Certification Courses

Aquatic Leadership Certification Courses – Sign Up
First Aid & Safety Certification Courses – Sign Up

Open the door to employment and volunteer possibilities through our YMCA Aquatic Certifications and Leadership 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.

Not certified? No problem!
For qualified applicants, the following certifications are FREE:
Workplace Standard First Aid, Bronze Cross, NLS-Pool and Swim Instructor.
Ask us how to get started with certification.
Email: Kathleen.Kowalchuk@ymcafredericton.org
call: 462 – 3000 ext. 108

Spring ’23 – Leadership Certification Courses

The Spring session runs from the week of April 10 – Week of June 19

Pre-registration for current members with an active membership who were enrolled in Winter ’23 program begins on Tuesday, March 28 at 7:00 a.m. and closes on Wednesday, March 29 at 11:59 p.m.

Open registration will begin ONLINE and in person at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, March 31. 

The Winter Term will END the week of March 27.

Please download a copy of  the schedule for ALL Swimming Lessons Here.

Aquatic certifications through the Lifesaving Society (10+ years old) are offered at the YMCA of Fredericton to both members and non-members (fees apply).

First Aid certifications through the Lifesaving Society (12+ years old) & Babysitters Training certification through the Canadian Safety Council (12 – 15 years old) are offered at the YMCA of Fredericton to both members and non-members (fees apply).

Certification Sunday Fee
Bronze Star*

April 11, 18, 25
May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
June 6, 13
6:40 – 7:40 PM

$50

*Prerequisite(s) required.

Certification Friday Saturday Sunday Fee (+HST)
Bronze Medallion &
Workplace Standard First Aid
with CPR-C*


April 28 – Medallion
6:00 PM – 9:45 PM

April 22 – WSFA
8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

April 29 – Medallion
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

April 23 – WSFA
8:00 AM – 5:30 PM

April 30 – Medallion
10:30 AM – 8:00 PM

$200
Bronze Cross*

May 12
6:00 PM – 9:45 PM

May 13
8:30 AM – 7:00 PM
May 14
8:30 AM – 8:30 PM
$175
National Lifeguard Service – Pool*

June 2
6:00 PM – 9:15 PM

June 9
6:00 PM – 9:45 PM

June 3
8:30 AM – 6:30 PM

June 10
8:30 AM – 7:30 PM

June 4
8:30 AM – 6:30 PM

June 11
8:30 AM – 9:00 PM

$250
Workplace Standard First Aid
with CPR – C*
May 27
8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
May 28
8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
$125
Babysitters Training Course* April 15
8:30 AM – 6:30 PM

OR

May 6 
8:30 AM – 6:30 PM

$55

*Prerequisite(s) required.

Lifesaving Society Aquatic Leadership Certification Courses

Please view tables above to see if/when courses are being offered.

Develops swimming proficiency, lifesaving skill and personal fitness. Candidates refine their stroke mechanics, acquire self-rescue skills, and apply fitness principles in training workouts. Bronze Star is excellent preparation for success in Bronze Medallion and provides a fun introduction to lifesaving sport.

Prerequisite: 10 – 12 years old or Star 7 (or an equivalent skill level).

10 hours with successful learning activities for Bronze Star certification │ $50.00

Sign Up

Bronze Medallion challenges the candidate both mentally and physically. Judgment, knowledge, skill, and fitness – the four components of water rescue – form the basis of Bronze Medallion training. Candidates acquire the assessment and problem-solving skills needed to make decisions in, on, and around the water. Bronze Medallion is a prerequisite for assistant lifeguard training in Bronze Cross.

Workplace Standard First Aid provides comprehensive training that covers all aspects of first aid and CPR. Workplace Standard First Aid is designed for those who require a more in-depth understanding of first aid including: legal implications of first aid treatment, spinal injuries, heat or cold injuries, bone and joint injuries, chest injuries and medical emergencies.

Prerequisite: Minimum 13 years of age or Bronze Star certification (need to be current) and intermediate stroke standard.

15 hour course + 3 hour successful exam for Bronze Medallion certification; 16 hour course + 70% written exam and on-going evaluation for WSFA certification │ $200.00 +HST

Sign Up

Begins the transition from lifesaving to lifeguarding and prepares candidates for the responsibilities as assistant lifeguards. Candidates strengthen and expand their lifesaving skills and begin to apply the principles and techniques of active surveillance in aquatic facilities. Bronze Cross emphasizes the importance of teamwork and communication in preventing and responding to aquatic emergencies. Bronze Cross is a prerequisite for advanced training in the Society’s national Lifeguard and leadership certification programs.

Prerequisite: Bronze Medallion and Lifesaving Society Emergency or Workplace Standard First Aid certifications (need not be current).

