Swimming Instructor Course – SSI Certification
Do you love swimming and being outdoors? And are you looking for a way to make a living while doing what you love? Then look no further! Here at Fishlike we are partnering with SSI to bring you an all-new Swim Teaching Certification. Under our guidance, you’ll learn how become a successful and versatile swim teacher for children, making a difference in the world by teaching kids important life skills and values through swimming.
Being a swim teacher is a unique job that will always be valuable, in any community. As a swim teacher, you’ll transform people’s lives by helping them be healthier, fitter and happier. You also have the privilege of nurturing the future generation towards leading an active lifestyle.
We won’t deny it is hard work—but you get to enjoy the sun, the water and the fresh air while witnessing the impact of your labor first-hand as your students go from zero swimming experience to confident water-lovers. Swim teaching also gives you flexible working hours so you can adapt your job to your life situation—whether you’re a student, parent or caregiver, or someone seeking part-time or full-time employment.
WHO:
What does it take to be a good swim teacher? We’re looking for people who:
- love the water, being physically active and being outdoors
- enjoy working with kids and want to make a difference
- can swim 100m freestyle and breaststroke
- are willing to invest time and energy in learning to teach
- are creative, confident and resourceful
Our program is suitable whether you want to teach part-time or full-time. If you train with us and we’re a good fit, you also have the chance to join Fishlike as a swim teacher at the end of the program, with further training.
Still unsure about whether swim teaching would be the right choice for you? Check out our post ‘A Day in the Life of a Swim Coach’ for a first-hand account, or read our FAQs below.
WHY US:
Our program is unique in the following ways:
- It is internationally recognized and accredited, and SSI is a global organization in more than 110 countries, so you will have no problem finding employment or registering your qualifications. This program is great as a first step towards a career as a swim teacher, or as an add-on to any training and experience you already have with kids, swimming or teaching.
- It is a well-structured program based on many years of teaching experience that has proven results on real people in the real world. When you learn with us, you can be assured that you will be able to handle whoever comes in to train with you, no matter their level or experience.
- We believe in real, practical results. Once you’ve gone through your initial training, you’ll have the chance to work with real students (alongside senior coaches) so that you learn to apply your skills to real scenarios.
- Fishlike is a community of water-lovers. Not only will you get to build connection with your students, you also get exposure to experienced senior coaches as mentors, who will help you refine your swimming and teaching skills.
FAQs:
On the practical side of things, we want to be totally upfront with you about what you can expect from our certification, and when you work as a swim teacher. The following are some of the most common questions we get about this training, and being a swim teacher in general. If you have other questions, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask!
What’s the time commitment required for the training?
On average, you’ll need X time of training (hours/week) to feel confident about being able to teach on your own. During your training period, you’ll be expected to study and train independently as well as attend sessions and apprentice with senior coaches during their classes.
Who can I teach after this training?
This training program equips you with the skills to teach children and infants (3-15 years old). It does not qualify you to teach teens or adults, but it could be a good stepping-stone to further certifications in that direction.
Once you complete the training, it’s up to you to attract students and build your client network. You may wish to offer sessions in your condo, club or neighbourhood pool, to start out by teaching family members and friends, or to attract customers and clients through word-of-mouth or digital and social media marketing. You could also join a swim school or company, like Fishlike, who will do the work of getting clients for you.
Where can I teach?
You can teach in your own condo or club pool, if you have one—just check if the management has any further requirements like First Aid or Lifesaving certificates. Alternatively, you could also travel to your students to use the pool at their condo or club. You may also want to rent a private pool (again, check what their requirements are first). If you want to teach at an ActiveSG public/community pool, you will need to go through further certification to become a registered coach with the NROC before you can rent lanes.
How much time should I plan to devote to teaching?
Once you’ve completed the training and are ready to teach, it’s up to you how many hours and classes a week you take.
On average, a full-time teacher takes 4-5 sessions a day, each session being around 45mins-1hr. You might not get this advice elsewhere, but we recommend that full-time teachers stick to 4 hours/day of teaching time. This is to ensure you can sustain your interest and inspiration in teaching long-term, without getting burned out and sick of swimming. For teachers who over-commit, swimming can lose its luster—and we don’t want that to happen to you!
A part-time swim teacher has the flexibility to teach as few or as many sessions as they like. If you end up joining the Fishlike team: we are flexible about timing but we do require commitment and engagement from you to make it worthwhile for all parties.
What are the normal working hours for a swim teacher?
The most popular times for classes are weekday afternoons and early evening (after school for kids), and weekends. If you teach babies and toddlers, classes can be earlier in the day, in the mornings.
How much can I earn as a swim teacher?
In terms of earnings, when you start out, you are likely to be able to make $25-40/hour of teaching. The more experience you get, and the higher quality your instruction, the more you can charge. Within 1-2 year time, if you continue to train and improve as a swim teacher, you can increase your rate to $60-80/hour. The ceiling for kids’ classes is around $100/hour. If you’re looking for more, you can also expand into adults’ classes or specialised swimming-related classes like Mermaid Swimming, Diving, Competitive Swim Coaching etc.
WHAT: L1 + L2
Level 1:
- 2 full days training, 9-4PM, 12-16 hours (not including attachment and test)
- attachment to any program with us, or any recognized instructor-trainer for at least 12 hours
- test involving certain aspects of the material, chosen by the examiner
How to teach beginner swimmers 3yo+ based on the SSI curriculum (Aquatike 1)
Level 2:
- 2 full days training, 9-4PM, 12-16 hours (not including attachment and test)
- attachment to any program with us, or any recognized instructor-trainer for at least 12 hours
- test involving certain aspects of the material, chosen by the examiner
Standard First Aid + CPR or React Right (SSI) needs to be done separately in order to complete the certification.
WHERE:
- Oxley Bizhub 2
WHEN:
- Once a month, on the 3rd Monday and Thursday of the month. 9-2PM each day.
- Min. 2 participants to start
HOW MUCH:
- $600 for Level 1
- $700 for Level 2
The best way to find out more is to contact us—we’d love to hear from you! Find us at…