Lifeguard Training Courses & Certifications

Lifeguard Training

Blended Learning Lifeguard Training Certification Courses: (Public and Staff Enrollment is Below)

The American Red Cross Lifeguard Training Courses prepares candidates to prevent, recognize, and respond to aquatic, breathing, and cardiac emergencies in their specific aquatic environment. This course is open to all candidates looking to obtain their Lifeguarding Certification for:

Shallow Water Lifeguarding
Lifeguarding for Swimming Pools (Including Deep Water – 7ft. or greater)
Waterfront Lifeguarding (Includes bays, lakes, ponds, beaches, and swimming pools – 20 ft. deep or less)
Youth Camps (Includes waterfronts and swimming pools – 20ft. deep or less)
All Lifeguarding Recertification

Prerequisites for In-Person Training:

Be at least 15 years old by the last day of the course
Pass and complete the Online Blended-Learning Training
Pass a Pre-Skills Assessment Below for Deep Pools (max depth 20 ft.), Waterfronts (bays, lakes, ponds, and beaches), and Youth Camps:
- Swim 550 yards, continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing using front crawl and/or breaststroke (goggles allowed)
- Swim 5 yards, submerge and retrieve three dive rings placed 5 yards apart in 4 to 7 feet of water, resurface and continue to swim another 5 yards to complete the skill sequence.
- Tread water for two minutes, using only legs
- Complete a timed event within 1 minute and 40 seconds:
  - Start in water, swim 20 yards (no goggles)
  - Surface dive to a depth of 7 to 10 feet and retrieve a 10-pound object
  - Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on back to starting position with both hands on the object and keeping the face at or near the surface
  - Exit water without using ladder or steps

Water Safety Instructor Training

Blended Learning Water Safety Instructor Training Course: (Public and Staff Enrollment is Below)

The American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor course is designed to prepare instructor candidates to plan, prepare, and teach Red Cross Learn-To-Swim and Water Safety programs. The course focuses on:

Teaching water safety concepts and swimming progressions
Lesson planning and management strategies
Best-practice teaching methods for all swimmers
Techniques for building relationships with families

Prerequisites for In-Person Training:

Be at least 16 years old by the last day of the course
Pass and complete eLearning
Pass swim skills evaluation:
1. Successful completion of swimming skills including swimming 25yrs of front crawl, back crawl, breast stroke, side stroke, elementary backstroke, and 15 yards of butterfly
2. Floating on back for one minute
3. Treading water for one minute