Certification Courses

Enrichment Courses offered at the YMCA refer to all instructional programs offered for a fee. These programs are open to both members and non-members (unless otherwise stated), and are designed to enhance your lifestyle, acquire new skills and enrich your body, mind, and spirit.

Advanced Aquatics

The YMCA is dedicated to offering high quality enrichment courses to help individuals develop in spirit, mind and body. The exam date (where applicable) is the last day of the course. Prerequisites are to be presented on the first day of the course. All prerequisites listed as current must be current within 2 years of last day of the course. Participants must be of age by the last day of the course. Non-members are welcome unless otherwise stated.

Cancellations can be made by fax, email or in person a minimum of 4 business days before the start of the course to receive a full refund.  Cancellations made less than 4 business day before the start of the course will be refunded less an administration fee of 35% of the full course fee. Cancellations will not be refunded after the course begins unless a medical note is provided.  All enrichment course refunds will be mailed within 14 business days of submission. 

The YMCA of Niagara offers a comprehensive selection of Advanced Aquatics programs including Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, Instructors and NLS. We also offer Standard First Aid courses and recertification.

Please note: Classes are not offered on Holidays.

YMCA Master Swimmer (Members only)

Prerequisite: 10 years of age and completion of Star 6 or equivalent
Course Fee: $0

Notes: 6 hours of volunteer assisting an instructor is required outside scheduled class time.

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Tuesdays, 6:00 – 7:30pm July 6-August 31

Niagara Centre Branch
Mondays, 5:30 - 7:00pm July 5-August 30

Niagara Falls Branch
Not offered over the summer.

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Franch
Not offered over the summer.

Lifesaving Fitness Bronze, Silver, Gold (Members only)

Prerequisite: 10 years of age and completion of Star 6 or equivalent
Course Fee: $0

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Thursdays, 7:00 – 8:00pm July 8-September 2

Niagara Centre Branch
Wednesdays, 5:30 – 6:30pm July 7-September 1

Niagara Falls Branch
Fridays, 4:30 – 5:30pm  July 9-September 3 

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30pm July 6-August 31

Bronze Star & Basic First Aid/CPR(A)

Prerequisite: recommended completion of Star 6 or equivalent
Course Fee: $55 

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Tuesdays, 6:00 – 7:30pm July 6-August 31 

Niagara Centre Branch
Tuesdays, 6:00 - 7:30pm July 6-August 31

Niagara Falls Branch
NOT OFFERED for Summer

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
NOT OFFERED for Summer

Bronze Medallion & Emergency First Aid/CPR(B)

Prerequisite: 13 years of age (birth certificate required) or Bronze Star certification
Course Fee: $135 + HST
Notes: 100% attendance strongly recommended

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Not offered summer.

Niagara Centre Branch
Not offered summer.

Niagara Falls Branch 
Not offered summer.

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 5:30pm August 9-August 13
*NOTE: Course will be located at Kinsmen Pool.

Bronze Cross

Prerequisite: Bronze Medallion and Emergency First Aid/CPR(B) Certificate
Course Fee: $73 + HST
Notes: 100% attendance strongly recommended

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Not offered summer

Niagara Centre Branch
Not offered summer

Niagara Falls Branch
Not offered summer

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Monday - Friday, 10:00am - 5:30pm August 9-August 13
*NOTE: Course will be located at Kinsmen Pool.

Bronze Cross Recertification

Course Fee:
Notes: Must bring proof of certification to recert. Dates to be arranged through the local branch Aquatic Coordinator

YMCA Assistant Swim Instructors

Prerequisite: 14 years and Bronze Cross. Recommended completion of YMCA Master Swimmer.
Course Fee: $
Notes: 100% attendance and participation required. 12 hours of volunteer assistant teaching required outside of class time.

