CB Training Services Limited - Delivering Courses across the Leisure Sector

---

Our five-day Level 3 STA Pool Lifeguard qualification is our most comprehensive lifesaving qualification. On the course, you will learn essential skills including the theory of pool lifeguarding, supervision, the roles and responsibilities of a lifeguard and the risks associated with a swimming pool or leisure centre.

Being a pool lifeguard is a fantastic role for those looking for a rewarding, active, and challenging profession. Training provides essential lifesaving, first aid, and transitional knowledge and skills making it a fantastic career choice whether it be short-term, long-term, or a stepping stone onto other careers.

A pool lifeguard can be an employee, a contractor, or a volunteer. Working hours can often fit around lifestyles with options of full-time, part-time, and casual hours, as well as morning, daytime, evening, and weekend shifts, providing work-life balance, or to work alongside studying commitments.

Countless employment opportunities are available within public leisure centres and private pool operators who are on the search for qualified and motivated pool lifeguards.

The agreed industry pre-requisite to become a pool lifeguard is for learners to have achieved a CIMSPA endorsed educational product that fully meets the CIMSPA Professional Standard: Lifeguard. STA Level 3 Award for Pool Lifeguards qualification fully meets this professional standard and is therefore an agreed industry accepted qualification for pool lifeguards to hold in order to gain employment anywhere in the UK

• How Will the Qualification Benefit You?

• You gain 8 UCAS points from completing this qualification 
• Created by STA’s lifesaving experts, providing you with quality training
• Regulated by Ofqual at Level 3 and Accredited by SQA Accreditation at level 7
• Fully endorsed against the CIMSPA Professional Standard: Lifeguard with 10 CIMSPA CPD Points
• Complies with the requirements of HSE: Health and Safety in Swimming Pools (HSG179), BS EN 15288 Part 2: Swimming Pools for Public Use – Safety Requirements for Operation, National Occupational Standards: SKAC28 Maintain the Safety of the Pool Environment and its Users, SQA Higher National Unit: Swimming Pool Lifeguard: Skills and Practice, Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 and The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1982, First aid at work: The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981: Guidance on Regulations (L74), First Aid Awarding Organisation Forum Delivery Standards and Assessment Principles
• Training is in line with current Resuscitation Council (UK) Guidelines and accepted first aid practice
• Meets the Department for Education: Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Frameworks for Childminders and for Group and School-based Providers, Health and Social Care Board (NI), Childminding and Day Care for children Under Age 12 Minimum Standards, Welsh Government: National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare for children up to the age of 12 years criteria
• Provides in-depth knowledge and the confidence to potentially save someone’s life
• It will allow you to gain active employment as a pool lifeguard
• Looks great on a CV and can help give you a head start when applying for jobs
• Includes the STA Award in Adult and Paediatric First Aid syllabus (combined First Aid at Work and Paediatric First Aid), so you will receive an Adult and Paediatric First Aid certificate on successful completion of the course, meaning that you can also act as a first aider using your Pool Lifeguarding qualification without having to attend a separate first aid course.

When You Get Your Qualification

• It lasts for 3 years
• You can revalidate your qualification on a refresher course or through ongoing training on the job, rather than taking the whole course again.
• Your course resource manual will act as a guide throughout the duration of your qualification, so it’s always there to refer back to should you ever need it
• We recommend that you attend ongoing training and competency assessment (OTCA) to keep your skills and knowledge up-to-date.

How to Take Your Qualification Further

Becoming a lifeguard is usually the first step for people who build a career in the leisure industry. From working as a lifeguard, you will observe swimming lessons, aquacise classes, deal with customers and test pool water. You may find that you wish to do move on to additional courses, such as swimming teaching or pool plant so that you can broaden your knowledge, take on more duties and build up your career in the leisure industry!

Interested? Before You Get Started…

You’ll need to make sure you’ve met the following requirements before you attend your course: 

• Be 16 years of age or older at time of assessment
• Be able to perform practical demonstrations on the floor
• Be able to jump and dive into deep water
• Be able to swim 50 metres in under 1 minute
• Be able to swim 100 metres on the front and 100 metres on the back without stopping
• Be able to tread water for 30 seconds in deep water
• Be able to surface dive and recover a submersible adult manikin from the deepest part of the pool
• Be able to climb out of the pool unaided without the use of steps or ladders.
• 
  

There are no previous qualifications or experience required, however it is advisable that learners have a minimum of level 1 in literacy and numeracy or equivalent.

A level of personal fitness is necessary due to the demands of the pool lifeguard role which learners will need to demonstrate during the course.

What you need to do before attending the 5 day course:

You’ll need to make sure you’ve completed the online blended learning modules before you attend your course

Our next course will be held at John Frost School (formerly Duffryn High School), Newport on 16th February - 20th February 2026 9am-5pm each day. Book online on the following link:   

Up & Coming Courses (cbtraining.org)

For more information email ross@cbtraining.org or download the qualification specification below 

One of our future courses will be held at John Frost School (formerly Duffryn High School), Newport on 20th July - 24th July 2026  9am-5pm each day. Book online on the following link:   

Up & Coming Courses (cbtraining.org)

For more information email ross@cbtraining.org or download the qualification specification below 

One of our future courses will be held at John Frost School (formerly Duffryn High School), Newport on 26th  October - 30th October  2026  9am-5pm each day. Book online on the following link:   

Up & Coming Courses (cbtraining.org)

For more information email ross@cbtraining.org or download the qualification specification below