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 - Thanksgiving October 11.

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 September 21 - November 30
Sundays, 3:30 – 5:00pm September 26 - December 12

Niagara Centre Branch
Mondays, 5:30 - 7:00pm September 27 - December 13

Niagara Falls Branch
Tuesdays, 4:30 – 6:00pm September 28 - December 14

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 September 30 - December 9

Niagara Centre Branch
Wednesdays, 5:30 – 6:30pm September 29 - December 8

Niagara Falls Branch
Not offered in Fall. 

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Not offered in Fall.

Bronze Star & Basic First Aid/CPR(A)

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

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Saturdays, 4:00 – 5:30pm September 25 - December 11 

Niagara Centre Branch
Tuesdays, 6:00 - 7:30pm September 28 - December 14

Niagara Falls Branch
Fridays, 4:30 - 6:00pm October 1 - December 17

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Tuesdays, 6:00 - 7:30pm September 28 - December 14

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
Saturdays, 2:30 - 5:30pm September 25 - December 11

Niagara Centre Branch
Sundays, 3:00 - 6:00pm September 26 - December 12

Niagara Falls Branch 
Thursdays, 6:00 - 8:30pm September 23 - December 16

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Saturdays, 11:00am - 2:00pm September 25 - December 11

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
Sundays, 3:30 - 6:00pm October 3 - December 5

Niagara Centre Branch
Sundays, 4:00 - 6:00pm September 26 - December 12 

Niagara Falls Branch
Thursdays, 6:00 - 8:30pm October 14 - December 16

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Saturdays, 11:00am - 2:00pm October 2 - December 4

Bronze Cross Recertification

Course Fee: $30 + HST
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 + HST 
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 September 29 - December 8

Niagara Centre Branch
Not offered in Fall.

Niagara Falls Branch
Not offered in Fall.

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Not offered in Fall.

YMCA Swim Instructors & LSS Lifesaving Instructors

Prerequisite: 16+ years and current Bronze Cross
Course Fee: $ 110 + HST
Notes: 100% attendance and participation required.

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Not offered in Fall.

Niagara Centre Branch
Not offered in Fall.

Niagara Falls Branch
Wednesdays, 4:30 - 8:30pm September 29 - December 15

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Not offered in Fall.

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:  $240 + HST
Notes: 100% attendance and participation required

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Thursdays, 6:30 - 10:30pm  September 23 - December 2

Niagara Centre Branch
Sundays, 12:00 - 9:00pm November 7 - December 5

Niagara Falls Branch
Friday 6:00 - 10:00pm, Saturday & Sunday 12:00 - 9:00pm October 15 - October 24

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Not offered in Fall.

NLS Recert

Course Fee: $65 + HST
Notes: Must bring proof of certification to recert.

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Sunday, 3:30 - 9:30pm  September 19 or November 28

Niagara Centre Branch
Sunday, 3:00 - 9:00pm  October 24

Niagara Falls Branch
Sunday, 3:00 - 9:00pm  November 14

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Not offered in Fall.

First Aid

Standard First Aid + CPR(C)

Course Fee: $82 + HST
Notes: 100% attendance and participation required. Certification issued through Lifesaving Society.

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Saturday/Sunday, 10:00am – 6:00pm September 18 & 19

Niagara Centre Branch
Saturday/Sunday, 10:00am – 6:00pm October 16 & 17

Niagara Falls Branch
Saturday/Sunday, 10:00am – 6:00pm September 18 & 19

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Saturday/Sunday, 10:00am – 6:00pm October 2 & 3

Standard First Aid + CPR(C) Recert

Course Fee: $50 + HST 
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 September 26

Niagara Centre Branch
Saturday, 10:00am - 6:00pm  November 6

Niagara Falls Branch
Saturday, 10:00am - 6:00pm  November 13

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Saturday, 10:00am - 6:00pm  October 30

Babysitting Course

Babysitting Course

Prerequisite: Minimum age 11 years
Course Fee: $45

Niagara Falls Branch
Saturday, 9:00am – 4:00pm
November 6, December 4, April 2 or May 7

Fort Erie Branch
Saturday, 9:00am – 4:00pm 
October 23 or December 11

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 + HST
Ten sessions - $375 + HST

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 + HST

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. 

Fall Course at the Niagara Falls Branch. 
Mondays, 6:00 - 10:00pm October 4 - November 27

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 + HST

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

Niagara Falls
Saturdays, 9:00am - 6:00pm November 20 & 27

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 + HST

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
Saturdays, 9:00am - 6:00pm November 20 & other date(s) dependent on chosen stream

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 + HST 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:
Sunday, 9:00am - 6:00pm November 28 

Group Choreography: 
Sunday, 9:00am - 6:00pm November 21

Group Cycle:
Sunday, 9:00am - 6:00pm November 21

Group Resistance:
Saturday, 9:00am - 6:00pm November 27 

Group Stretch & Strength:
Saturday, 9:00am - 6:00pm November 27

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