Swimming teacher
Swimming teachers help people of all ages and abilities learn how to swim and how to improve their technique.
Also known as: Swimming coach, swimming instructor
- Starter salary£19,000 a year
- Experienced£34,000 a year
- Typical hours18 to 37 a week
What you'll do
As a swimming teacher, you'll:
- plan lessons and activities for beginners, improvers and advanced swimmers
- teach or coach one-to-one or in groups
- tailor courses to meet particular needs
- make sure safety standards are followed at all times
- check life-saving equipment is in working order
- identify ways to improve swimmers' performance
- give first aid for minor injuries or accidents
Working environment
You could work at a fitness centre or at a school.
Your working environment may be physically demanding and humid.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- leadership skills
- knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
- customer service skills
- the ability to create the best conditions for learning or teaching new things
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
- the ability to work on your own
- the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to become a swimming teacher
You can get into this job through:
- an apprenticeship
- training with a professional body
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do a Leisure Team Member Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
As part of this apprenticeship, you will be able to gain one of the following qualifications:
- Swim England Level 2 in Teaching Swimming
- Swimming Teachers' Association Level 2 Certificate in Teaching Swimming
Entry requirements
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
Other routes
You can qualify as a swimming teacher by doing Level 1 and Level 2 teaching qualifications awarded by Swim England or the Swimming Teachers' Association (STA) . You do not need teaching experience to enrol.
These qualifications allow you to teach non-swimmers, improvers and people looking to learn advanced swimming skills.
You may be able to train on the job and become qualified while you work, with support from your employer.
Courses are often flexible so you can fit them around your other commitments.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults
- be over 16 years of age
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become a swim co-ordinator or lead swimming teacher for a region, checking the quality of other swimming teachers.
With further training, you could widen your skills to work with:
- babies and pre-school children
- people with disabilities
- open water swimmers
- pool divers or aquatic sports teams
You could work as the head coach of a swimming club, or senior coach with a regional or national team. You might also move into elite sports coaching, sports development or fitness training.
Career tips
Swimming teachers often work part time and are paid by the hour. Rates can vary between £10 and £19 an hour.
Guides for this industry
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