Open the door to employment opportunities
Open the door to employment and volunteer possibilities through our YMCA Aquatic Certifications programs. Certification as a lifeguard or swimming instructor can lead to employment opportunities at the YMCA and elsewhere. You'll also develop leadership skills that can have a profound impact on your future success.
Certification Programs
Bronze Medallion
In Bronze Medallion we emphasize the lifesaving principles embodied in the four components of water-rescue education: judgement, knowledge, skill, and fitness.
Rescuers will learn tows and carries as well as defence methods and releases, preparing themselves for challenging rescues involving conscious and unconscious victims of various types.
Bronze Medallion is a Lifesaving Society (LSS) certification offered through the YMCA.
Prerequisite: Must be 13 years or older, or have completed Bronze Star
Upcoming Courses
Bronze Medallion and EFA Certificate Courses
Date: July 8th - 12th
Time: 10:30 am - 3:30 pm, Mon - Fri course
Location: Les Chater Family YMCA
Fee: $195 for YMCA Members | $210 for non-members
Date: July 8th - 12th
Time: 12:00 am - 5:30 pm, Mon - Fri course
Location: Flamborough Family YMCA
Fee: $195 for YMCA Members | $210 for non-members
Date: July 13th - 21st
Time: 9:30 am - 2:00 pm, Two weekends, Sat & Sun
Location: Laurier Brantford YMCA
Fee: $195 for YMCA Members | $210 for non-members
Date: July 22nd - 26th
Time: 10:30 am - 3:30 pm, Mon - Fri course
Location: Les Chater Family YMCA
Fee: $195 for YMCA Members | $210 for non-members
Date: Aug 9th - Aug 11th
Time: Fri 4:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Sat & Sun 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. One Weekend
Location: Ron Edwards Family YMCA
Fee: $195 for YMCA Members | $210 for non-members
Date: Aug 12th - Aug 16th
Time: 10:30 am - 3:30 pm, Mon - Fri course
Location: Les Chater Family YMCA
Fee: $195 for YMCA Members | $210 for non-members
Bronze Cross
We offer Bronze Cross classes for lifesavers who want the challenge of more advanced training, including an introduction to safe supervision in aquatic facilities.
In this class we focus on the principles of teamwork, procedures, and the use of special equipment.
Bronze Cross is a Lifesaving Society (LSS) certification offered through the YMCA. It is a prerequisite for all LS advanced training programs, including National Lifeguard and Instructor Certifications (YMCA, Lifesaving Society and Red Cross).
Prerequisite: Must have completed Bronze Medallion and Emergency and CPR B certifications.
Upcoming Courses
Bronze Cross
Date: July 15th - July 19th
Time: 10:30 am - 3:30 pm, Mon-Fri Course
Location: Les Chater Family YMCA
Fee: $155 for YMCA members | $170 for non-members
Date: July 22nd - July 26th
Time: 12:00 pm - 4:30 pm, One weekend.
Location: Ron Edwards Family YMCA
Fee: $155 for YMCA members | $170 for non-members
Date: July 26th - July 28th
Time: Fri 4:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Sat & Sun 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Location: Laurier Brantford YMCA
Fee: $155 for YMCA members | $170 for non-members
Date: July 29th - Aug 2nd
Time: 10:30 am - 3:30 pm, Mon-Fri Course
Location: Les Chater Family YMCA
Fee: $155 for YMCA members | $170 for non-members
Date: Aug 12th - Aug 16th
Time: 12:00 pm - 4:30 pm, Mon-Fri Course
Location: Flamborough Family YMCA
Fee: $155 for YMCA members | $170 for non-members
Date: Aug 19th - Aug 23rd
Time: 10:30 am - 3:30 pm, Mon-Fri Course
Location: Les Chater Family YMCA
Fee: $155 for YMCA members | $170 for non-members
National Lifeguard (NL)
Learn how to fulfill your role as a professional facilitator of safe, enjoyable aquatics for everyone.
The National Lifeguard (NL) course emphasizes teamwork, leadership, and communication in the prevention of accidents and in first aid treatment of medical emergencies.
National Lifeguard is a Lifesaving Society (LSS) certification offered through the YMCA. National Lifeguard is the only nationally recognized lifeguard certification in Canada.
Prerequisite: Must be 15 years or older and have completed Bronze Cross, Standard First Aid and CPR C certifications.
