Instructor training
American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Course
Build the skills to teach swimming and water safety to children and adults through American Red Cross instructor training.
Upcoming Water Safety Instructor classes
Every date, location, and the full price before you register. No account needed.
Course overview
Water Safety Instructor (WSI) training prepares candidates to teach the Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program, including Parent and Child Aquatics, Preschool Aquatics, Learn-to-Swim Levels 1–6, and Adult Swim.
Practice planning lessons, demonstrating skills, observing swimmers, and giving feedback that helps participants progress.
Before you enroll
Candidates must meet Red Cross age and swimming prerequisites and successfully complete the precourse assessment. Contact us before registering to confirm eligibility and preparation requirements.
Come ready to demonstrate front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, elementary backstroke, sidestroke, and butterfly, along with floating and treading water in deep water.
What you will learn
- Plan safe lessons for different ages and swimming abilities.
- Use Red Cross teaching materials and skill progressions.
- Demonstrate strokes and evaluate participant performance.
- Adapt instruction for swimmers with different learning needs.
- Communicate progress and teach practical water safety skills.
Training and certification
Training includes classroom learning, in-water skill development, and practice teaching. Each scheduled class will list its meeting times, location, and any online preparation requirements.
Certification requires successful completion of the precourse session, full participation, teaching assignments, and a final written exam score of at least 80%. The Water Safety Instructor certificate is valid for two years.
Materials and preparation
Candidates use the Water Safety Instructor’s Manual and Swimming and Water Safety manual. Contact us for the materials list and preparation instructions before your class.