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

Niagara Centre Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

Niagara Falls Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

YMCA Swim Instructors & LS Lifesaving Instructors

Prerequisite: 16+ years and current Bronze Cross
Course Fee: $
Notes: 100% attendance and participation required. Not offered for Fall

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

Niagara Centre Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

Niagara Falls Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

National Lifeguard Service - NLS

Prerequisite: 16 years of age (birth certificate required), Bronze Cross and current Standard First Aid/CPR(C) – Standard First Aid must be from organizations recognized in Ontario public pool regulations. (Lifesaving Society, Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance)
Course Fee: 
Notes: 100% attendance and participation required

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

Niagara Centre Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

Niagara Falls Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

NLS Recert

Course Fee: $
Notes: Must bring proof of certification to recert.

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

Niagara Centre Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

Niagara Falls Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

Adult Bronze Medallion & Emergency First Aid/CPR(B) & Bronze Cross

Prerequisite: 15+ years of age and able to swim 200m [8 lengths] continuously
Course Fee: $180 + HST
Notes: 100% attendance and participation strongly recommended

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Thursdays, 6:00 – 10:30pm July 8 - September 3

First Aid

Standard First Aid + CPR(C)

Course Fee: $80 + HST
Notes: 100% attendance and participation required. Certification issued through Lifesaving Society.

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Saturday/Sunday, 10:00am – 6:00pm July 10 & 11

Niagara Centre Branch
Saturday/Sunday, 10:00am – 6:00pm August 21 & 22

Niagara Falls Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

Standard First Aid + CPR(C) Recert

Course Fee: $
Notes: Must bring proof of certification to recert. You must hold certification from the Lifesaving Society (blue card) dated no more than 3 years from date of issue to attend this recertification. You may only recertify once, then subsequently you must repeat the full course. Thereafter, you many renew by alternating recertification and full course.

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch 
NOT OFFERED for summer

Niagara Centre Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

Niagara Falls Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
NOT OFFERED for summer

Babysitting Course

Babysitting Course

Prerequisite: Minimum age 11 years
Course Fee: $45

Niagara Falls Branch
Saturday, 9:00am – 4:00pm

Fort Erie Branch
Saturday, 9:00am – 4:00pm 

Adult Health & Fitness Enrichment

Personal Training

Personal Training is one-on-one sessions with a qualified, caring fitness trainer who customizes a training program and provides constant motivation, education and guidance.

Members only

Fees: Three sessions - $120+GST
Ten sessions - $375+GST

To register, visit the Membership Desk.

YMCA Fitness Leadership Training Program

Become a group fitness instructor or individual conditioning instructor.  This course is offered for YMCA members only and includes Basic Theory, CPR[A] and one instructor specialization – either Individual Conditioning or Group Fitness [with one stream]

Prerequisites: 16+years and current YMCA member. 
Course Fee: $110+gst

Notes: 100% attendance and participation required.  Apprenticeship and practicum hours completed outside of course time.  Course end date for group fitness instructor specialization is dependent on chosen stream. 

Watch for Fall Registration. 

YMCA Individual Conditioning Instructor

For those who are a YMCA Group Fitness Instructor and want to become an Individual Conditioning Instructor. 

Prerequisite: completion of YMCA Fitness Leadership Training Program
Course Fee: $40+gst

Notes: 100% attendance and participation required.  Apprenticeship and practicum hours completed outside of course time. 

St Catharines

YMCA Group Fitness Instructor

For those who are a YMCA Individual Conditioning Instructor and want to become a Group Fitness instructor. 

Prerequisite: completion of YMCA Fitness Leadership Training Program
Course Fee: $40+gst

Notes: 100% attendance and participation required.  Apprenticeship and practicum hours completed outside of course time.  Course end date is dependent on chosen stream. 

St Catharines

YMCA Group Fitness Streams

Each stream focuses on the skills needed to instruct the specific type of class.  Choose from: aquatic fitness, group chorography, group cycle, group resistance, group stretch and strength

Prerequisite: current certification as a YMCA Group Fitness Instructor
Course Fee: $20+gst per stream

Notes: 100% attendance and participation required.  Apprenticeship and practicum hours completed outside of course time.  Course end date is dependent on chosen stream. 

Aquatic Fitness:

Group Choreography: 

Group Cycle:

Group Resistance:

Group Stretch & Strength:

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