Upcoming Courses
National Lifeguard Course
Date: July 22nd - July 26th
Time: 9:00 am - 5:30 pm, Mon - Fri course
Location: Hamilton Downtown Family YMCA
Fee: $285 for YMCA members | $300 for non-members
Date: Aug 10th - Aug 24th
Time: 9:00 am - 5:30 pm, Two weekends + Saturday, Aug. 24th
Location: Laurier Brantford YMCA
Fee: $285 for YMCA members | $300 for non-members
Date: Aug 26th - Aug 30th
Time: 10:30 am - 7:00 pm, Mon - Fri course
Location: Ron Edwards Family YMCA
Fee: $285 for YMCA members | $300 for non-members
National Lifeguard Recertification Course
Date: July 7th
Time: 3 pm - 8 pm
Location: Flamborough Family YMCA
Fee: $80 for YMCA members, $95 for non-members
Date: July 21st
Time: 2 pm - 7 pm
Location: Les Chater Family YMCA
Fee: $80 for YMCA members, $95 for non-members
Date: Aug 24th
Time: 12 pm - 5 pm
Location: Hamilton Downtown Family YMCA
Fee: $80 for YMCA members, $95 for non-members
Standard First Aid + CPR C
Standard First Aid incorporates all the emergency First Aid and is designed for those who require a more in-depth understanding including: legal implications of first aid treatment, spinal injuries, heat or cold injuries, bone, joint or chest injuries, and medical emergencies. Includes CPR C certification.
Standard First Aid + CPR C is a Lifesaving Society (LSS) certification offered through the YMCA.
Upcoming Courses
LSS Standard First Aid & CPR C
Date: July 6th - 7th
Time: Saturday/Sunday, 9am - 5:30pm
Location: Laurier Brantford YMCA
Fee: $120 for YMCA members | $135 for non-members
LSS Swim & Lifesaving Instructor (Combined)
Take the next step towards employment in Aquatics! Candidates will acquire proven teaching methods, planning skills, and a variety of stroke development drills and correction techniques This course offers a dual certification: Lifesaving Society Swim Instructor certification – prepares candidates to teach and evaluate swimming strokes and related skills found in the Lifesaving Society’s Swim for Life program.
LSS Swim & Lifesaving Instructor (Combined) is a Lifesaving Society (LSS) certification offered through the YMCA.
LSS Swim & Lifesaving Instructor (Combined)
Date: Aug 26th - 30th
Time: Mon - Fri 10:30 am - 7pm
Location: Les Chater Family YMCA
Fee: $375.00 for YMCA Members | $390.00 for non-members
Prerequisite(s): Must be 15 years of age or older; Must hold Bronze Cross certification or higher.
LSS Swim & Lifesaving Instructor RECERTIFICATION
Date: July 14th
Time: 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Location: Les Chater Family YMCA
Fee: $40.00 for YMCA Members | $55.00 for non-members
Prerequisite: Current or expired Lifesaving Society
Instructor (any), Examiner (any) or
Examiner Mentor
LSS Assistant Instructor
Through classroom learning and in-water practice, the Lifesaving Society Assistant Instructor course prepares candidates to help instructors with swimming and lifesaving classes. Candidates are introduced to key principles of learning and teaching while they master basic progressions. The roles and responsibilities of instructors and their assistants are emphasized.
LSS Assistant Instructor
Date: July 2nd - July 5th
Time: 10:30 am - 3:30 pm, Tues - Fri course
Location: Les Chater Family YMCA
Fee: $125.00 for YMCA Members | $140.00 for non-members, Must be 14 years of age and hold Bronze Cross certification.
Date: Aug 6th - Aug 9th
Time: 10:30 am - 3:30 pm, Tues - Fri course
Location: Les Chater Family YMCA
Fee: $125.00 for YMCA Members | $140.00 for non-members, Must be 14 years of age and hold Bronze Cross certification.
LSS Examiner Course
The Examiner course is the first step in the three-step process to become certified as an Examiner for the Lifesaving Society. The Examiner course prepares candidates to apprentice successfully as an Examiner on the exam of their choice, and it builds on the evaluation experience that candidates have attained in instructor-evaluated awards and content.
LSS Examiner Course
Date: July 28th
Time: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Location: Les Chater Family YMCA
Fee: $165.00 for YMCA Members | $80.00 for non-members, REQUIREMENTS: LSS Lifesaving Instructor OR SFA Instructor OR National Lifeguard Instructor
