Become a Swim Instructor & Lifeguard

Being a City of Vaughan Instructor and Lifeguard is more than just a job. It is a badge of honour, a title people are proud to hold and a role others aspire to. Develop and hone skills that open doors for your future, work with a supportive team that feels like family, and create friendships and memories that stay with you for life. Not sure where to start? Read the Aquatic Leadership Brochure (PDF). All required courses are presented below in the order they must be completed to support your progression. Completed the course but missed or didn’t pass the original exam? No problem! Find and register for an upcoming exam below.

Completed all your courses? It’s time to take the next step and become a trainer or take a specialty course!

Be part of the #LifeguardLife🛟

Take a First Aid Course

First aid training is about being ready when it counts. Whether it’s a requirement for work or simply a skill you want to have, these courses help you build the confidence to step in and respond in real-life situations.

Recertify Your Qualifications

Staying current matters. Recertification ensures your skills are up to date, your knowledge stays sharp and you remain ready to respond with confidence when it counts. Review the available courses below and register for a session.

Become a Specialty Instructor

Ready to take your experience even further? Becoming a specialty instructor allows you to deepen your expertise, lead more advanced programming and mentor others in specific areas of aquatics. You might be interested in teaching aquafitness, diving and/or first aid or training future lifeguards. The following certifications build on your foundation and position you as a leader in the field.

Take a Specialty Course or Clinic

Specialty courses and clinics are designed to refine your skills, expand your knowledge and support your continued growth in aquatics. The following opportunities help you stay current, develop new expertise and take on more advanced responsibilities.

Verification of Identity

As of Jan. 1, 2026, the Lifesaving Society requires all candidates registering for vocational aquatic leadership courses to verify their identity. Verification of identity will take place on the first day of the course. Accepted identification must:

• Be valid (current)
• Include your name and date of birth
• Be issued by a federal, provincial, territorial or state government authority, or the equivalent

A photo is required for most forms of identification, except for health cards and birth certificates, which are acceptable without a photo. Identification may be original, copy or digital copy. The following IDs are most commonly provided and meet the criteria above: