Beach Lifeguard Course

Beach Lifeguard Course Overview

Freewave Training deliver the SLSGB National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ). All our beach lifeguard training courses and qualifications are delivered at our Accredited Training Centre in Bude, Cornwall. Our NVBLQ Beach Lifeguard Course will provide learners with the skills, knowledge, confidence and certification required to provide professional water patrol and rescue services. Furthermore The National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ) is the required qualification for anyone wishing to work in a paid or voluntary role as:

• Beach Lifeguard for the RNLI
• Surfing instructor (ISA, ASI, SurfingGB or other)
• Bodyboarding Instructor
• Coasteering Guide
• Other ocean and surf based activities

Beach Lifeguard Course Details

Our NVBLQ Beach Lifeguard Qualification is run over 5 days which includes 1 day of assessment. Aspects of the beach lifeguard course are physically demanding and the course WILL include running and swimming to set times and lifting weight. As well as some physical testing, the course also includes a portion of classroom based work and online knowledge testing. The qualification is comprised of a variety of units. Each unit is delivered by our team of experienced Surf Life Saving Great Britain (SLSGB) Trainer/Assessors.

Click here for more information about the NVBLQ course content 

Course Pre-requisites

In order to be accepted on to one of our National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ) courses any potential candidate will need to:

• Become a member of Surf Life Saving Great Britain (SLSGB)
• Confirm that they are a competent swimmer
• Confirm that they have a good level of confidence handling a long surfboard (or rescue board) in breaking waves
• Be over 16 years of age at the point of the course start date

Beach Lifeguard Course Costs

Our National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ) course costs £350 for an individual. The cost includes:

• Registration fees to SLSGB
• Course Manuals
• 5 Days intensive training
• Assessment fees
• All specialist course equipment
• Insurances

Furthermore certain personal items will need to be brought to the course and are not included in the costs. These are:

• Surf Life Saving Great Britain (SLSGB) Membership
• Wetsuit (suitable thickness for the time of year
• Wetsuit boots, gloves and hood (if needed)
• All food
• Swimwear (inc goggles)
• Any medication that may be needed
• Suitable warm clothes for being outside
• Waterproofs

What happens when you achieve your NVBLQ Beach Lifeguard qualification?

Upon successful completion of the National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ) you will be able to apply for your desired job role. Successful candidates receive their certificate via email from Surf Life Saving Great Britain (SLSGB) within days of the course being completed. The qualification (NVBLQ) is valid for 24 months before needing to re-qualify.

How do I re-qualify?

To re-qualify, candidates need to complete a Beach Lifeguard Proficiency within 24 months of completing the qualification. Following this initial Beach Lifeguard Proficiency you then need to complete a Beach Lifeguard Proficiency every 12 months in order to keep your qualification (NVBLQ) in date.

What if my NVBLQ qualification expires?

If your National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification expires then you have three months grace in which to complete a Beach Lifeguard Proficiency. Additionally if you go over these 3 months grace then you  need to complete a full five-day National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification in order to become re-qualified.

Why train for the National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ) with Freewave Training in Bude, Cornwall?

Our Surf Life Saving Great Britain (SLSGB)  training courses are delivered at our Surf Life Saving Great Britain (SLSGB) Accredited Training Centre in the beautiful coastal town of Bude, Cornwall. Bude has a unique set of natural training venues that provide any trainee beach lifeguard an advantage by training in Bude. These unique training resources include:

• The Bude Sea Pool - A large tidal swimming pool where skills are learnt and practiced in a calm sea water environment. The Bude Sea Pool is 91 meters long and 45 meter wide providing plenty of space to learn how to rescue people using a variety of techniques and craft.
• Summerleaze Beach - A sheltered river mouth beach complete with harbour and a large breakwater. Summerleaze Beach is perfect for practicing the rescues learnt in the sea pool but in small breaking waves. When confident performing the rescues, the learner ventures in to larger surf by moving across to more exposed parts of the bay and in to bigger surf.
• Bude Surf Life Saving Club (BSLSC) - The oldest Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) in the UK is located here in Bude. Set up in 1953 and still active today making surf life saving a part of Bude's vibrant history.

Freewave Training has been delivering the National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification since 2012. In that time we have successfully guided many candidates through their training. Most candidates that book on to the course are doing so to be able to apply to work as an RNLI Beach Lifeguard or as a Surfing Instructor.

The lead trainer at Freewave Training has been a lifeguard since 2001. He has worked as for the RNLI as a beach lifeguard and owns and runs a successful surf school and coasteering company called Freewave Surf Academy. This helps any candidates get an insight and information in these worlds. Freewave Training is also able to provide a reference to any potential employers following successful completion of the National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ)

Freewave Training is also an accredited training centre and able to deliver the following courses:

• Academy of Surfing Instructors (ASI) Surfing Instructor Level 1
• Surf Life Saving Great Britain (SLSGB) Surf Coach Safety and Rescue
• Qualsafe Emergency First aid at Work