The Advantages of Red Cross Swimming Instructor Certification

Becoming a certified swimming instructor through the Red Cross has many notable advantages. The skills and confidence you'll acquire through Red Cross training will help you keep others safe and become more marketable as an instructor.

  1. Safety

    • Swimming is one of the most commonly taught athletic skills in our society. Even children who do not participate competitively are exposed to swimming opportunities. This encourages many parents to send their children to formal swimming lessons. Even those who do not have children may still wish to learn better swimming skills, in case they happen to be around during an emergency. Certification with the Red Cross helps enable citizens to become active participants in their community. Additionally, not only can instructors help keep kids safe around water, they can also use their CPR training on other occasions. Successful completion of the program certifies a participant for three years.

    Employment Opportunities

    • Red Cross certification is one of the most sought-after qualifications by employers nationwide. Companies typically request that an applicant disclose any acquired skills; some employers even specifically ask about safety training. The Red Cross is a well-respected organization and affiliation with them looks excellent on a resume. Additionally, many parents prefer that their child's caretakers be safety-trained and will only hire people with such experience. Swimming instructor training dramatically enhances work opportunities in an increasingly competitive society.

    Personal Satisfaction

    • Becoming a certified Red Cross swimming instructor requires an extensive investment of time and energy, and thus builds character and self-confidence. The consistent degree of discipline demanded by the program is evident when considering its attendance and test-scoring policies. Participants are required to go to training sessions; failure to show up to even one results in termination from the program. Additionally, each applicant must score a minimum of 80 percent on all examinations. Those who are challenged by tests and/or find it difficult to stick to a training schedule can learn lifelong skills while working to balance their priorities. Most swimming instructors find that their ability to protect members of their society from potential emergencies is worth the immediate discomfort they experience. They may even seek out this unique and irreplaceable gratification in other aspects of life.