Water Safety Instructor Training


American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Course

See Training Schedule & Fees for course times and registration.


Green Chimneys offers American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (WSI) training for individuals to become certified in the skills needed to teach aquatics to swimmers of every age and ability. Training participants will learn to help individuals enjoy their time in the water safely, and in a wide range of ways. Coursework includes homework and teach-back assignments, along with regular feedback from classmates.

Successful completion of this comprehensive course receives an American Red Cross certificate for all levels of swim instruction, valid for 2 years.

Participant Requirements

  • Must be 16 years old on or before final course date
  • Complete all prerequisites and class assignments
  • Attend and participate in all scheduled classes
  • Pass all written exams with a minimum grade of 80% or higher

Course Prerequisites:

  1. Complete online Blended Learning before the first day of class
    (link emailed upon registration)
  2. Swim the following skills at a Learn-To-Swim Level 4
    · Maintain position on back 1 minute in deep water; sculling allowed
    · Tread water 1 minute
    · Front Crawl – 25 yards
    · Back Crawl – 25 yards
    · Breaststroke – 25 yards
    · Elementary Backstroke – 25 yards
    · Sidestroke – 25 yards
    · Butterfly – 25 yards

Certification Includes

  • Learn-To-Swim (6 Levels)
  • Parent and Child Aquatics (2 Levels)
  • Pre-School Aquatics (3 Levels)
  • Adult Aquatic Training (3 Levels)
  • Water Safety Outreach, includes
  • Basic Water Rescue
  • Personal Water Safety
  • Safety Training for Swim Coaches
  • Water Safety Today
  • Water Safety presentations, which include the following:
  • General Water Safety
  • Home Pool Safety
  • Parent Orientation to Swim Lessons
  • Sun Safety
  • Rip Current Safety
  • Longfellow’s W.H.A.L.E. Tales

For more information contact

Suzanne Frasca at [email protected]  or 845.279.2995 ext 305