Course Content

The OWL enables candidates with no previous lifeguard experience to become qualified. By attaining this qualification candidates will have been assessed as competent to provide supervision and rescue cover for planned, organised and risk-assessed activities in open water which is still / non-tidal.

The Open Water Lifeguard Qualification, delivered over three days, is valid for two years and is independently assessed. The candidate manual and trainer resources help the Open Water Lifeguard Trainer Assessor deliver through the three sections:

• Section 1 - The Open Water Lifeguard, environment, hazards and supervision

• Section 2 - Responding to an emergency and taking action

• Section 3 - CPR and First Aid

New candidates: 18hrs + Assessment
Renewal candidates: 10hrs + Assessment 

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OWL Course Prerequisites

Every candidate attending an OWL course must: 

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

• Be competent and confident in open-water

• Be able to submerge under the water confidently

• Before the course, candidates must be able to swim at least 400 metres in a pool/ open water swimming continuously on their front and show urgency.

 

(Current National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) holders can use RPL* from their NPLQ and attend a one-day RPL OWL qualification course, which will include an assessment by an OWL Assessor if successful they will be awarded an OWL qualification valid for 2 years.

RPL New candidates: 7hrs + Assessment)

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*Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the process of recognising a candidate’s previous achievement towards part of a qualification.

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