold a current and valid qualification from the following: National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ) National Water Safety Management Programme (NWSMP) Coastal Waterways qualification OR be an RLSS UK Trainer Assessor (TA) with NVBLQ or NWSMP specialism. Upon successfully completing the Rookie Lifeguard Beach Instructor Endorsement, you can access an online copy of the Rookie Lifeguard Beach Programme Instructor Manual within your RLSS UK Account. The manual will help you plan your Rookie Lifeguard Beach programme activities. Login to your RLSS UK Account Become a Rookie Rescue Skills Instructor To become a Rookie Rescue Skills Instructor, you must: Be an existing Rookie Lifeguard Pool Instructor. Have completed the Rookie Rescue Skills Programme Opportunity (within your RLSS UK Account). Upon successfully completing the Rookie Rescue Skills Instructor Opportunity, you can access an online copy of the Rookie Rescue Skills Instructor Guide within your RLSS UK Account. The guide will help you start planning your Rookie Lifeguard Rescue Skills programme activities. Login to your RLSS UK Account Rookie Lifeguard Instructor FAQs Further to the information on this page, we have answered the most frequently asked questions about becoming or being a Rookie Lifeguard Instructor on our Rookie Lifeguard FAQs page. Visit the Rookie Lifeguard FAQs page Manage Cookie Preferences