PLSAS Community Education Services

The Water Safety Instructor, also known as WSI™, course trains instructor candidates to teach all of the courses presented in the Swimming and Water Safety program to all age groups; all of the courses listed above, plus Learn-to-Swim Levels 4-6 and Adult Swim. This certification is the gold standard and provides the most comprehensive training for swim instructors. This course is offered as a hybrid model online and in-person training will be provided. 

During our swim instructor certification training courses you'll learn how to help individuals enjoy their time in the water safely – and in a wide range of ways. Throughout the courses we'll focus on a number of key areas that can help you succeed as aquatics instructor, such as:

• Water safety at public pools, homes, natural bodies of water and more, including the Circle of Drowning Prevention and Chain of Drowning Survival.
• Hydrodynamics, including why some things float, resistance to movement and creating movement in water, swimming efficiency and laws of levers.
• Basic safety, survival and swimming skills to help children gain water competency.
• Helping people with disabilities and other health conditions enjoy the water safely.

Water Safety Instructors will also learn how to teach:

• Higher-level swim skills that help prepare people of all ages for any aquatic activity.
• Stroke mechanics for all competitive strokes as well as starts, turns and headfirst entries.
• Water safety certification courses, including Safety Training for Swim Coaches and Basic Water Rescue.
• Fundamentals of diving from a diving board.
• Aquatic fitness and training for people of any age.

Note: In order to participate in Basic Swim Instructor and Water Safety Instructor certification classes, participants must be at least 15 years of age by the end of the course.