Workplaces who need to verify swimming ability of staff or volunteers, particularly as part of pre-entry recruit requirements, our CorePass® Competent Swimmer aims to provide a global benchmark for swimmer competency.
Three levels to give task appropriate swim testing
Based on an analysis of pre-entry swim tests used by public safety agencies around the world, the IPSQA CorePass® Competent Swimmer I provides a credible standard to ensure personnel can demonstrate basic swimming skills.
Competent Swimmer II is the next level, aimed at surface water rescuers involving in lifeguarding at pools and open water, flood and swiftwater rescue personnel, and rescue swimmers. It is also has been designed to aid compliance with new OSHA requirements for annual skills checks.
Competent Swimmer III is the highest level and uses the IADRS watermanship test aimed at professional divers.
Graduates of these tests receive a CorePass® certificate that includes a wallet card with QR code, making verification easy. The CorePass® Competent Swimmer is valid for 12 months.
| Swim Test I | Swim Test II | Swim Test III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target Audience | Public safety recruits | Surface water rescuers | Public safety divers |
| Distance Swim (d) | 200m | 400m | 500 yards |
| Distance Swim (t) | 5 minutes | 8 minutes | As per IADRS range |
| Sprint Swim (d) | No | 50m (head above water) | No |
| Sprint Swim (t) | No | 50 seconds | No |
| Tread water (t) | 2 minutes | 10 minutes | 15 minutes |
| Duck dive retrieval (d) | 1.5-2 metres | 1.5-2m | 9 feet |
| Duck dive object (kg) | 1 kg | 3 objects/multi-dives ok | |
| Victim Tow (d) | No | 50 metres | 100 yards |
| Victim Tow (t) | No | 2.5 minutes | As per IADRS range |
| Snorkel Swim (d) | No | No | 800 yards |
| Snorkel Swim (t) | No | No | As per IADRS range |
| Meets/Exceeds Standard | Various public safety agencies departmental recruit standards. | ILS, American Red Cross Lifeguard, PADI Waterskills | IADRS |
| IPSQA Standard | 7025:2024 | 7056:2025 | 7057:2025 |
Our CorePass® scheme is different from our other certifications (such as CertPubS®, DefraQual®, ProQual, WorkQual etc), as it does not use the ISO17024:2012 standard. This means the assessor can also be the candidate’s instructor and a lighter level of quality assurance applies. Assessment is still robust with the Accredited Testing Provider still required to ensure assessment tools used are compliant and that evidence is retained for external audit and moderation.
As CorePass® Competent Swimmer is not a lifesaving or rescue certification, candidates seeking certification for such roles IPSQA offers a range of other certification products including:
- IPSQA CorePass® Lifesaving Bronze Medallion
- IPSQA CorePass® First Aid I-IV (Basic to Advanced)
- IPSQA CorePass® Flood Worker Safety
- IPSQA CorePass Competent Life Jacket User
- IPSQA Swiftwater Rescue series
Contact us or your local Accredited Testing Centre for further information.