The steps necessary for you to become a swimming instructor depend on where you live and what kind of swimming instruction you would like to be a part of. Different countries have different requirements to become a swimming instructor, and you may want to become a general instructor or specialize in a particular field, such as teaching sports like water polo and synchronized swimming or teaching basic aquatics. In any situation, as a swimming instructor your basic duties will be to teach people of all ages to swim, to help coach those interested in water sports, and to ensure the safety of those who are swimming with you.
To become a swimming instructor in England, for example, you should contact the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) about what classes are needed to be certified as an instructor. This may require participation in particular courses developed by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (United Kingdom) as part of the National Plan for Teaching Swimming. You can register for classes to become a Rookie Lifeguard or other programs to help you become a certified swimming instructor.
In other areas, such as the United States (US), you will need to complete specific classes and pass certain tests to be authorized to become a swimming instructor. You will need to become certified in infant, child, and adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as well as completing first aid certification courses. These programs are offered by the American Red Cross as well as at many Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) locations. If you have already been CPR and first aid certified, then you may only need to pass re-certification courses offered at American Red Cross and YMCA locations.
You will also need to take a lifeguard certification course and likely need to enroll in a Water Safety Instructor course to become a swimming instructor. These programs are also offered by the American Red Cross and some YMCA locations. Lifeguard and first aid certifications are usually only good for three years before you will need to be re-certified, while CPR certification is good for only one year before re-certification.
Once you have completed the necessary courses and certifications, you will be qualified to become a swimming instructor. Consider if you want to teach aquatics, which is basic swimming to infants, children, adults, and seniors, or if you might prefer to focus on a specialization such as water polo or synchronized swimming instruction. You might also consider teaching diving, which is a specialized field in which swimming instructors focus on the form and techniques of properly diving into water.