The City of Toronto offers Aquatic Fitness certification courses through WaterART Fitness International. The City, in collaboration with WaterART Fitness International, also offers an opportunity each fall to participate in an Aquatic Fitness Conference.
Certifications on this page may lead to employment in the private sector. For certifications necessary for City of Toronto employment in indoor/outdoor pools, wading pools and beaches, visit Aquatic Leadership.
Explore Aquatic Fitness Instructor Certifications
The Aquatic Fitness Instructor Certification course, led by a WaterART Master Trainer, focuses on developing important skills instructors will need to teach a fun, safe and effective aquatic fitness class.
These skills include:
These skills will be taught through a combination of classroom and in-water sessions. Practical and written examinations will be in addition to the course.
Candidates do not have to be a lifeguard to join this program.
Explore Specialty Aquatic Fitness Instructor Certifications
Prerequisites:
Recommended:
The City of Toronto offers certification in a variety of disciplines through WaterART Fitness International. Skills are taught through a combination of classroom and in-pool sessions. Practical and written examinations are components of each specialty.
Each year, a selection of the following disciplines is offered.
The Arthritis Instructor course will review common forms of arthritis, exercise design and safety guidelines, class design, functional range of motion and joint actions, and provide an arthritis specific exercise inventory.
The goal of the program is to teach instructors how to provide a more athletic and intense approach to aquatic fitness. The principles of cross-training using the protection and multi-dimensional resistance of the water is explored. Advanced equipment and techniques will be examined to improve cardiovascular conditions and muscular strengthening.
Candidates will learn how to assist parents maintain and enjoy fitness as they exercise with their baby or toddler through the early years. Instructor candidates will learn how to use music, functional movement, and water play to facilitate parent-child bonding during exercise.
Children require fun and exercise. Candidates will learn class design and organization that is intended to help facilitate children’s programs in a positive environment.
This program teaches instructors how to design and deliver dynamic circuit training workouts in both shallow and deep water environments. Participants will learn how to integrate buoyancy and resistive equipment, vary intensity levels, and adapt exercises to accommodate multiple fitness levels. The course will review safe exercise design, circuit programming strategies, cross-training benefits, and methods to maximize caloric burn and class engagement.
Instructor candidates will investigate common movement disorders including Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis and strokes for the purpose of designing programs suitable for these conditions. Instructor candidates will learn how to incorporate necessary functional exercises to aid with participants activities of daily living, as well as incorporate balance and posture retraining, muscular strengthening, flexibility and agility.
This goal of this program is to enable instructor candidates to design a mindful group exercise program providing a variety of balance movements utilizing Pilates, Tai Chi, Yoga and other mindful movements.
The Pre and Post Natal program teaches candidates how to modify specific water exercises specific to the needs of women who are pre- or post-delivery that include cardio, muscle conditioning, flexibility and strength building exercises. Safety and contraindications to exercise will also be reviewed.
This advanced intensity program will review both shallow and deep water running techniques. The training will explore aquatic running with high-intensity interval training as well as total body muscular balancing approach for injury prevention.
Senior Part I explores the functionality of seniors using water exercise and the impact of water movement in improving the activities of daily living. Candidates will learn the skills they require to teach an engaging and safe aquatic fitness class with a focus on simple and basic movements that help build posture, balance and mobility.
Senior Part 2 Instructor candidates will explore theoretical and practical testing that will cover how water exercise has a positive effect on the aging population, including those with common medical conditions. Instructors will review safety tips and possible modifications for teaching water exercise to a group with a variety of skill levels and health histories.
This intensive certification explores many types of individual and group sports activities. Training includes aquatic cycling, aquatic running, finning, boot camp and the correct use of equipment to progress and challenge participants. Instructor candidates will learn techniques to help athletes prevent common sports injuries or to speed up recovery.
This program teaches instructors how to integrate martial arts-inspired movements into aquatic fitness classes, combining powerful punching and kicking techniques with the natural resistance of water. Participants will learn how to design safe, effective, and engaging workouts that enhance flexibility, agility, core strength, and muscle balance, while minimizing joint stress. The course will review aquatic kickboxing principles, class design strategies, exercise safety guidelines, and methods for adapting intensity to suit various fitness levels.
The water walking program reviews ways to improve gait and provides a variety of stretching, strengthening and cardiovascular conditioning exercises. Learning a variety of walking patterns and progressions will provide additional core, posture, balance, and mobility benefits.
To renew Aquatic Fitness Instructor or Specialty certifications, one of the following options must be completed before the certification(s) expire.
Please check with the certifying body on certification renewals, acceptable qualifying workshops and training programs for recertification. Visit WaterART Fitness International for more information on recertification of these awards.