NPLQ courses

Learn to save lives

National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) Courses

We are running an NPLQ course here at Ferndown Leisure Centre. Learn valuable life saving skills and become qualified for a job in lifeguarding.

And why stop there? If you become a lifeguard at a Places Leisure Centre, you will have the opportunity to progress your career in leisure, with potential Placemaker, Placemaker Manager, and Duty Manager roles available in the centre.

NPLQ stands for National Pool Lifeguard Qualification and is widely accepted by swimming pools in the UK and Ireland as a minimum qualification as a role of a lifeguard within the swimming pool. The course is split into 4 sections:

Section 1 – The Lifeguard and the Law, Swimming Pool Supervision

Element 1 – The Lifeguard and the Law
Element 2 – Swimming Pool, Hazards and Control Measures
Element 3 – Swimming Pool Supervision

Section 2 – Intervention and Rescue and Emergency Action Plans

Element 1 – Intervention and Rescue
Element 2 – Rescue of a Casualty with a Suspected Spinal Injury
Element 3 – Emergency Action Plan

Section 3 – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, AED and First Aid

Element 1 – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Element 2 – First Aid
Element 3 – Automated External Defibrillation (AED)

The course includes swimming pool rescue skills, basic life support, basic First Aid, managing a casualty suffering from a spinal injury, managing a swimming pool environment, identifying hazards that could cause harm to users and much more.

Am I eligible to take part?

Every candidate attending a NPLQ course must be 16-years-old at the time of taking the NPLQ final assessment and be able to:

  • Jump/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 unaided without ladder/steps and where the pool design allows

What will I receive if I am successful?

Successful candidates will receive:

  • RLSS NPLQ certificate
  • RLSS AED certificate 

Upcoming course details

Course dates 2024
  • Monday 29th July - Saturday 3rd August
Course fee
  • £240.00

How to book?

For more information and to book, call us on 01202 877468 or email us.

Information for on the day
  • Arrive at 7:45am so we can begin at 8.00am
  • There is free parking on site
  • We have bike racks to lock up bikes
  • On the first day, please head to reception and they will direct you to the room that we will be in
  • Please bring food and drink with you.
  • Please bring a pen and note book. A course manual will be provided on day 1 on the course
  • We will have regular breaks and lunch break where you can go out to Tesco to buy some food if needed
  • We will be in the pool more than once a day so bring spare swim stuff if you don't want to put wet kit back on
  • Please bring a swim costume/shorts as well as shorts and t-shirt that you will wear in the pool
  • Please be prompt every day with starts and break times, 100% attendance is mandatory to take part in the assessment
  • Please bring photo ID on the first day & assessment day
  • Ensure that you have created an account on RLSS Tahdah