NPLQ courses

Learn to save lives

National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) Courses

We are running an NPLQ course here at Wokingham 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.

View current vacancies

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 

How much does it cost?

£260 per person

October Dates

  • Monday 28th October - Friday 1st November 
  • 8.00am - 4.00pm 
  • Assessment date - Saturday 2nd November (8.00am - 1.00pm)

Click here for more information 

Email sianhussey@pfpleisure.org to enrol