Instructor Certification

Levels

Requirements

• 18 years or older
• Open-water swim test: 400 m in under 12 minutes and a 15 m underwater swim
• Valid first aid certificate (minimum 12 hours, not older than 2 years)
• Completed water rescue / lifesaving course
• At least 50 logged hours of SUP or surfing in the discipline

Curriculum

At least 32 hours of training, followed by 10 hours of supervised teaching:

• Ocean and weather6 h
• Safety and rescue8 h
• Equipment3 h
• Teaching method8 h
• Own technique to demonstration standard5 h
• Customer care, beach rules and nature protection2 h
• Supervised teaching of real lessons10 h

Assessment

1. Written theory test, pass mark 80 %
2. In-water rescue test: reach a student 50 m out and bring them to shore within 4 minutes
3. Practical test: plan and teach a full lesson of at least 45 minutes to real beginners

The assessor holds the same or a higher certificate. Candidates never assess themselves; when the business owner is a candidate, the assessment is done by a certified instructor from outside the company.

Validity and verification

A certificate is valid for 2 years and is renewed with 20 logged teaching hours, a valid first aid certificate and a new rescue test. Every certificate has a number (SSS-…) and is entered in our instructor register.