Who is this qualification for?
This qualification schools swim teachers on how to deliver safe and effective swim education.
Swim teachers love being in the water. They are passionate about people, and have the enthusiasm and confidence to share their knowledge with others.
This qualification is delivered and assessed on-the-job at the pool, and through external courses, which are delivered by national swimming organisations. Some assessments are also completed online.
Coming out of this qualification, a swim teacher will be able to patiently and confidently deliver swim education to groups or individuals - no matter what their swimming ability is.
Did you know: Once you've achieved your Swim and Water Safety Teacher (Level 3) certificate, you will be registered with the New Zealand Register of Recreation Professionals. You can keep your registration current by re-registering every three years.
What's involved?
This 40-credit qualification covers the following skills and knowledge:
Maintaining safety and applying aquatic supervision techniques to ensure a safe and enjoyable aquatic experience for customers
Educating customers and promoting facility products and services to enhance customer experiences
Applying knowledge of water confidence, water safety, swimming strokes and biomechanics of movement in the water to teach swimming and water safety
Teaching swimmers in water safety, survival skills, swimming progressions and techniques to develop safety awareness in aquatic environments.
This qualification is designed to take 8 months to complete.
Programme structure
The programme is made up of the following unit standards:
| Unit standard 29848 | Demonstrate knowledge of safe work procedures and practices in a recreation workplace | L3 | 5 credits |
| Unit standard 29849 | Demonstrate knowledge of professional practice in a recreation workplace | L3 | 5 credits |
| Unit standard 30122 | Operate professionally and promote safe, enjoyable experiences in an aquatic facility | L3 | 15 credits |
| Unit standard 30125 | Plan, deliver and review swimming and water safety lessons | L3 | 15 credits |
For more information on the content of the qualification, visit the NZQA website, here.
What are the costs?
On-job training costs workplaces both time and resources. It can mean covering registration fees, learning and assessment resources, allocating time for training, and having an appropriate assessment pathway available.
Total costs for trainees will vary depending on how the qualification is delivered, how it is assessed and how much support the workplace can provide.
Check out our fees list and financial help options.
For more detailed information about the cost of doing an on-job qualification, get in touch.
Where to from here?
Cool, so you're keen to further your education as a swim teacher? Think this might be the right qualification for your staff?
To find out more, contact your regional Skills Active learning support advisor.
Remember, to do this qualification on the job, Skills Active trainees need to be working as a volunteer or paid employee in the aquatics industry.
If you want to become a qualified swim teacher, but you're not currently employed in the industry, contact your local pool or a Skills Active learning support advisor to talk about how you can get involved.
Want to see where this
qualification can take you next?
qualification can take you next?
Check out our range of other aquatics qualifications.
Discover your own career path on Tōu Aratika - our careers website.
Enrol now!
Contact your regional advisor or
P 0508 4 SKILLS (0508 475 4557)
E info@skillsactive.org.nz