ISA Certification 2019

The ISA Instructor Qualification is the only internationally recognised Surf / SUP Instructor
qualification recognised by the International Surfing Association and member organisations. All ISA
courses set the international standard for accreditation for Instructors and Coaches in the surf school
industry.

All Instructors must be a minimum age of 16 years old. Instructors under the age of 18 must
work with a supervising instructor until they reach 18 years of age, at which time they are able to
instruct on their own.

- ISA Surf Level 1 

The requirements for accreditation and gaining the ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor qualification are :

▪ Attend the 2 Day ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor Course
▪ Complete 20 practical instructing hours with a Supervisor Instructor who signs off a
competency Check List for the Trainee Instructor
▪ Fully complete the Level 1 Surf Instructor Work Book
▪ Complete and be proficient in an Ocean Rescue Award
▪ It is also strongly recommended that all instructors are a member of their National
Governing Body

- ISA Flat Water SUP

The requirements for accreditation and gaining the ISA Flatwater SUP Instructor qualification are

▪ Attend the 2 Day ISA Flatwater SUP Instructor Course

▪ Complete 20 practical instructing hours with a Supervisor Instructor who signs off a
competency Check List for the Trainee Instructor
▪ Fully complete the Flatwater SUP Instructor Work Book
▪ Complete and be proficient in an Flatwater Aquatic Rescue Award
▪ It is also strongly recommended that all instructors are a member of their National
Governing Body

ISA Surf & SUP Instructor Aquatic Rescue and Safety Course

Prerequisites
- All participants must be a minimum of 15 years of age. (Please note that the minimum age
for ISA Level 1 Instructors is 16 and there may be local jurisdiction requirements and age
limits that differ from this)
- Prior to attending a course, participants must have completed a timed swim of 200m
completed in under 5 minutes in a pool no shorter than 25m. This must have been
witnessed and completion certificate signed by a Pool Manager, Qualified Swim Coach,
ISA or ILS Course Organiser or ISA or ILS Course Presenter
Course Components
- 2 days of practical and theory course work.
- The ISA Surf and SUP Instructor Aquatic Rescue and Safety Course includes theory and
practical components as well as group discussions and group activities.

The theory components are delivered by a PowerPoint Presentation, a Participant Manual
and Participant Workbook that needs to be completed during the Course.
- The practical components include basic water/surf skills, completing patient rescues using
a board, performing basic first aid, performing basic CPR and emergency care techniques
and successfully completing a basic fitness test.
o There will be a different fitness test for Surf Instructors and Flat Water Instructors.