Swim and Dive Teacher Training and Teaching Qualifications
Is it time for a career change or a new challenge? Have you considered a career in sports teaching/coaching? Or are you looking for help in advancing your teaching career with more qualifications and skills.Edinburgh Leisure offers a wide range of accredited courses and qualifications across all stages of your career.
Introductory Courses
New to Teaching - not sure what it all entails? These courses are a perfect starting point for your swim teaching career.
Teaching Qualifications
Would you like to make a difference to peoples’ lives by helping them to learn to swim? We offer all the courses and qualifications needed to launch your teaching career.
These courses are run by Edinburgh Leisure but are booked through the Scottish Swimming website.
Career Development
Our Development Courses have been carefully designed to further develop your skills and knowledge in a range of key areas.
Introduction to Swim Teaching Course*
This workshop will provide you with a unique opportunity to gain skills, confidence and experience, and it is a great way to expand your career options. It is designed to give you insight into the roles and responsibilities of a swimming teacher, and upon completion we can help you find volunteering opportunities, working alongside our skilled swim teachers, to continue to increase your experience and knowledge.
If required, following the completion of this course, we guide you towards finding volunteering opportunities and access to the Scottish Swimming Teacher Qualification.
Scottish Swimming Teacher Qualification is the nationally recognised swim teaching qualification in Scotland.
Swimming and Dive Teaching Qualifications
Kick start your coaching career with accredited qualifications setting you on your way to becoming a certified Swim or Dive teacher.
- Scottish Swimming Teacher Qualification (Full and Conversion courses available)
- UKCC Level 1 Coaching Swimming
- UKCC Level 2 Coaching Swimming
- Early Childhood Swim Teacher's Qualification (SVQ)
Our Swim or Dive Teaching/Qualification courses must be booked via the Scottish Swimming website using the link below.
Book a Course with Scottish Swimming
Scottish Swimming Teacher Qualification (Full Course)
The new Scottish Swimming Teacher Qualification (SSTQ) is the industry standard for those who wish to teach unsupervised to groups of swimmers with a range of abilities and is essential for seeking employment as a swimming teacher. This qualification is achieved from a practically-based course and will allow you to gain the necessary skills and experience prior to progressing to an aquatics working environment. It will support your ongoing learning and development ensuring that you are fully prepared to deliver high quality lessons.
This course is taught over 8 days and costs £575.
This course is booked through the Scottish Swimming website. Please click here to book.
UKCC Level 1 Coaching Diving
Our UKCC Level 1 Diving Course is aimed at giving you the skills to coach in a competitive diving environment. The Level 1 course is open to those from age 16.
This course is booked through the Scottish Swimming website. Please click here to book.
UKCC Level 2 Coaching Diving
Our UKCC Level 2 Coaching Diving Course is aimed at giving you the skills to coach in a competitive diving environment. The Level 2 course is open to those from age 17.
This course is booked through the Scottish Swimming website. Please click here to book.
Scottish Swimming Early Childhood Swim Teaching Qualification (SCQ)
The purpose of the course is to enhance knowledge and standardise the current provision of delivery for Early Years.
In addition to developing knowledge of the fundamental principles that underpin child development, learners will also gain practical teaching techniques, games and activities which will enhance learning and development. Thorough feedback and peer evaluation will ensure that Teachers will have the opportunity to develop their skills for delivering in an Aquatic Environment.
The programme has been developed in consultation with specialists in child development to incorporate both enjoyment of an aquatic environment and ongoing development.
This course is taught over 3 days and costs £250.
This course is booked through the Scottish Swimming website. Please click here to book.
Career Development Courses
Take your Swim Teaching career to the next level with more advanced and speciailist skills and knowledge in a range of key areas including
- Additional Support Needs
- Advanced Swim Teaching
- Developing Aquatics
- Lead Teacher
Additional Support Needs Swim Teachers CPD Course*
This course is designed to further develop the understanding and knowledge of learners/swimmers impairments. It is designed to increase the swim teachers confidence and competence in teaching people with impairments to swim. It will include information and skills to develop the swim teachers knowledge and understanding of adaptations and modifications of swimming techniques.
Advanced Swim Teachers CPD Course*
Pre-requisite – ASA, UKCC Level 2 or SSTQ
This 3-day course is designed to further develop the skills and knowledge of an SSTQ teacher.
The course includes practical and classroom learning and is designed to enhance the quality of the swimming teachers’ skills. The following topics will be covered
- management of larger mixed ability classes
- development of observation skills through analysis
- identification and understanding of faults and corrections
- different ways to structure and deliver lessons to a variety of learners
Developing Aquatics Programmes CPD Course*
Minimum age 16 years
This course is designed to develop the skills of swim coordinators and swim programme managers. Candidates will attend 1 day a month over 3 months and continually develop their skills in their workplace during the duration of the course. The course will include classroom learning and candidates’ presentations. The following topics will be covered
- effective use of your pool space
- programme development
- retention of customers
- recruitment and retention of swim teachers.
At the end of this course candidates will be expected to present a project they have completed based on introducing/developing an area of their own swim programme.
SSTQ Full Course
SSTQ Conversion
UKCC Level 1 Coaching
UKCC Level 1 Diving
UKCC Level 2 Coaching
UKCC Level 2 Diving
SQA Early Years
CPD ASN
Lead Teachers CPD Course*
Pre-requisite – ASA, UKCC Level 2 or SSTQ
This 3 - day course is designed to introduce experienced swim teachers into the world of developing and mentoring trainee and newly qualified teachers. The course includes practical and classroom learning.
The following topics will be covered
- Mentoring and developing the skills of a swim teacher/volunteer
- More advanced Lesson planning and schemes of work for a variety of levels
- Self-reflection skills
- Giving and receiving feedback
- Resolving conflict