20 hour course + 3 hour successful exam for Bronze Cross certification │ $175.00 +HST

Sign Up

Canada’s only nationally recognized lifeguard certification program. National Lifeguard is a legal certificate for lifeguarding throughout the country.

Prerequisite: Minimum 15 years of age. Bronze Cross certification and Lifesaving Society Standard First Aid (need not be current).

40 hour course + 4 hour successful exam for NLS-Pool certification │ $250.00 +HST

Sign Up

National Lifeguard certification is current for 2 years and is recertified by completing a National Lifeguard recertification exam.

The National Lifeguard recertification exam is your opportunity to demonstrate your skills and recertify your award. You are responsible for reviewing the required content and skills and preparing yourself for the exam. Your exam is based on the National Lifeguard Award curriculum. The required content for this curriculum can be found in your Alert text and the Canadian Lifesaving Manual.

5 hour exam for NLS-Pool recertification │ $80.00 +HST
Recert available based on demand. Contact Aquatics manager for more info (Kathleen.Kowalchuk@ymcafredericton.org or 462-3000 EXT 108).
Sign Up
  • Lifesaving Instructor (LSI)
  • Examiner Course
  • First Aid Instructor (FAI)
  • National Lifeguard Instructor (NLI)

For more information on when these leadership courses will be offered, please visit Lifesaving Society New Brunswick.

Sign Up

YMCA Aquatic Leadership Certification Courses

Please view tables above to see if/when courses are being offered.

Do you love the water, working with kids and everything else aquatics?

This is great way to develop your aquatic teaching skills and an intro to teaching swimming lessons at the YMCA.

The course is free, and once completed you’re ready to volunteer with a senior YMCA swim instructor mentor. You’ll gain experience to become a certified YMCA Swim Instructor for future employment at the YMCA of Fredericton once certified with Bronze Cross and/or National Lifeguard Service – Pool.

Prerequisite: 14 – 15 years old, Star 7 (or an equivalent skill level) and intermediate stroke standard.

16 hour course including on-going evaluation for YMCA Assistant Swim Instructor certification │ Free

Sign Up
Upon successful completion of the course, graduates are guaranteed a swim instructor position at the YMCA. As a leader in the pool, you can play an essential role in helping others learn to swim and improve their health in many ways. You will learn a variety of teaching techniques, lesson planning, progressions, and more. To put it all into practice, you’ll also work alongside a certified YMCA Swim Instructor to teach children during a swim lesson.

Prerequisite: Minimum 15 years of age. Bronze Cross and Lifesaving Society Workplace Standard First Aid certifications.

42 hour course including on-going evaluation for YMCA Swim Instructor certification │ $TBD +HST

Sign Up
If you have ever wanted to instruct Aqua Fit classes, then this course is for you. Our YMCA leadership courses take you through all of the theoretical and practical information that you need to become a YMCA certified Aquatic Fitness Instructor. In this course, you will learn anatomy, physiology, principles of group fitness classes held in water, class components, class safety and exercise design. Through a combination of in-class practice in the water, an apprenticeship and online learning modules, this short course will have you equipped to teach Aqua Fit classes. In addition, you will be randomly partnered with an experienced Aqua Fit instructor for 1-2 hours per week to gain your apprenticeship hours.

Prerequisite: Minimum 16 years of age and current CPR – A.

42 hour course including on-going evaluation + 85% written exam for YMCA Aqua Fit Instructor certification │ $TBD +HST

For more information, please contact Joan at Joan.Gillespie@ymcafredericton.org.

First Aid & Safety Leadership Certification Courses

Please view tables above to see if/when courses are being offered.

Provides comprehensive training that covers all aspects of first aid and CPR. Workplace Standard First Aid is designed for those who require a more in-depth understanding of first aid including: legal implications of first aid treatment, spinal injuries, heat or cold injuries, bone and joint injuries, chest injuries and medical emergencies.

Prerequisite: Minimum 12 years of age.

16 hour course + 70% written exam and on-going evaluation for WSFA certification │ $125.00 +HST

Sign Up

The Babysitters Training Course is one of Canada Safety Council’s longest running programs. The course is an ideal community project, which can help prevent injuries and promote the responsible management of common situations that may arise while children are under the care of babysitters.

Prerequisite: 12 – 15 years old.

10 hour course + 75% written exam for Babysitters Training Course certification │ $55.00 +HST

Sign Up

CPR-C covers all aspects of CPR skills and theory for adults, children and infants including two-rescuer CPR skills. CPR-C includes the importance of early defibrillation and how to use an AED. CPR-C certification is included in Standard First Aid.

Prerequisite: Minimum 12 years of age.

8 hour course including on-going evaluation for CPR-C certification │ $TBD+HST