Professional Awards

Boscombe Lifeguards provides training in a number of professional awards from the Royal Lifesaving Society listed below.

Please email training@rlssboscombe.org.uk for further information and enquiries.

The newly launched National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification is the new national standard for beach lifeguarding and has been developed alongside Surf Association Lifesaving Wales, Surf Lifesaving GB and the RNLI.  Comprising beach theory, life support, first aid, swimming pool practical and open water practical, it encompasses all the skills needed to lifeguard at the many beach across the UK or around the world.

Pre-requisites for the course

  • Be 16 years old or over at the time of the assessment
  • Have a good level of fitness
  • Surface dive to a depth of 1.5 metres
  • Tread water for two minutes
  • Climb out of deep water unaided and without steps
  • Be competent at swimming in the sea
  • Be able to swim 400 metres in less than eight minutes
  • Swim 100 metres on the front, 100 metres on the back and 200 metres in less than four minutes

For more information visit the RLSS UK Professional Qualifications page


The National Pool Lifeguard Qualification is the industry leading qualification for anyone wanting to work as a lifeguard at their local swimming pool.  Recently updated, the 8th edition provides training in the Pool Lifeguard theory, rescues, CPR & First Aid.  Options are available to incorporate automated External Defibrillator (AED), First Aid at Work and the NEW Pool Extraction Board (PXB).

Prerequisites for the course

  • Be 16 years old at the time of assessment
  • Jump / dive into deep water
  • Swim 50 metres in less 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 ladder / steps and where the pool design permits

For more information visit the RLSS UK Professional Qualifications page


The Open Water Lifeguard was launched following a major surge of people partaking in open water swimming in many venues across the UK.  The course can be bolted on as a 6-hour ‘bolt-on’ module for existing NPLQ qualified lifeguards, building on the skills and knowledge from the NPLQ course or as a standalone course.

Open Water Lifeguard will provide the training for the lifeguard to be confident and competent in supervising and providing rescue during controlled activities e.g. triathlons and races in non-tidal water.

Pre-requisites for the course

  • Be 16 years old or over at the time of the assessment
  • Hold a current NPLQ Qualification if as part of a bolt on course

For more information visit the RLSS UK Professional Qualifications page


RLSS UK offers a wide range of First Aid qualifications many of which can be bolted on to the Lifeguarding qualifications.

The qualifications we offer include:

  • Integrated National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) and Emergency First Aid at Work
  • Integrated National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) and First Aid at Work
  • Emergency First Aid at Work
  • First Aid at Work / First Aid at Work Renewal
  • Paediatric Emergency First Aid
  • Paediatric First Aid

Pre-requisites for the course

  • Be 16 years old or over at the time of the assessment

For more information visit the RLSS UK Professional Qualifications page


National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches

The RLSS UK National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches (NRASTAC) is an award developed to provide teachers who supervise programmed activities like swimming lessons, with training in all aspects of lifesaving from class management and rescue to CPR and first aid.  It is suitable for teachers working in a range of pools including pools where the water is deeper than the teachers standing depth.

The NRASTAC qualification can also be integrated with the RLSS UK Emergency First Aid at Work and AED qualifications if delivered at an RLSS UK approved training centre.

Pre-requisites for the course

  • Be 16 years old or over at the time of the assessment

For more information visit the RLSS UK Professional Qualifications page


Emergency Response Pool Award

The RLSS UK Emergency Response Pool Award is designed to train members of staff to deal with an emergency situation, provide emergency rescue and support qualified lifeguards during a rescue.  NOTE:  This is not a lifeguard qualification.  If you would like to become a lifeguard please look into the RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification.

Pre-requisites for the course

  • Be 16 years old or over at the time of the assessment

For more information visit the please contact RLSS UK


Aquatic Therapy Shallow Pool Rescue

The RLSS UK Aquatic Therapy Shallow Pool Rescue Award is a supervision and rescue qualification developed for therapists, teachers and support staff who will be working either on poolside or in the water during activities including aquatic therapy or therapeutic exercise/play.  The ATSPRA award is only suitable for shallow pools where the rescuer will not be required to swim to perform a rescue, the water should not be deeper than the rescuers chest depth.

Pre-requisites for the course

  • Be 16 years old or over at the time of the assessment

For more information visit the please contact RLSS UK