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Frequently Asked Questions

Can anyone come on the course?
Do I have to be a world class swimmer?
What is the pass rate on courses?
How is the course structured?
Is it cold in the sea?
Do I need my own wetsuit?
How difficult is the exam?
What happens if I can't attend some sessions, or the final exam?
What do I get out of it?
Will I get a job at the end of it?
What will it cost me?
How long is the qualification valid?
Who does the training?
Can I work in a pool with a Beach Lifeguard Qualification?
I'm a pool lifeguard - do I need to take the Beach Lifeguard Qualification to work on the beach?
I am already a Beach Lifeguard but need to retake my qualification
What happens after the course has finished?
I'm still not sure...

Can anyone come on the course?
You must be over 16 years old to attend the course, though we prefer people to be over 18 unless they have worked through the RLSS Lifesaving awards. There is no upper age limit for attendance on the course, in fact we actively encourage more mature people onto the course as it gives a broader spectrum of experience.

Being a beach lifeguard is not just a summer job, it is also an enjoyable hobby and we would encourage anyone who is interested to take the course, even if you don't intend to work on a beach. You don't have to have the stereo-typical Baywatch physique to become a lifguard, the qualification should be achievable for anyone who is reasonably fit.

Applicants for all courses must be able to speak and understand English fully and have good hearing and vision (if you wear spectacles or contact lenses this is all right so long as you could work effectively in a rescue situation with/without them).

If you're too young to do the beach lifeguard course at the moment, you can still be involved! NSVL runs lifesaving classes at the pool session on Sunday evening, and you may also be able to join in with the open water sessions. As soon as you're 16 you'll be able to come on the course - and you'll already have learnt a lot of the skills needed!
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Do I have to be a world class swimmer?
You must be a competent swimmer, but you don't need to be a world class swimmer to become a beach lifeguard. Although there is a timed swim test in the pool, swimming in the sea is a completely different experience. The strongest swimmers in the pool often have difficulties conditioning themselves to swimming in the cold sea with waves and currents. Swimming in the pool is about style, swimming in the sea is about getting there anyway you can! As long as you are a reasonable swimmer in the pool and can swim 400m (16 lengths of a 25m pool) without stopping you should be able to successfully complete the course. You need to be able to do this in under 8 minutes for the test, but people have started at 11 minutes and got under the time. It does require commitment and practice, but it is achievable for most people. For some suggestions to help you improve your swimming, why not have a look at our Training Tips.

Please note: some employers will swim test applicants for lifeguard jobs and may insist on a higher standard than the minimum 400m in 8 minutes. RNLI Lifeguards must complete the swim in 7 minutes 30 seconds with a recommended time of under 7 minutes and the first 200m in under 3 minutes 30 seconds.
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What is the pass rate on courses?
The pass rate is high partly because we will not enter you for assessment until we believe you are capable of passing and also because if you can pass the initial fitness test and are committed enough to attend the full course you should have no problem in passing. If there are any problem areas, extra training will be available for you.
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How is the course structured?
All training takes place at our beach base in Whitley Bay and at Whitley Bay Leisure Pool, and is conducted in a relaxed, friendly and informal environment.

A typical session might include:

• Beach Lifeguard theory training
• Open water rescue skills in the sea
• Life Support resuscitation skills
• First Aid training
• Pool training skills difficult to teach in the sea / timed swims

