NPLQ courses at Malden Centre

Course this March

National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) Courses

We are running an NPLQ course here at Malden Centre. Learn valuable life saving skills and become qualified for a job in lifeguarding.

And why stop there? If you become a lifeguard at a Places Leisure Centre, you will have the opportunity to progress your career in leisure, with potential Placemaker, Placemaker Manager, and Duty Manager roles available in the centre.

NPLQ stands for National Pool Lifeguard Qualification and is widely accepted by swimming pools in the UK and Ireland as a minimum qualification as a role of a lifeguard within the swimming pool. The course is split into 4 sections:

Section 1 – The Lifeguard and the Law, Swimming Pool Supervision

Element 1 – The Lifeguard and the Law
Element 2 – Swimming Pool, Hazards and Control Measures
Element 3 – Swimming Pool Supervision

Section 2 – Intervention and Rescue and Emergency Action Plans

Element 1 – Intervention and Rescue
Element 2 – Rescue of a Casualty with a Suspected Spinal Injury
Element 3 – Emergency Action Plan

Section 3 – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, AED and First Aid

Element 1 – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Element 2 – First Aid
Element 3 – Automated External Defibrillation (AED)

The course includes swimming pool rescue skills, basic life support, basic First Aid, managing a casualty suffering from a spinal injury, managing a swimming pool environment, identifying hazards that could cause harm to users and much more.

Am I eligible to take part?

Every candidate attending a NPLQ course must be 16-years-old at the time of taking the NPLQ final assessment and be able to:

  • Swim 50 metres in less than 60 seconds
  • Swim 100 metres continuously on front and back in deep water
  • Tread water for 30 seconds
  • Climb out unaided without ladder/steps and where the pool design allows

What will I receive if I am successful?

Successful candidates will receive:

  • RLSS NPLQ certificate
  • RLSS AED certificate 
  • Management of Anaphylaxis certificate

Upcoming course details

March 2025:

  • The course will run across three weekends with sessions being twice a week
  • Saturday 15th - Sunday 16th March 
  • Saturday 22nd - Sunday 23rd March 
  • Saturday 29th - Sunday 30th March

Saturday sessions will be from 9.00am - 6.00pm and Sunday sessions will be from 12.00pm - 8.00pm

Information on the course:

  • We do not offer free parking on site. There is a car park at the front of The Malden Centre which uses Ringo. We have bike racks at the front of the centre if you wish to lock your bike. Please plan your journey
  • Please be on site 15 minutes before the start time
  • Please speak to reception on your first day, they will be able to direct you to the room
  • Please bring food and drink with you. We will have regular breaks and a lunch break where you can go out to the high street to buy food if needed 
  • Bring a pen and notebook with your. A course manual will be provided on day 1 of the course
  • Bring a padlock so you can use the lockers whilst in the pool
  • Bring swimwear, dark shorts and a t-shirt each day. You will be required to be in the pool once a day, for 2 hours 
  • Please be prompt everyday with start and break times
  • Ensure that you have created an account on RLSS Tahdah here: create your account

How to book?

For more information and to book, email loriellenpatsi@pfpleisure.org