01 What CAMS is
CAMS stands for Centralised Assessment Management System. It was introduced to standardise SwimSafer assessments across the country. Before CAMS, individual swim schools issued their own certificates based on their own internal tests; standards varied school to school. CAMS moves certification to one national platform, run by Singapore Aquatics on behalf of Sport Singapore.
Everything to do with a SwimSafer assessment now happens on the CAMS Platform: registration, payment, the theory quiz, results, appeals, and certificates.
02 Registration and fees
Every participant needs an account on the CAMS Platform. Your child's accredited swim coach must be tagged to them for the registration to be valid. Parents or swim schools can initiate a booking; the coach validates it.
| Fee | $50 per participant, covering the practical assessment and the online theory quiz. |
| Slots open | Weekly on CAMS, up to three months in advance. |
| Registration closes | 3 weeks before the assessment day. |
| Minimum per session | 5 participants. If fewer register, the session is cancelled and affected participants reschedule. |
Maximum participants per stage in one assessment slot:
- Stage 1: 20 participants
- Stage 2: 15 participants
- Stage 3: 15 participants
- Stage 4 (Bronze): 10 participants
- Stage 5 (Silver): 10 participants
- Stage 6 (Gold): 10 participants
03 Rescheduling and absences
Rescheduling is allowed before the 3-week registration deadline, via the CAMS Platform or by email to [email protected]. There's no cap on how many times you can reschedule, but any rescheduled booking must be completed within six months of the original date.
After the registration deadline has passed, assuming the session has hit its minimum participant count, rescheduling is strictly not allowed. Cancellations are not allowed either.
A participant who is absent on the day is marked absent and forfeits the booking. The exception is a genuine medical absence: upload the medical certificate to CAMS within 24 hours of the assessment day, and once validated by SAQ you can reschedule.
If lightning is triggered during an assessment, the appointed assessor waits 15 minutes before deciding whether to continue, delay, or rain off the session. Cancelled sessions are not marked against the participant and are eligible for rescheduling (up to three times in the event of repeated weather cancellations).
04 On assessment day
Arrive 15 to 30 minutes before the scheduled start. You will not be allowed to register once the safety briefing has begun, so late arrivals miss the assessment.
Bring with you:
- Parental consent form (submitted in advance; keep a screenshot of the submission to show at registration).
- Assessment clothing appropriate to the stage: swimwear plus shorts and t-shirt for Stages 1 to 4; swimwear plus long pants and t-shirt for Stages 5 and 6.
- Goggles are optional and not permitted for several skills including underwater object recovery.
You'll be handed a coloured swimming cap at registration. The colour identifies your stage:
Parents and coaches wait in designated areas during the assessment and should not speak to or engage the assessor while assessment is in progress.
05 The practical assessment
The practical assessment has to be passed at 100% competent against the stage's must-see criteria. Anything less is a not-yet. If a participant can't complete a specific criterion on the first try, the assessor may permit up to three re-attempts at their discretion, taking into account time remaining, session size, and the participant's condition. Failing a skill after re-attempts is a fail for the stage.
Re-attempts are not guaranteed. Assessors can decline to grant one based on session logistics, safety, or the participant's demonstrated capability.
06 The online theory quiz
Every stage includes an online theory quiz alongside the practical. The quiz:
- Lives on the CAMS Platform, available once the participant has registered for the practical.
- Passes at 90% or higher. There's no cap on attempts to pass, so students can retake until they clear.
- Must be completed within seven days after the practical. Miss the window and the practical result is forfeited.
- A one-time 30-day extension can be applied before the deadline for a $5 admin fee. No further extensions are allowed.
Best practice: sit the quiz in the week before the practical, not after. It's available as soon as the registration is confirmed.
07 Results and appeals
Results are released on the CAMS Platform within 48 hours of the assessment. The result breakdown identifies which must-see criteria were met and which were not. Results are not revealed on the day itself, either to the participant or to the coach.
Appeals must be lodged on CAMS within 72 hours after results are released. A $50 deposit accompanies each appeal, refunded only if the appeal succeeds. Common grounds for appeal include procedural departures from the published standard, a conflict of interest with the assessor, or factors that materially affected the result.
An Appeals Panel of three reviews each appeal:
- A Sport Singapore SwimSafer representative
- A Singapore Aquatics representative
- A SwimSafer Master Trainer
The panel's decision is final. Additional supporting documentation can be sent to [email protected] after the official appeal has been lodged on CAMS.
08 Certificates and medical conditions
Certificates are released on CAMS only when both the practical assessment and the online theory quiz have been passed. One without the other doesn't earn a stage. See how to download your SwimSafer certificate for the step-by-step.
Participants with permanent medical conditions that prevent specific criteria (for example, eye conditions, allergies) can submit a doctor's memo at least one month before the assessment. SAQ reviews applications case by case. Temporary conditions on the day itself are handled through the standard medical-absence process, with a medical certificate uploaded within 24 hours.
09 Large group testing and other centres
Assessments normally happen at one of five Centralised Assessment Centres: Bukit Batok, Yishun, Yio Chu Kang, Heartbeat@Bedok, and Jalan Besar. Two other options exist for specific cases:
- Large group testing lets swim schools with a significant volume of students book assessments outside the weekly centralised slots. Applications are made directly to SAQ and all normal rules apply.
- Non-ActiveSG centres (private or school pools) can host assessments if they meet pool specification requirements. This is rare and used mostly by swim schools with their own licensed facility.
10 Code of conduct
All participants, coaches, and assessors sign up to the SwimSafer 2.0 Code of Conduct as part of the CAMS programme. Minor breaches (late assessor arrival, late result submission) can escalate to written warnings and suspension if repeated. Serious breaches (safety lapses, fraudulent behaviour, safe-sport violations) can lead to immediate suspension or termination.
Concerns should be reported to [email protected].
This page is reviewed against the official handbook and updated when SAQ publishes changes. If you spot a fact that looks wrong against the current edition, please let us know. We'd rather be correct than consistent with ourselves.