The Royal Life Saving Society UK’s (RLSS UK) NPLQ is the most awarded lifeguard qualification in the UK and Ireland and is also internationally recognised.

More than 46,000 pool lifeguards qualify with the RLSS UK course every year, and there are currently more than 90,000 pool lifeguards qualified in the NPLQ – 95% of all UK pool lifeguards.

It can be a stepping stone to a career in the leisure industry.

Upcoming training dates

Book online by following the below links.

All training dates run for 6 days from 8.30am to 5.30pm.

Additional information

NPLQ courses cost £260 per person.

Anyone over the age of 16 looking to work in or volunteer in the leisure industry. This qualification is also accepted by Camp America and British Universities North America Club (BUNAC) for their summer camp projects.

  • Jump/dive into deep water
  • Swim 50 metres in no more 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 ladders/steps and where pool design permits
  • 100% attendance on the course dates

You will learn the skills and theoretical knowledge to be a lifeguard working in today’s exciting, yet demanding leisure industry. For the duration of the course you will be either in the pool or the classroom.

Once you have successfully completed the 40 hours of training and the assessment, you will receive a certificate from the RLSS and will be a qualified lifeguard for 2 years.

The NPLQ assessment assesses your skills in 4 areas:

  • Practical pool assessment
  • Theory assessment
  • First aid assessment
  • CPR assessment

The NPLQ is a level 2 qualification on the qualifications framework. It allows you to work on within the leisure industry as a qualified Lifeguard. It is an internationally recognised qualification.