You can apply to do a Leisure Team Member Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, through your place of work.

As part of this apprenticeship, you will gain a first aid certificate along with a lifeguarding qualification.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

You may be able to work as a leisure centre pool attendant or assistant, and complete lifeguard qualifications on the job.

You can qualify as a lifeguard by taking one of the following courses:

• National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ)
• Level 2 Award in Pool Lifeguarding

To be a beach lifeguard, you'll need to complete the National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ).

You can take a qualification by:

• joining a local swimming club as a volunteer and training with them
• training with a professional body at an approved centre

You can also apply to train with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

You'll need:

• knowledge of public safety and security
• customer service skills
• the ability to work well with others
• a desire to help people
• physical fitness and endurance
• concentration skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• sensitivity and understanding
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You'll need to:

• be over 16 years of age
• pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults

To take a pool lifeguard qualification you'll need to be able to:

• jump or dive into deep water
• swim 50 metres in less than 60 seconds
• swim 100 metres continuously on front and back in deep water
• tread water for 30 seconds
• surface dive to the floor of the pool
• climb out of the pool unaided without using ladders or steps

To qualify as a beach lifeguard you must:

• complete a 400m pool swim in less than eight minutes
• make a surface dive to a depth of 2 metres
• be a confident sea swimmer
• climb out of deep water unaided

As a pool or beach lifeguard, you would:

• supervise swimming areas
• make sure swimmers follow safety rules
• respond to emergencies and rescue people in danger
• give first aid when needed
• contact emergency services where required

As a pool lifeguard, you would also:

• advise swimmers on how to use diving boards and slides
• check pool water temperature and chemicals
• keep pool areas clean
• set up equipment for activities

As a beach lifeguard you could:

• monitor sea conditions and set up safety flags
• advise the public on how to stay safe on the beach and in the water
• act as a point of contact for people on the beach

You could work at a fitness centre.

Your working environment may be humid and outdoors some of the time.