Wherever possible teaching is interactive. Our training room is equipped with the latest audi-visual equipment and there will be group activities and discussion during the theory training - while the life support, first aid and open water sections will all require participation. Occasionally during the course there will be mock incidents for you to deal with to enhance your teamwork skills, both within the lifeguard team and with outside Search and Rescue agencies, such as Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade and Cullercoats Lifeboat who we are lucky to have close links with.
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At some times during the winter sea conditions at Whitley Bay will mean that open water training cannot take place as it would be unsafe. Where this happens we may move the open water training to the more sheltered Cullercoats Bay (the next beach along) or we will arrange further open water sessions at times suitable to people on the course. If sea conditions are too rough on the day of assessment then the examination will take place in Cullercoats Bay or be re-scheduled.
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Is it cold in the sea?
The North Sea is never warm. Temperatures over the winter will range from about 4-9°C, and in the summer it rarely gets above 14°C, but with a good wetsuit and some acclimatisation you should survive! How cold it feels largely depends on the air temperature rather than the water temperature - wind chill is the real killer. You do have to get acclimatised to it, which is why we prefer running courses over a number of weeks, but you won't be expected to stay in the water for any longer than you can stand. Your safety is our priority - we don't want to have anyone rushed to hospital with hypothermia!
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Do I need my own wetsuit?
Even in the summer, the North Sea is not usually warm enough to conduct lengthy training sessions without a wetsuit. Your wetsuit should be at least 5mm for training in the winter, and you will also need boots and gloves. Some people also wear rash vests. It is important that you have a wetsuit that fits you well - if it's not tight it will offer very little protection. We can arrange a discount for people on the course wanting to purchase wetsuits. A new wetsuit with gloves and boots can cost from around £120. If you can't afford to buy a wetsuit you can hire one for the duration of the course from Tynemouth Surf Co.
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How difficult is the exam?
The assessment will test your learning, practical skills and ability to think and act clearly in all the main areas (Life Support, First Aid, Theory, Open Water, Pool). For some people the most daunting task is the 400m swim in under 8 minutes (in the pool), but as we mentioned before stamina and speed build up over the weeks and everyone should be able to manage this. The actual open water test has no timed rescues, but you are expected to complete all rescues with a sense of urgency.
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What happens if I can't attend some sessions, or the final exam?
Typically our courses will last well in excess of the minimum required number of training hours, which means there is some leeway if people miss a session - though this is not encouraged. If this is unavoidable the trainer will let you know what topics were covered and give you any handouts. At the end of the course everything will be recapped to check understanding and any problem areas can be addressed. Additional training at other times through the week may also be available to those who are interested.

If you are unable to attend the final assessment date then don't worry. If you know in advance, let your trainer know and he will be able to arrange an alternative date. We are lucky to have many assessors within the club, so rearranging assessments is not a problem.
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What do I get out of it?
You get out as much as you put in. Hopefully you will be taught skills for life to save life. You should come out of the course with the ability to know how to help - not just in a lifeguarding context but in any life-threatening situation you come across.

While saving lives is a serious business, you should also have a lot of fun on the course and the qualification you receive at the end is an excellent addition to your UCAS form or CV.
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Will I get a job at the end of it?
In the UK, beach lifeguarding is only usually seasonal employment from May-September. North Tyneside Council employ lifeguards at their four beaches (Whitley Bay, Cullercoats, Tynemouth, King Edward's Bay) during the summer months, as do most of the other coastal authorities in the north east and around the UK. Qualifying through NSVL and participating in ongoing training once the course finishes means you'll be first to find out when jobs are advertised. You will also be known to the lifeguard co-ordinators of the three local authorities, who are also members of NSVL. However, with this nationally recognised qualification you could get a job on any beach in the country!

