Lifeguard training
Become A Certified
American Red Cross Lifeguard!
Interested in becoming a Lifeguard?
The American Red Cross online course is far more encompassing than in the past and therefore reduces your in-person training requirement by close to half.
Lifeguard Training Courses Offered:
- Shallow Swimming Pools (max depth 5 ft.)
- Swimming Pools (max depth 12 ft.)
- Deep Pools (max depth 20 ft.)
- Waterfronts (Includes bays, lakes, ponds, beaches, and swimming pools 20 ft. deep or less)
- Water Parks (Includes water parks and swimming pools 12 ft. deep or less)
- Youth Camps (Includes waterfronts and swimming pools 20ft. deep or less)
- Lifeguard Recertification Courses
What does training look like?
At the Aquatic Training Academy, a member of The Aquatic Connection, we offer American Red Cross blended-learning certification courses which consist of a comprehensive online course and in-person training session.
The online course consists of approximately 8-hours of self-paced instruction. This coursework is designed to build candidates’ background knowledge of the water and lifesaving skills which will they will build upon during their in-person training. Candidates are required to successfully complete their online course prior to attending the in-person training session. All online course information will be emailed directly to the candidates approximately two weeks before their scheduled in-person training.
Our in-person training provides candidates with the opportunity for candidates’ to learn how to recognize, prevent, and respond to water and land emergencies. At the start of our in-person training, candidates are required to demonstrate competency in pre-requisite skills which can be found below. Upon successful completion of all course requirements, candidates will obtain their lifeguarding, first aid, CPR, and AED certifications.
How long is the course?
The length of our in-person training is dependent upon our training facility’s schedule. See our locations for in-person dates and times of training.
Prerequisites for In-Person Training:
- Be at least 15 years old by the last day of the course
- Pass and complete the online course
- Pass a Pre-Skills Assessment appropriate for your course:
Shallow Swimming Pools
- Swim 100 yards, continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing using front crawl and/or breaststroke (goggles allowed)
- Tread water for two minutes, using only legs
- Complete a timed event within 50 seconds:
- Start in water, swim 20 yards (no goggles)
- Surface dive to a depth of 4 to 5 feet and retrieve a 10-pound object
- Return to the surface, walk/swim 20 yards to starting position with both hands on the object at the surface of the water
- Exit water without using ladder or steps
Swimming Pools & Waterparks
- Swim 300 yards, continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing using front crawl and/or breaststroke (goggles allowed)
- Tread water for two minutes, using only legs
- Complete a timed event within 1 minute 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
Deep Pools, Waterfronts & 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
Does my certification expire?
Yes. An American Red Cross Lifeguarding certification is valid for two years.
How do I maintain my Lifeguarding Certification?
To maintain certification, Lifeguards must successfully complete a Lifeguarding Recertification course prior to expiration.
“The instructors are very kind and knowledgeable in the coursework and in instructing new guards. Throughout the course, they provided individual feedback and practice time to ensure all guards knew the proper techniques and were confident in themselves to complete the rescues. Finally, they were able to foster an inclusive working environment that made it comfortable and fun to learn in!“
Rachel Tortora
Become An Elite Training Faclity!
Interested in having lifeguard training come to you? Have a team of lifeguards that need training?
Chat with an Aquatic Trainer today to see if our Elite Training Facility Program is right for your organization!