Yes, provided that the trainer is also an HSE approved FAW Trainer. The NPLQ syllabus incorporates sufficient material to cover the syllabus for the Emergency Aid Certificate. A full HSE First Aid at Work Certificate can be included within the programme but this will extend the course. Full details are available by contacting IQL UK Ltd.

Yes, but you must be 16 years of age at the time of the assessment.

Yes - contact River House and ask for NPLQ processing on 01789 774206 / 208. There is a small admin fee of £9.50 per duplicate certificate. Payment can be made via cheque or over the phone using recognised credit or debit cards.

Yes, but only during training not in the assessment.

A lifeguard should have a good level of physical fitness. A lifeguards level of hearing and vision should be appropriate to the environment in which they are working. For further details see IQLs Equal Opportunities Policy.

No, BUT where a lifeguard is re-assessed in a deeper pool, the outcome should be recorded within the candidate's log book and within the training records of the ATC.

Unfortunately we are not able to give extensions to any qualifications.

Unfortunately no, the NPLQ does not include much of the preparation needed for open water work (e.g. water safety, survival in water). The candidate will have to complete or previously held a Bronze Medallion before the open water element however we would accept a current NPLQ instead of a life support award.

No

Membership and the benefits of membership, which include insurance, are not linked to gaining an NPLQ qualification. To join RLSS UK as a member please visit the membership section of our website.

Element 3.6 of the Code of Practice - Appointment of Assessors should cover all lifesaving and lifeguarding awards.

Unfortunately RLSS UK is unable to transfer any qualification over to the NPLQ without attendance at a course. We advise you to find out where any courses are within your area (either on the courses page of our web site www.rlsscourses.org.uk or ask at your local swimming pool).

All elements of the NPLQ assessment must be successfully completed within a 28 day period.

The RLSS UK Lifeguard manual states that "No one on duty at the poolside for a long time can be expected to remain alert." RLSS UK recommends that you spend no longer than 60 minutes at the poolside and in exceptional circumstances, no longer than 90 minutes in the pool hall itself." However it would also be the decision of the pool operator based on a full and thorough risk assessment process to decide how long someone should spend on poolside.

This has to be decided by the individual training organisation to risk assess the amount of candidates that can attend. It will be different dependent upon the amount of equipment, size of room and other trainers available (i.e. First Aid at Work Trainer Assessor).

The best advice we can give you is to see your GP and give them a copy of the Personal Performance Record and Assessment Matrix off our web site. Your GP will then be able to use these to make the required assessment. The Personnel section of the council you are planning to work for would also be able to give you further advice.

Many of the skills are transferable but not all of them (i.e. the CPR and First Aid sections are generally the same) however many of the other skills are completely different. The best advice I can give you is to download the NBLQ syllabus and find out what sessions they will need to attend.

When they return back from maternity leave, you can put them through a competence based assessment to see if they need any training. If this has been completed by an NPLQ Trainer Assessor (TA) then this training can be added to their training over the past 2 years. Once they are competent and have at least 36 hours of training by an NPLQ TA at an Approved Training Centre then they can be presented for assessment in the usual way. The details will have to be entered on a white new candidate form before being sent to RLSS UK for processing.

Contact Sarah Hiden or Alex Blackwell on 01789 773994 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The best advice I can give you is to contact an employer in America and they will be able to let you know if they will accept our NPLQ or you will have to attend a short course to gain their qualification. If you currently hold an NPLQ qualification and you are seeking to work as a lifeguard outside of the UK then you can apply for an international certificate. In order to apply for your international certificate please complete the attached form and send this back to IQL

It is not illegal to work as a lifeguard without insurance; however, we would strongly advise that you or the organisation that you work for have some form of insurance in place.

The NPLQ has been designed to meet the requirements set out in the HSE publication "Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools" (the leisure industry guidance for pool safety) but it would be the decision of the operator to decide to accept any qualification (through the risk assessment process) or any potential lifeguard. The NPLQ is regarded as the gold standard in terms of UK lifeguarding qualifications and is recognised internationally.

Can I use my Lifeguard qualification from abroad in the UK?

The responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of both employees and members of the public in swimming pools in the UK is that of the employer, the pool operator. It is set out in the Health and Safety at Work, etc., Act 1974. This includes the decision on whom to employ as a pool lifeguard. Pool operators rely upon the guidance published by the Health and Safety Executive [HSE], in fulfilling this responsibility. That guidance is contained in a publication, "Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools" [2003], which has a specification for a pool lifeguarding qualification. It is the pool operator who decides if a particular qualification meets that specification.

RLSS UK, through IQL (its specialist pool lifeguarding body), provides a pool lifeguarding qualification, the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification [NPLQ], which meets the specification in the above HSE publication. We recommend that qualification to pool operators. We are unable to evaluate other qualifications.

If you want the extra depth on your certificate then you will need to complete another assessment, however most employers will accept an assessment from a suitably qualified and competent Trainer Assessor for the extra depth completed and recorded within the site training records.

No, to requalify you will need to re attend the last 3 days of Pool Lifeguard Trainer Assessor course. Please see www.rlsscourse.org.uk for courses within your area.

As he holds an NPLQ then he does have a supervision qualification however we would recommend that he has insurance in place and a full and thorough risk assessment of the premises has been undertaken.

They can be assessed on the day they expire and even if the assessment forms don’t get out to you as long as the assessment criteria has been met then the assessment can go ahead without the assessment forms. Once you receive the forms then you will have to arrange for the assessor to sign the forms after the assessment.

The RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification is valid for 2 years from the date of assessment.

A new candidate is 36 hours and for a renewal candidate a minimum of 20 hours training is required. 'Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools' (HSE) provides more general guidance on lifeguard training and competency assessment. For those that have completed other RLSS UK awards like the National Beach Lifeguard Qualifications a maximum of 12 hours can be accredited towards the training time.

Both these documents are available from our download area.

Lifesavers Direct would be able to supply you with all of the relevant information. Please visit www.lifesaversdirect.co.uk

Unfortunately you will need to hold a current NPLQ to qualify for the reduction in training hours. If you have 36 hours of 8th Edition NPLQ training completed over the previous 2 years with an NPLQ Trainer Assessor (TA) and can show an appropriate level of competency then the TA can present you for assessment. Once you have successfully completed all sections of the assessment then your details will need to be entered on to a white new candidate form before being sent to RLSS UK for processing.