SSI Level 2 Swim Teacher Certification

Description

The SSI Level 2 Swim Teacher certification is the advanced professional rating that transitions an instructor from teaching basic water safety to mastering technical and competitive swimming strokes. This course prepares you to teach students ranging from ages 5 through 16, focusing on moving from simple mechanics to high-level technique—emphasising not just what to do, but how to do it correctly.

Core Candidate Prerequisites

• Minimum Age: Candidates must be at least 18 years old.
• Certification Prerequisite: You must hold an active SSI Level 1 Swim Teacher certification; no equivalencies are permitted for this professional path.
• Medical Clearance: Professional candidates are required to provide a self declare based on a medical condition dated within one year of the training completion date.
• Water Fitness Evaluation: Candidates must pass the Swim Candidate Water Fitness Evaluation if it has been more than six months since their last evaluation. This includes:
  • Treading water for 10 minutes without using any aids or flotation.
  • Completing a 100-metre surface swim without stopping or standing (no time limit; goggles are permitted).

Administrative and Safety Requirements

Before final certification can be issued, the following documentation must be uploaded to your MySSI profile:

• Emergency Training: Proof of current First Aid and CPR training completed within the last two years.
• Professional Agreement: Completion and annual reaffirmation of the SSI Professional Agreement.
• Background Checks: SSI recommends (and local laws may require) a criminal background check or police clearance for professionals working with minors according to region or country.

Essential Knowledge and Recommended Qualities

• Technical Focus: At this level, the teacher’s focus shifts to technical precision, endurance, and speed development by virtue of efficiency.
• Instructional Methods: Training emphasises “Drill Execution” and “part-to-whole” teaching to help swimmers develop muscle memory for complex strokes.
• Corrective Teaching: Level 2 teachers are expected to use the “stop and correct” method immediately during a drill to prevent students from practicing incorrect forms.
• Pace and Professionalism: The class atmosphere becomes more mature and goal-oriented, requiring a higher level of professionalism and attention to detail from the instructor.

Training Path

To achieve certification, a candidate must:

• Complete all classroom academic sections and assessments in the Level 2 Swim Teacher Instructor Manual.
• Pass the program’s final exam with a minimum score of 90%.
• Complete a hands-on apprenticeship consisting of at least six lessons: four in Intermediate levels and two in Advanced levels, with a recommended cumulative time of at least three hours.

Overall, the SSI Level 2 Swim Teacher program provides the technical expertise to lead students through advanced programs, including Intermediate 1 & 2, Advanced 1 & 2, and Swim Team Prep. Once certified, you are qualified to prepare swimmers for a competitive swimming environment. Certified Level 2 teachers can also continue their career journey toward leadership recognitions like Teacher Mentor or Deck Manager.