While lifeguard certification provides the starting point to work as a professional guard, many lifeguards find their true passion lies in sharing their expertise by becoming a lifeguard course instructor. Teaching the next generation of aquatic safety professionals can be immensely rewarding. This article outlines the path to achieving certification as a lifeguard trainer through respected programs like American Lifeguard Events.
Gain Lifeguard Experience
Most training agencies require 1-2 years of experience as a certified lifeguard before applying to teach courses. This allows guards to build confidence through real-world experience, especially handling any emergency scenarios that reinforce classroom lessons. Employers value candidates who can lead discussions based on prevention and response experiences from the field.
Continue Your Education
The first step is continuing aquatic safety education. Many top instructors maintain multiple certifications like lifeguarding, CPR, first aid, AED, and water safety instruction. Topical specializations like shallow or deep water attendant training are excellent ways to expand knowledge. Remaining a vigilant student keeps instructors on the cutting edge of best practices.
Obtain Lifeguard Instructor Certification
To instruct official certification courses, lifeguards must be validated through programs sanctioned by regulatory agencies like the American Lifeguard Events. Didactic, demonstration, and practice teaching sessions provide hands-on mentorship in crafting effective lesson plans, performing skills evaluations, and simulating emergencies. Passing rigorous written and practical exams covers legal and administrative responsibilities plus CPR/AED instruction certification.
Master Course Content Knowledge
In addition to intensive certification test preparation, aspiring trainers must stay abreast of updated protocols and response best practices through ongoing continuing education. American Lifeguard Events provides online modules on topics like injury prevention strategies, ADA compliance, hazard recognition and more to strengthen subject matter expertise. True experts continuously deepen their understanding of safety and learn new skill progressions to share.
Complete Water Skills Evaluation
Following candidate training, instructor candidates complete an extensive water skills evaluation. Candidates perform all rescues, spinal injuries management, first aid/CPR procedures while teaching a classroom of other candidates. Presenting scanning techniques, explaining facility operations protocols and enforcing model rules all undergo scrutiny. Only candidates exemplifying expert teaching and performance qualify to advance.
Gain Teaching Experience
Classroom experience assists too. Ask your manager about assisting or substituting as a teaching assistant for junior guard or re-certification courses. Demonstrate strong teaching abilities, content mastery, and classroom management skills. Leading warm-ups, watching technique videos, or facilitating small groups helps ease into the educator role. Assisting seasoned instructors provides invaluable learning both content-wise and through observing seasoned presentation styles.
Teach Under Supervision
As a new instructor, early classes involve shadowing and teaching under the guidance of a mentor instructor. The supervisor watches every detail of lesson delivery, candidate interaction and skills instruction evaluating strengths and areas needing improvement. Feedback assists honing of teaching style and classroom management. New instructors gain perspective by observing other styles too. Multiple supervised sessions prove mastery of the craft before gaining full teaching authority.
Become an Instructor Candidate
When prepared, instructors complete intensive multi-day instructor candidate training programs through American Lifeguard Events or similar approved organizations. Content includes lesson planning, learning taxonomies, instructional methods, assessments, management strategies. Candidates demonstrate exhaustive command over ALL lifeguarding knowledge areas versus just reciting basics. Return demonstration of teaching mastery before seasoned instructors determines candidate readiness to take the next step.
Develop Teaching Materials
Creating impactful slide presentations, hands-on skill sheets, and model lesson plans ahead of teaching assignments makes maximum use of class time for practicing key takeaways rather than content delivery. Instructors should tailor materials to fit various participant demographics like youth, elderly or ADA requirements. Customizing visual and experiential teaching styles holds students' attention and enhances knowledge retention.
Practice Classroom Management
Being an instructor demands exceptional organization and leadership abilities to engage up to 30 students during rigorous skill sessions and scenarios. Mock classroom simulations allow aspiring trainers to practice effective demonstrations, pacing class flow, encouraging questions and correcting techniques supportively. Projecting confidence and keeping all participants fully immersed sets the stage for lifesaving material mastery to the benefit of future patients.
Evaluate Student Performance Objectively
Testing and certifying candidates involves impartial assessment of memorized information and physical demonstrations according to consistent evaluation forms. Trainers certified by American Lifeguard Events ensure fair evaluations and provide additional coaching where needed. Guarding lives depends upon accurate determination that only fully competent students receive credentialing deserving the responsibility.
Final Words
Pursuing lifeguard instructor certification through commitment to intensive continued training represents a serious investment that can ultimately prove immensely rewarding for both personal fulfillment and safety of the public. Those who achieve this certification have the knowledge and ability to train future generations of lifeguarding professionals to the highest lifesaving standards.