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NATIONAL VOCATIONAL BEACH LIFEGUARD QUALIFICATION

National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification - RLSS Lifesaving Society UK logo
Beach Lifeguard patrolling the beach
Beach Lifeguard watching for trouble
Beach Lifeguard in action

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) has teamed up with Surf Life Saving Association (SLSA) Wales and Surf Life Saving (SLS) GB to develop a new national standard for beach lifeguarding called The National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ).

 

NVBLQ complies with the International Life Saving Federation beach competency framework. It is offered by all three organisations and is endorsed by the National Water Safety Forum and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). The NVBLQ will be recognised and promoted by RLSS UK, SLS GB, SLSA Wales as the national standard for vocational beach lifeguarding.

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The NVBLQ course is a minimum of 40 hours long followed by a practical assessment on beach theory, life support, first aid, swimming pool practical and open water practical.

Upon qualifying with the NVBLQ, the certificate is valid for two years from the date of successful completion.

 

Benefits

  • The NVBLQ is internationally recognised, so potential to work and travel

  • Work within a team

  • Great way for students to fund studies

  • Learn essential life skills, including First Aid and CPR

 

NVBLQ Course Pre-Requisites

Every candidate attending a NVBLQ course must:

  • Be 16-years-old or over at the time of the assessment

  • Have a good level of fitness

  • Surface dive to a depth of 1.5 metres

  • Tread water for two minutes

  • Climb out of deep water unaided and without steps

  • Be competent at swimming in the sea

  • Before the course, candidates must be able to swim at least 200 metres in a pool (of recommended length 25 metres, but no less than 20 metres) in five minutes or less

  • For the assessment, candidates must be able to swim 400 metres in a pool (recommended 25 metres, but no less than 20 metres) in eight minutes or less using a continuous front stroke and showing urgency

 

Course Content

The NVBLQ covers all elements of beach lifeguard theory, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, pool skills and open water skills. The course is physically demanding and will include swimming to set times and lifting. The NVBLQ is comprised of four modules and all must be successfully passed to attain the qualification.

  • Module 1 – Beach Lifeguarding – Knowledge and Understanding

  • Module 2 – Life Support and First Aid

  • Module 3– Ocean Skills

  • Module 4 – Pool Skills

 

Assessment

The NVBLQ assessment takes place at the end of the course. It determines your competence, skills and knowledge of working as a beach lifeguard and assesses your ability to apply the skills and knowledge in a beach environment.

The assessment is split into five elements:

  • Beach Lifeguard and First Aid Theory

  • Life Support and First Aid

  • First Aid Practical

  • Ocean Skills

  • Pool Skills

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Renewal

Beach Lifeguards may renew their qualification only within the validity of their existing qualification. Lifeguards are recommended to engage in continuous training to ensure they are ready for duty. We provide training throughout the year for our members. 

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Courses

We usually run one course per year starting in February.

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