If you are wondering how long it might take to become a certified swim instructor in Canada, you will need to consider several factors. For example, the type of certifications and courses you want to undertake, the governing bodies for competitive swimming in Canada, and whether you already have some years of swimming experience. A person who has been involved in swimming for a few years may be able to work faster as a swimming instructor or coach, as they are even more familiar with the environment and the job opportunities. Please find out more about how long it can take to become a professional swim teacher, depending on the different types of certifications and job positions.
Swimming teacher
The National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) provides standardized sports education to coaches and instructors across 65 sports. The NCCP gives swimming teachers and coaches the training to work as swim instructors in Canada. If you are training to become a swimming teacher through the Lifesaving Instructor NCCP, you must complete the 3.5-hour Make Ethical Decisions workshop and the Online Evaluation, which is 45-60 minutes long. In this case, without considering the hours, you have to invest in preparing for it.
Community sports coach
If you are interested in completing the Community Sport Coach course from The National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), the workshop duration is usually eight hours and includes both classroom work and pool sessions. Also, for this position, you must complete the Making Ethical Decisions training, which is 45-60 minutes long.
Fundamentals coach - Level 1
To obtain the Fundamentals coach - Level 1, first, you need to submit the Swimming 101 pre-course workbook. Step 2 is completing the 16 hours Swimming 101 Course. Then, even if it's not mandatory, we recommend you complete the Make Ethical Decisions Training Course, the Fundamentals Coach Portfolio, and the Make Ethical Decisions Online Evaluation, which is 45-60 minutes long. The Fundamentals level must be completed and submitted within three months.
Age group Coach - Level 2
To obtain the Age group Coach - Level 2, you must consider seven basic steps. First, you must complete a Pre-course Training in Multi-Sport Modules and the Swimming 201 Pre-Course Online Workbook to get into the "In-Training" category. Once you are here, you can complete the 20 hours Swimming 201 Course and the Make Ethical Decisions (MED) Training Course, which is also optional. After acquiring these, you will get the age Group Coach "Trained." Then, after getting this status, you must complete the Age Group Coach Portfolio, the Evaluation at a Competition (between 40 and 60 minutes), and the Make Ethical Decisions Online Evaluation, which is 45-60 minutes long. Et voila! After this, you will get the Age Group Coach "Certified." The portfolio for the Age Group Coach must be completed and submitted within six months.
Senior coach - Level 3
But that's not the end of it. To get the Senior coach Level 3, you need to focus on the Pre-course Training, which involves Multi-Sport Modules and Swimming 301 Online Workbook. After completing this, you can look to meet the Swimming 301 Course, which lasts 28-32 hours, and the Making Ethical Decisions evaluation. After completing these evaluations, you can consider pursuing the Senior Coach "trained" status, which involves the Senior Coach Portfolio A, the Senior Coach Portfolio B, the practice evaluation, the Senior Coach Portfolio C, and the Evaluation at a competition. And lastly, you will get the Senior Coach "Certified" by completing the Make Ethical Decisions Online Evaluation. The Senior Coach Level 3 will have six months to complete.
Maintenance of training and certification
Governing bodies for competitive swimming in Canada, such as Swimming Canada and the Coaching Association of Canada, are in charge of putting the efforts to recognize trained and certified NCCP coaches engaged in their professional development. These professionals must obtain PD points in 5 years to maintain their certifications.
So here, we have already covered the certifications that involve the NCCP, but what about other certifications?
Lifesaving Society Bronze Medallion
The Bronze Medallion is one of Canada's most recognized lifeguarding certifications and lasts 15 hours. This will be valid for 24 months from the certification date.
Lifesaving Society Bronze Cross
The Lifesaving Society's Bronze Cross helps swim coaches gain lifeguarding skills, it takes 20 hours to get, and it is "current" for 24 months from the certification date.
National Lifeguard Course
National Lifeguard is the country's only nationally recognized lifeguard certification program. This course is 44 hours long, and it will be current for two years.
Standard First Aid
Standard First Aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) take 14 hours to be completed. The certification is valid for 36 months from the certification date.
Red Cross Water Safety Instructor
Upon successful completion, candidates are certified for two years as a WSI, which allows them to teach without supervision. The skills evaluation of the Red Cross Water Safety Instructor is divided into various components:
- The course lasts up to six hours,
- the online module lasts up to 20 hours,
- the teaching experience module lasts a minimum of eight hours,
- And the classroom and pool modules last up to nine and twelve hours, respectively.
If you are interested in knowing related Careers for Swimming instructors in Canada, you will find everything you need here!
Is being a swim instructor worth it?
Becoming a swimming teacher will always be worthwhile if it is what you like and if it is where you see yourself developing professionally. We can't give you a concrete answer to this question. However, you can ask yourself these to see if being a swimming instructor or coach a possible career path for you:
- Do you have enough swimming expertise?
- Do you consider yourself patient and perseverant?
- Are you an organized person?
- Do you consider yourself a good leader?
- What about group management?
- Are you able to stay calm during emergencies?
- Do you know aquatic safety, survival, and rescue skills?
If you are interested in knowing how much you can earn as a swimming instructor in Canada, you can go directly to our article to get more specific information.
What qualifications do I need to teach swimming?
If you are interested in working as a swimming instructor in Canada, you will find different certificates and courses that will upgrade your professional profile. Not only that, you will be able to provide your trainees with the necessary experience, confidence, and safety.
Remember that swimming is an excellent exercise and sport but can also be dangerous. A certified and experienced professional is crucial in helping swimmers get the most out of their training while ensuring safety when training in the water.
Get the know the most popular qualifications swimming instructor in Canada:
- The Water Safety Instructor (WSI)
- A National Lifeguard certification
- The Standard First Aid
- A valid Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certification from an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) provider
- The NCCP Swimming Teacher Certifications
- The Lifesaving Society Bronze Medallion
- The Lifesaving Society Bronze Cross
- The Red Cross Water Safety Instructor
Even if it is optional to be certified as a swimming instructor in Canada, you must be qualified to teach the proper techniques to help your trainees improve their swimming abilities, accomplish their goals, and keep them far from danger.
How do I become a swimming instructor in Ontario?
If you are interested in becoming a swim instructor or lifeguard in Ontario, or another Canadian province, it would be best for you to get certified as a swim and lifesaving instructor by completing the following certifications:
- Standard First Aid with CPR-C (SFA) or Emergency First Aid with CPR-B (EFA): This course provides CPR skills addressing adults and children and involves the importance of an automated external defibrillator AED.
- The Lifesaving Society Bronze Medallion
- The Lifesaving Society Bronze Cross
What skills do you need to work as a swimming instructor? Find everything you are looking for here!
How old do you have to be to be a lifeguard in Canada?
To work as a lifeguard and as a swimming instructor you must prove that you are at least 15 years old. Also, most of the certifications addressed for lifeguards and swimming instructors require this minimum age as a prerequisite, and other requirements like the Bronze Cross and Lifesaving Society Standard First Aid or Standard First Aid from one of these approved agencies.
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