National Lifeguard
MINIMUM TIME REQUIRED
- 40 hours for the pool option (excluding final evaluation)
- 20 hours for the other options (if the candidate holds a National Lifeguard – Pool award)
PREREQUISITES
- To be at least 15 years old at the final evaluation
- To hold a Bronze Cross award
- To hold a Standard First Aid/AED or an Aquatic Emergency Care/AED award
- For the Waterpark option: to hold a National Lifeguard – Pool award
- For the Surf option: to hold a National Lifeguard – Waterfront award
AWARD VALIDITY
- Valid for 2 years if used as work permit
NEXT LEVEL
The National Lifeguard award is a national performance standard and the only award recognized throughout Canada that allows its holder to work as a lifeguard anywhere in the country. The course has been developed to better understand lifeguarding principles and develop good judgment and a responsible attitude regarding the lifeguard’s responsibilities in an aquatic facility. You can specialize in the following four options: pool, waterpark, waterfront and surf.
Holders of a National Lifeguard award are entitled to work as lifeguards as soon as they reach 16 years old.
DID YOU FAIL YOUR EXAM?
Following the failure of one or more components of the National Lifeguard initial certification (Pool or Waterfront option), candidates may be eligible to participate in a re-examination.
During this re-examination, all components of the National Lifeguard course will be reassessed by a National Lifeguard Instructor. Candidates are encouraged to attend a few hours of the final course session prior to the exam they will join, in order to practice. It is also important to review and practice the components that were previously failed to ensure full preparedness.
A re-examination consists of a complete evaluation of all National Lifeguard course components, including theoretical knowledge, physical skills, and rescue scenarios (even if these were previously completed during the course). You must provide a copy of your Bronze Cross and Standard First Aid certifications, as well as a copy of your failure report, to establish eligibility for the re-examination.
You must then submit an official request to the Lifesaving Society to confirm your participation in a re-examination. Once your participation has been approved, the next step is to find a date to complete the re-examination. You may use the course search tool on our website to find upcoming National Lifeguard courses or recertifications. You must contact the aquatic supervisor before registering to ensure approval of your re-examination request and to confirm that the instructor has all necessary information to conduct a compliant evaluation. Since this assessment takes longer than a standard exam, additional time must be scheduled with the instructor.
Once the date and location are confirmed, you must contact us again for final approval.
POOL
Having a National Lifeguard – Pool award allows you to assume a lot more responsibilities when supervising an installation. This means you will have a lot more choice when choosing where to work. This option is the one chosen by most lifeguards.
WATERPARK
You need more action? Waterparks are extremely diversified environments where lifeguards must work with each attraction’s distinctive features, as well as general characteristics such as slippery surfaces, crowded structures and water flow. All these elements need to be taken into account during supervision, since they considerably increase risks; the amount of rescues performed in waterparks is significantly higher than in other aquatic environments.
WATERFRONT
Ever thought about working on a lake or a river’s beach? With this award, you will be ready to face environments that are greatly affected by nature, and know how to intervene in an emergency situation. As a waterfront National Lifeguard, you will also know how to deal with specific issues such as currents, sand, unsteady depths and water opacity, and use specialized lifesaving tools like rescue tubes and rescue boards.
SURF
This is just the award you need if you’re more interested in working by the sea or by the ocean. How about following an incredible training in an exciting environment, such as Carleton in the Gaspé Peninsula, Cape Hatteras or Hawaii in the United States, or in Costa Rica? With a National Lifeguard – Surf award, you will be able to assess issues that arise from the presence of specific elements such as strong currents, tides, waves, unsteady depths, sand and underwater obstacles. This environment’s distinctive features also mean that physical fitness requirements are higher; if you crave challenges, don’t hesitate!