Canoe Safety Test (CST) and Pool Endorsement are two stand-alone awards offered by BCU Lifeguards to the paddling community.
Canoe Safety Test (CST)
CST used to be the pre-requisite as the safety & rescue award for aspirate canoe coaches to hold prior to gaining their coaching qualification. This has since been superseded by the Foundation Safety & Rescue (FS&R) course, however, the CST remains an active and well used award.
The award is very popular with youth groups such as sea cadets as it’s still includes the (dreaded!) assessment which lots of young people find useful. It also remains as a single discipline award – candidates take the award in either a canoe or kayak. There is also the Junior version of the award which is aimed at those 14 and under.
The full course syllabus can be found here.
Who can deliver CST?
CST & Junior CST awards can be delivered by a Lifeguard L2 Coach or CST Trainer/Assessor. To become a CST Trainer/Assessor you need to meet the following criteria:
Hold a current BCU Coaching Award (L2 or above)
- In date membership to your Home Nation
- FS&R provider status OR undergo an assessment delivering a CST course
If you meet the above criteria to register as a CST trainer all you are required to do is complete and return the registration form to us. Please note this is the same form to be used for existing CST trainers who wish to re-register with us.
Q: Is the CST still valid & am I still able to deliver it?
If you used to be able to delivery the CST then it’s very likely that you’re still able to. You will however need to go through a quick update process with us first as the administration procedures have changed slightly. Further details on what you need to do can be found here.
Q: I’m a FS&R Provider, can I also deliver the CST?
Yes, we are permitting FS&R providers to deliver the CST award. All you need to do is register with us first, details of which can be found here.
Q: How do I obtain CST pass slips?
CST pass slips are no longer valid. All CST courses are now run the same as Aquatic First Aid Courses, where the trainer collates all the candidate information on a course schedule, which can be downloaded on the trainers Zone under resources. The schedule can either be input by the trainer or sent with a cheque to BCU Lifeguards admin at the address on the schedule. CST certifcates will then be issued to the candidates. It is up to the trainer to collect any monies from the candidates.
Q: CST certificate prices
Non-Members: £12.00All cheques should be made payable to ‘BCU Lifeguards’.
Pool Endorsement
Pool endorsement is an endorsement to the CST award and is designed to provide those responsible for paddlesport sessions in swimming pools with some additional skills for use in the pool environment.
The Pool Endorsement syllabus can be found here.
Pool Endorsement is delivered by Pool Endorsement Trainer/Assessors. To become a PE TA you need to be a CST TA and also hold the Pool Endorsement award yourself. A copy of this should be email to admin@bculifeguards.org.uk with a request to allow you to deliver Pool Endorsement courses. This will then be reflected on your Trainer’s profile within the Trainer’s Zone.
Q: How do I obtain Pool Endorsement pass slips?
CST pass slips are no longer valid. All CST courses are now run the same as Aquatic First Aid Courses, where the trainer collates all the candidate information on a course schedule, which can be downloaded on the trainers Zone under resources. The schedule can either be input by the trainer or sent with a cheque to BCU Lifeguards admin at the address on the schedule. CST certifcates will then be issued to the candidates. It is up to the trainer to collect any monies from the candidates.
Q: Pool Endorsement certificate prices
Non-Members: £12.00All cheques should be made payable to ‘BCU Lifeguards’.
