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 January 12-March 30
Sundays, 3:30 – 5:00pm January 10-March 28 

Niagara Centre Branch
Mondays, 5:30 – 7:00pm January 11 - March 29

Niagara Falls Branch
NOT OFFERED

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Franch
NOT OFFERED

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 January 7-March 25

Niagara Centre Branch
Wednesdays, 5:30 – 6:30pm January 6-March 31

Niagara Falls Branch
Tuesdays, 4:30 – 5:30pm January 5-March 9

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
NOT OFFERED

Bronze Star & Basic First Aid/CPR(A)

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

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Tuesdays, 6:00 – 7:30pm January 12-March 23 
Saturdays, 4:00 – 5:30pm Janurary 9-March 13

Niagara Centre Branch
Tuesdays, 6:00 – 7:30pm January 5-March 30

Niagara Falls Branch
Fridays, 5:00 – 6:00pm January 8-April 9

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Tuesdays, 5:30 – 7:00pm January 5-March 9

Bronze Medallion & Emergency First Aid/CPR(B)

Prerequisite: 13 years of age (birth certificate required) or Bronze Star certification
Course Fee: $130 + GST Notes: 100% attendance strongly recommended

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Saturdays, 2:30 – 5:30pm January 9-March 27

Niagara Centre Branch
Sundays, 3:00 – 6:00pm January 3-March 28

Niagara Falls Branch 
NOT OFFERED

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Saturdays, 11:00am – 2:00pm January 9-March 13

Bronze Cross

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

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Sundays, 3:30 – 6:00pm January 17-March 28

Niagara Centre Branch
Sundays, 4:00 – 6:00pm January 3-March 28

Niagara Falls Branch
NOT OFFERED

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Saturdays, 11:00am – 1:00pm January 9-March 13

Bronze Cross Recertification

Course Fee: $27 + GST
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: $40 + GST
Notes: 100% attendance and participation required. 12 hours of volunteer assistant teaching required outside of class time.

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Wednesdays, 6:30 – 9:30pm January 20-March 10

Niagara Centre Branch
Wednesdays, 6:00 – 9:00pm January 13-March 24

Niagara Falls Branch
NOT OFFERED

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
NOT OFFERED

YMCA Swim Instructors & LS Lifesaving Instructors

Prerequisite: 16+ years and current Bronze Cross
Course Fee: $110 + GST
Notes: 100% attendance and participation required. Not offered for Fall

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
NOT OFFERED

Niagara Centre Branch
Thursdays, 6:00 – 10:00pm February 4-April 29

Niagara Falls Branch
Wednesdays, 4:30 – 8:30pm January 6-March 10

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
NOT OFFERED

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: $220 + GST
Notes: 100% attendance and participation required

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Thursdays, 6:30 – 10:30pm January 14-March 25

Niagara Centre Branch
NOT OFFERED

Niagara Falls Branch
NOT OFFERED

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
NOT OFFERED

NLS Recert

Course Fee: $53 + GST
Notes: Must bring proof of certification to recert.

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Sunday, 3:30 – 9:30pm February 28

Niagara Centre Branch
NOT OFFERED

Niagara Falls Branch
NOT OFFERED

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Sunday, 9:00 – 5:00pm March 7

First Aid

Standard First Aid + CPR(C)

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

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Saturday/Sunday, 10:00am – 6:00pm January 16 & 17

Niagara Centre Branch
Saturday/Sunday, 10:00am – 6:00pm February 20 & 21

Niagara Falls Branch
Saturday/Sunday, 10:00am – 6:00pm February 20 & 21

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Saturday/Sunday, 10:00am – 6:00pm February 27 & 28

Standard First Aid + CPR(C) Recert

Course Fee: $48 + GST
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 
Sunday, 10:00am – 6:00pm January 10

Niagara Centre Branch
Saturday, 10:00am – 6:00pm February 6

Niagara Falls Branch
NOT OFFERED

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
NOT OFFERED

Babysitting Course

Babysitting Course

Prerequisite: Minimum age 11 years
Course Fee: $45

Niagara Falls Branch
Saturday, 9:00am – 4:00pm March 20; April 24; May 15

Fort Erie Branch
Saturday, 9:00am – 4:00pm February 6; April 10; June 5

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. 

Niagara Falls/Fort Erie [located at the Niagara Falls Branch]
Tuesdays, 6-10pm October 6-January 17 2010

Niagara Centre
Saturdays and Sundays 8am-5pm January 9&10, 16, 30&31, February 6, 13 2010

St Catharines
Tuesdays, 6-10pm February 2 – May 4, 2010

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. 

Niagara Falls/Fort Erie [located at the Niagara Falls Branch]
Tuesdays, 6-10pm November 17-December 15, 2009

Niagara Centre
Saturdays and Sundays, 8am-5pm January 30, 31, 2010

St Catharines
Tuesdays, 6-10pm March 30 – April 20, 2010

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. 

Niagara Falls/Fort Erie [located at the Niagara Falls Branch]
Tuesdays, 6-10pm November 17, 24, [and date of chosen fitness stream] 2009

Niagara Centre
Saturday, 8am-5pm January 30 [and date of chosen fitness stream] 2010

St Catharines
Tuesdays, 6-10pm March 30, April 6,[and date of chosen fitness stream] 2010

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:

Niagara Falls/Fort Erie [located at the Niagara Falls Branch]: Sunday, 9-6pm January 17, 2010

Niagara Centre: Saturday, 8am-5pm February 13, 2010

St Catharines: Sunday, 9am-6pm April 18, 2010

Group Choreography: 

Niagara Falls/Fort Erie [located at the Niagara Falls Branch]: Tuesdays, 9-6pm Dec 8,15 2009

Niagara Centre: Saturday, 8am-5pm January 31, 2010 

St Catharines: Tuesdays, 6-10pm April 13,20 2010

Group Cycle:

Niagara Falls/Fort Erie [located at the Niagara Falls Branch]: Tuesdays, 9-6pm Dec 8,15 2009

Niagara Centre: Sunday, 8am-5pm January 31, 2010

St Catharines: Tuesdays, 6-10pm April 13,20  2010

Group Resistance:

Niagara Falls/Fort Erie [located at the Niagara Falls Branch]: Tuesdays, 9-6pm Jan 5,12  2010

Niagara Centre: Saturday, 8am-5pm February 6, 2010

St Catharines: Tuesdays, 6-10pm April 27, May 4  2010

Group Stretch & Strength:

Niagara Falls/Fort Erie [located at the Niagara Falls Branch]: Tuesdays, 9-6pm Jan 5,12  2010

Niagara Centre: Saturday, 8am-5pm February 6, 2010

St Catharines: Tuesdays, 6-10pm  April 27, May 4  2010

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