Policy
All candidates presenting themselves at a Lifesaving Society vocational course; original or recertification, must verify their identity to the instructor, examiner or trainer.
Background
The Lifesaving Society currently requires proof of age in Bronze Medallion, National Lifeguard, and all level 1 Instructor courses (i.e. Swim Instructor). Instructors, examiners and trainers verify the ages of the candidates by verifying passports, driver’s licenses, health cards or birth certificates as per the Program Guide.
In 2025, the Society will begin phasing in this policy starting with vocational awards.
Definitions
Vocational - Lifesaving Society awards used to gain employment (see Vocational Awards).
Attestation - A verbal or written verification from a parent, legal guardian, friend or family member that is of the age of majority (18 years of age or older).
Vocational awards
Vocational courses provide successful candidates with a license issued by Lifesaving Society Ontarioin the form of a certification card and/or Find a Member record. This record indicates to an employerthat the named candidate has met the minimum competency and standards required for the indicated certification.
For the purpose of this policy, verification of identity is required for the following original and recertification courses:
- Pool Attendant and Waterpark Attendant
- Bronze Cross (original or recert)
- National Lifeguard Pool, Waterpark, Waterfront and Surf (original or recert)
- Emergency First Aid
- Standard First Aid (original or recert)
- Aquatic Supervisor and Aquatic Manager
- Swim Instructor and Lifesaving Instructor
- Swim Update Clinic
- National Lifeguard Instructor
- First Aid Instructor
- In-person recertificaiton course
- Examiner course and Trainer course
Identification requirements
To support one's identity, the identification must:
- Be valid (current)
- Include your name, date or birth and photo
- Be an original document issued by a federal, provincial, territorial or state government authority, or the equivalent abroad
The following ID are most commonly provided and meet the criteria above:
In the event that the candidate is unable to provide any of the above identification or identification that meets the three criteria, a Birth Certificate or *Health Card plus a verbal or written attestation from the parent, legal guardian, friend or family member 18 years of age or older who has known the candidates for a minimum of 2 years will be acceptable.
Process
- Candidates will produce original identification document meeting the identification
requirements to the instructor, examiner or trainer at the start of the course or recertification.
- The instructor, examiner or trainer will compare the legal name and photo contained on the identification to the name on the Lifesaving Society permanent or valid temporary certification card or Find a Member record and the individual present for the course or recertification.
Candidates whose identity has been verified by the instructor, examiner or trainer and meets all prerequisites may continue in the course or recertification.
- A verbal or written attestation may be accepted for candidates who do not have a photo on their identification. Verbal attestations should be recorded by the Instructor/Examiner/Trainer for the course using the attestation form. Completed attestation forms should be submitted to the Society with the applicable test sheet.
Attestation forms received are to be kept on file by the Affiliate and the Society in accordance with their respective organizational record-keeping policies
- The instructor, examiner or trainer will not take a copy of the identification and if one is provided, hand it back to the candidate. This is to safeguard the privacy and confidentiality of what is contained on the identification.
If the course starts or is exclusively online, the instructor, examiner or trainer will ensure privacy and confidentiality, for example, by asking each candidate to enter a breakout room to capture any essential information while the candidate displays their identification to the camera.
If an affiliate and/or instructor, examiner or trainer attaches a copy of an individual’s identification when submitting a test sheet or master sheet to the Lifesaving Society office, the Society will promptly and properly destroy the copy of the identification.
Related forms