Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) Qualification Open water swimming is one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK. The Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) qualification has been designed to equip open water lifeguards with the skills required to supervise and provide rescue cover for planned, organised, and risk-assessed activities in still, non-tidal water. The RLSS UK Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) qualification is unsuitable for moving water environments. Skip to a specific section to learn more about the Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) qualification: About the Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) Qualification Download and Print the Fact Sheet Prerequisites to do an OWL Course Who is the Course Recommended for? Course Content Assessment Criteria Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) Renewal Process How to Book a Course Interested in Becoming an RLSS UK Trainer Assessor? About the Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) Qualification The Open Water Lifeguard qualification equips lifeguards with the skills to supervise and provide rescue cover for planned, organised, and risk-assured activities in still, non-tidal water. The OWL course is delivered over a minimum of 3 days and covers a range of CPR, first aid, and open water skills. The OWL course is at least 18 hours long and followed by a practical and theory assessment. The OWL qualification is a non-regulated. Upon qualifying with the Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) qualification, the certificate is valid for 2 years from the date of successful completion. Find an OWL course near you Download and print the Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) qualification fact sheet using the button below. Prerequisites to do an OWL Course Every candidate attending an Open Water Lifeguard course must: Be 16 years old or over at the time of assessment. Be competent and confident in jumping and diving into deep open water. Before the course, candidates must be able to swim at least 400 metres in a pool/open water, swimming continuously on their front and showing urgency. Be able to submerge under the water confidently. No prior first aid knowledge is required. Who is the Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) Qualification Recommended for? The OWL qualification is recommended for anyone who wants to become an open water lifeguard in the UK and Ireland. OWL Course Content The Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) qualification enables candidates with no previous lifeguard experience to become qualified. By attaining this qualification, candidates will have been assessed as competent to provide supervision and rescue cover for planned, organised, and risk-assessed activities in open water that are still, non-tidal. The candidate manual and trainer resources help the Open Water Lifeguard Trainer Assessor deliver through the 3 sections: Section 1 - The Open Water Lifeguard, environment, hazards and supervision Section 2 - Responding to an emergency and taking action Section 3 - CPR and first aid New candidates: 18 hours + assessmentRenewal candidates: 10 hours + assessment OWL Assessment Criteria The OWL assessment takes place at the end of the course. It determines your competence, skills and knowledge of working as an open water lifeguard and assesses your ability to apply them in an open water environment. The assessment is split into 4 elements and includes both theory and practical assessment methods: Open Water Lifeguard Theory Life Support and First Aid Theory First Aid Practical Open Water Skills Practical OWL Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the process of recognising a candidate's previous achievement towards part of a qualification. In some circumstances, candidates may be able to show evidence of prior achievement to exempt themselves from a section of the OWL course. Exceptions may apply to holders of the following awards and qualifications (guided time credits are shown in brackets): Current RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) [11 hours] Current Emergency First Aid at Work Certificate [4 hours] Current First Aid at Work Certificate or Occupational First Aid Certificate [4 hours] Current RLSS UK National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ) [Assessment only] Candidates who wish to claim a training exemption must provide the course trainer with their original qualifications before the start of the course. A maximum of 11 hours of accreditation for prior learning may be claimed. Renewal Process for an OWL Certificate An RLSS UK OWL certificate is valid for 2 years from the qualification date. Candidates are expected to renew their certificate within the period of validity and be able to demonstrate that they have been involved in regular ongoing in-service training. For more information on renewing an OWL qualification, visit www.rlss.org.uk/owl-renewal-information. How to Book an OWL Course RLSS UK OWL courses are delivered by RLSS UK Approved Training Centres (ATCs) or Approved Training Providers (ATPs). ATCs and ATPs across the UK and Ireland regularly run open water lifeguard qualifications. Find an OWL course near you Interested in Becoming an RLSS UK Trainer Assessor? RLSS UK Trainer Assessors (TA) deliver RLSS UK qualifications at Approved Training Centres (ATCs) or Approved Training Providers (ATPs). If you are interested in becoming an ATP or a Trainer Assessor at an ATC, please visit our Become a Trainer Assessor page to learn more about the prerequisites and how to apply. RLSS UK's Lifeguarding Qualifications: National Pool Lifeguarding Qualification (NPLQ)* National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ) International Lifeguarding Qualifications (ILS Certificate) *is used to highlight regulated qualifications. Manage Cookie Preferences