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
Sundays, 3:30 - 5:00pm   January 15 - April 1

Niagara Centre Branch
Mondays, 5:30 - 7:00pm  January 16 – March 26

Niagara Falls Branch
Tuesdays, 4:30 - 6:00pm  January 24 – April 3

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch 
Tuesdays, 5:30 - 7:00pm  January 24 – April 3

Niagara West Branch
Tuesdays
Saturdays

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 12 – April 5

Niagara Centre Branch
Wednesdays, 5:30 - 6:30pm  January 18 – March 28

Niagara Falls Branch
Fridays, 4:30 - 5:30pm  January 20 – March 30

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Saturdays, 12:00 - 1:00pm  January 21 – March 31

Niagara West Branch
Wednesdays

Bronze Star & Basic First Aid/CPR(A)

Prerequisite: recommended completion of Star 6 or equivalent
Course Fee: $65 + HST

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Tuesdays, 6:00 - 7:30pm    January 17 – March 27
Saturdays, 4:00 - 5:30pm   January 21 – March 31

Niagara Centre Branch
Tuesdays, 6:00 - 7:30pm  January 17 – March 27

Niagara Falls Branch
Sundays, 2:30 – 4:30pm   January 22 – April 1

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

Niagara West Branch
Thursdays

Bronze Medallion & Emergency First Aid/CPR(B)

Prerequisite: 13 years of age (birth certificate required) or Bronze Star certification
Course Fee: $140 + HST
Notes: 100% attendance strongly recommended

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Saturdays, 2:30 - 5:30  January 21 – March 31

Niagara Centre Branch
Sundays, 3:00 - 6:00pm  January 15 – April 1

Niagara Falls Branch 
Thursdays, 6:00 - 8:30pm  January 19 – April 5

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

Niagara West Branch
Sundays

Bronze Cross

Prerequisite: Bronze Medallion and Emergency First Aid/CPR(B) Certificate
Course Fee: $85 + HST
Notes: 100% attendance strongly recommended

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch 
Sundays, 3:30 - 5:30pm  January 22 – April 1

Niagara Centre Branch
Sundays, 4:00 - 6:00pm  January 15 – April 1

Niagara Falls Branch
Saturdays, 4:30 - 6:30pm  January 21 – March 31

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Saturdays, 11:00am - 1:00pm  January 21 – March 31

Niagara West Branch 
Saturdays,

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
Not offered in Winter.

Niagara Centre Branch
Not offered in Winter.

Niagara Falls Branch
Not offered in Winter.

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

Niagara West Branch 
Not offered in Winter.

YMCA Swim Instructors & LSS Lifesaving Instructors

Prerequisite: 16+ years and Bronze Cross
Course Fee: $ 130 + HST
Notes: 100% attendance and participation required.

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Not offered in Winter.

Niagara Centre Branch
Not offered in Winter.

Niagara Falls Branch
Not offered in Winter.

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Tuesdays, 5:30 - 9:30pm    January 17 – March 27

Niagara West Branch 
Mondays,

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: $255 + HST
Notes: 100% attendance and participation required

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Thursdays, 6:30 – 10:30pm January 26 – March 29

Niagara Centre Branch
Sundays, 12:00 – 9:00pm January 22 – February 26

Niagara Falls Branch
Not offered in Winter.

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

Niagara West Branch
Not offered in Winter.

NLS Recert

Course Fee: $70 + HST
Notes: Must bring proof of certification to recert.

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Sunday, 3:30 - 9:30pm February 26

Niagara Centre Branch
Sunday, 1:00 – 8:00pm April 22

Niagara Falls Branch
Sunday, 3:00 - 9:00pm April 15

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Sunday, 3:00 - 9:00pm March 25

Niagara West Branch
Not offered in Winter.

First Aid

Standard First Aid + CPR(C)

Course Fee: $87 + HST
Notes: 100% attendance and participation required. Certification issued through Lifesaving Society.

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Saturday/Sunday, 10:00am - 6:00pm January 14 & 15 or February 11 & 12

Niagara Centre Branch
Saturday/Sunday, 10:00am – 6:00pm March 24 & 25

Niagara Falls Branch
Saturday/Sunday, 10:00am - 6:00pm March 3 & 4

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Saturday/Sunday, 10:00am - 6:00pm February 11 & 12

Niagara West Branch
Saturday/Sunday, 10:00am – 6:00pm March 31 & April 1

Standard First Aid + CPR(C) Recert

Course Fee: $55 + 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  March 25

Niagara Centre Branch
Sunday, 10:00am – 6:00pm March 4

Niagara Falls Branch
Saturday, 10:00am - 6:00pm February 25

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

Niagara West Branch
Sunday, 10:00am – 6:00pm March 11

Babysitting Course 

Prerequisite: Minimum age 11 years
Course Fee: $45

Niagara Falls Branch
Saturday, 9:00am – 3:00pm
April 7 or May 5

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

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. 

Offered this winter in St. Catharines at the Walker Family YMCA.
Tuesday, 6:00 - 10:00pm January 31 - March 20

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.

Tuesday, 6:00 - 10:00pm March 27 - April 17

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.

Saturday, 9:00am - 6:00pm March 24

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 core 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 April 1

Group Choreography: Sunday, 9:00am - 6:00pm March 25

Group Cycle: Sunday, 9:00am - 6:00pm March 25

Group Resistance: Sunday, 9:00am - 6:00pm April 1

Group Core Stretch & Strength: Sunday, 9:00am - 6:00pm April 1

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