Train to be a Lifeguard

Training to be a lifeguard is an excellent career choice no matter what stage of life you're in (e.g. student, new parent, over fifty, etc).

Lifeguarding offers you:

Flexible work - full-time, part-time, or casual-hour positions are available, making it a great job for those studying and/or working around family commitments.
Demonstrates responsibility and leadership skills, so this is a great stepping stone to other career opportunities.
Job opportunities are available in various locations and industries across the UK and Ireland (e.g. working at university), and internationally (e.g., through programmes such as Camp America or the Travel industry).

The Different Lifeguarding Environments

Lifeguards help keep people safe near and while they're enjoying water environments. Therefore, lifeguarding jobs are available in various locations across the UK and Ireland such as:

Pool lifeguard stood next to an outdoor swimming pool holding a torpedo buoy

RLSS UK Lifeguard Courses - The Leisure Industry's Favourite Lifeguarding Qualifications!

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) offers the leading lifeguard qualifications, with most UK pool lifeguards certified through an RLSS UK lifeguard course. Three lifeguard certifications are available depending on the environment(s) you'd like to work in: pool lifeguard, beach lifeguard, or open water lifeguard training.

Find out more about each RLSS UK Lifeguard Qualification:

Pool lifeguard overlooking a swimming pool

Lifeguarding as a Rewarding Career...

"Watching the pool ensuring everyone is safe and enjoying their swim, watching the children in their swimming lessons with their smiles on their faces achieving their goals and watching them grow in confidence each week, is very enjoyable. It's not just a job!" Louise Francis-Clarke

RLSS UK Trainer Assessor teaching lifeguards CPR on a manikin next to a swimming pool

"The magic feeling that surrounds you after saving someone's life. That heartfelt, bright smile on their faces leaves panic and fear behind. Lifeguarding has changed many people's lives, and I believe it can change the world." Zoe Themistoklea

Lifeguard diving to pick up a rescue manikin

"No two days are the same: you can have days with very little going on and days where you are constantly in and out of the water helping keep the customers safe." Karen Massetti

Common Questions About Training to be a Lifeguard:

How old do you have to be to be a lifeguard?
To qualify as a lifeguard, you must be sixteen or older when taking your course's final assessment.

How long does it take to become a qualified lifeguard?
Lifeguard course duration varies depending on the qualification needed:

National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) = 36 hours plus assessment
National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ) = 40 hours plus assessment
Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) Qualification = 18 hours plus assessment

Courses can be run over consecutive days or several weeks (e.g. weekends).

How much do lifeguards get paid?
A lifeguard's salary depends on various factors, such as experience, age, duties, employer, lifeguarding environment, and qualifications held.

How much does it cost to become a lifeguard?
The cost of lifeguard qualifications varies, depending on the qualification(s) needed and any other qualifications employers require (e.g. first aid). Some employers expect candidates to be qualified before applying for a lifeguarding position, whereas others will help candidates become qualified after employment.

What does a lifeguard do?
A lifeguard's duties will vary depending on the environment and facilities but, as standard, will include the following:

Make sure the swimming environment is safe, clean and tidy.
Make sure that swimmers follow safety rules in and around the water.
Provide emergency rescue, first aid, and CPR to swimmers in danger or hurt.
Provide customer service to swimmers so that they have an enjoyable experience.

What qualifications do you need to be a lifeguard?
The qualifications needed to be a lifeguard will depend on the environment you will be lifeguarding (pool, beach, and/or open water) and the employer's requirements.

How do you get a lifeguard qualification?
RLSS UK is the leading lifeguarding qualification awarding organisation in the UK and Ireland. You can find and book onto RLSS UK lifeguard courses all year round.

Find a Lifeguard Course

If you have further questions, contact the RLSS UK Customer Services team on the telephone at 0300 323 0096 or by emailing [email protected].

What are the Career Pathways for Lifeguards?

The skills learned and developed during RLSS UK lifeguard courses can be widely transferred to various careers. Our campaign #IStartedAsALifeguard shares the career path stories of various individuals who started their careers as lifeguards.

Here are a few examples to showcase the variety of careers others have used lifeguarding to get into: