Becoming an American Red Cross Certified Water Safety Instructor is very rewarding. Earn your certification to teach swimmers of every age and ability to stay safe in, on, and around water. This certification is the gold standard and provides the most comprehensive training for swim instructors. Instructor candidates learn to teach the fundamental Learn-to-swim courses including Parent and Child Aquatics, Preschool Aquatics, Learn-to-Swim Levels 1-6, adult swim and private swimming lessons.

 

To become an instructor:

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1. View our upcoming courses and be at least 16 years old by the last day of the course, listed below.

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2. Be among the first 12 to take the $25 Swim Assessment (up to 30 days before the class begins) AND pay for the $150 course (all materials provided). Swim Assessments are available any time at all of our indoor pools. 

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Demonstrate that you are able to:

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• Swim 25 yards, Front Crawl

• Swim 25 yards, Back Crawl 

• Swim 25 yards, Breaststroke 

• Swim 25 yards, Elementary Backstroke 

• Swim 25 yards, Sidestroke

• Swim 15 yards, Butterfly

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• Back float for 1 minute (floating or sculling)

• Tread water for 1 minute

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3. Attend all classes and successfully complete exam. This certification is valid for two years and is required to work as a Water Safety Instructor (WSI) at all aquatics facilities in the U.S. certified by American Red Cross.