Jobs are usually advertised early in the new year in plenty of time for the summer. We advertise positions that we find out about on our Lifeguard Jobs page, so keep checking there.
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What will it cost me?
The cost of the beach lifeguard courses is currently £120, including all manuals and personal equipment required along with certification.
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How long is the qualification valid?
The qualification is valid for 2 years from the assessment date. Over this period you should continue regular training and you will be welcome to train with NSVL both at the beach and the pool throughout the year. This training can be logged by our Trainer/Assessors so that you have the number of hours required when you need to retake the qualification after the two year period.
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Who does the training?
You will be trained by experienced beach lifeguards who are qualified RLSS Beach Lifeguard Trainers and then assessed by an independent Assessor. Other trainers are also on hand throughout the course to offer different perspectives. You will also meet many qualified lifeguards who will be involved in your training sessions and will be able to offer help and advice, as well as providing safety cover during the open water sessions.
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Can I work in a pool with a Beach Lifeguard Qualification?
No, the Beach and Pool Lifeguard Qualifications are two separate courses, though if you take the Beach Lifeguard course you will already have acquired a lot of the knowledge needed for Pool Lifeguard.
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I'm a pool lifeguard - do I need to take the Beach Lifeguard Qualification to work on the beach?
Yes, though you should already be familiar with a lot of the skills. However, to swim in the cold sea you have to be certain you want to do it! Sometimes courses are arranged specifically for qualified pool lifeguards where the number of training hours can be reduced to take into account the skills you already have.
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I am already a Beach Lifeguard but need to retake my qualification
Then come along! We train every Sunday afternoon from 12.30pm-4.30pm at our beach base. Hours can be logged and assessments arranged when needed. See the Ongoing Training page for details of the training rota.
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What happens after the course has finished?
All people attending the course will automatically be made members of NSVL and become part of our 'family' of lifesavers and lifeguards. We hope that you will continue being an active member of the club when your course is finished and participate in club activities and join in with the club's extensive social life!

We also hope that you will continue training with us - passing your final exam is not the end of your training. Ongoing training is essential if you are to refresh, develop and extend your skills. Open water and pool training continues throughout the year every Sunday at Whitley Bay - you could even help out by being lifeguard cover and attending the training sessions of the next beach lifeguard course! There are also groups of lifeguards going in the sea for a swim (and play!) throughout the week. If you have attended training after becoming qualified it looks good if you apply for a job as a lifeguard. See the Ongoing Training page for details of the training rota.

For those who don't intend to get a job as a lifeguard in the summer, NSVL runs the training for the North Tyneside Council lifeguards and we are always in need of extra lifeguards who can provide lifeguard cover during these sessions.

As well as ongoing training, as a member you will also get the opportunity to attend other related courses such as Rescue Boat, Pool Lifeguard, First Aid at Work and Extended Life Support (use of defibrillators). In the future you may also want to become a teacher or trainer yourself, and with NSVL's large number of National Trainer Assessors (the people responsible for training the trainers) there will be plenty of opportunity for you to do so and pass on your knowledge to the next generation of lifeguards!
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I'm still not sure...
If you've read this far then you're obviously interested in doing the course - you're probably just not sure whether you will be able to do it... In most cases YOU WILL! Perhaps your perception of what a lifeguard is comes from Baywatch and you think you everyone else on the course will be super fit and muscly....THEY WON'T! Perhaps you think you're a slow swimmer and everyone else will be much faster....THEY WON'T BE! Perhaps you think you need to be a surfer....YOU DON'T! Perhaps you've never even swum in the sea before and you think everyone else goes in every week...THEY DON'T! Perhaps you think you'll be cold in the sea....YOU WILL, but you'll get used to it!

In most cases we'd far rather have someone who was committed and willing to learn than someone who thinks they know it all already. While physical fitness is an important aspect of lifeguarding, we are not asking you to be super fit - anyone of reasonable fitness should be able to complete the qualification. The primary aim of a lifeguard is to prevent accidents - if you can prevent accidents before they happen then fitness is less important as you won't need to actually rescue people! You must be of reasonable fitness to start with, and this will be built up over the course, but a little bit of flab is definitely an asset for training in the North Sea!

If you're still unsure have a look round our web site and find out some of the other activities of the club. Also, have a look at our Photo Album and see the fun we have in the sea during our training sessions!

If that still doesn't persuade you then don't just think that's it. You could still learn resuscitation and first aid skills, and take lifesaving awards at the pool. You might even be able to build your confidence up enough to take the Beach Lifeguard Qualification!