Aquatic Rescue & Lifeguard Certification

Earn your American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification through our science-backed curriculum. We use a Blended Learning model, combining flexible online coursework with 21.5 hours of hands-on, instructor-led sessions.

• Included: eBook and skill videos for review during and after training.

• Validity: Certification lasts 2 years (includes CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid).

Course Prerequisites

To enroll, participants must be at least 15 years old and pass a pre-course swim assessment:

• Swim-Tread-Swim: Swim 150 yards, tread water for 2 minutes (legs only), and swim an additional 150 yards.

• Timed Retrieval: Swim 20 yards, dive 7–10 feet to retrieve a 10lb object, and return it to the start (on your back, no hands) within 1:40.

Core Skills Covered

You will be trained and evaluated on:

• Lifeguarding: Professional water rescues and victim extrications.

• Emergency Care: CPR, AED, and First Aid for professional rescuers.

• Management: Surveillance techniques and rotation protocols.

Certification Requirements

To successfully graduate, participants must:

• Complete Online Work: Finish all digital modules before in-person sessions.

• Attendance: Attend all 21.5 hours of scheduled in-person training.

• Skill Mastery: Demonstrate proficiency in all rescue and resuscitation drills.

• Final Testing: Pass the written exam (80%+) and three final skill assessments.

Earn your American Red Cross Shallow Water Lifeguard Certification through our science-backed curriculum. We use a Blended Learning model, combining flexible online coursework with 21.5 hours of hands-on, instructor-led sessions.

• Included: eBook and skill videos for review during and after training.

• Validity: Certification lasts 2 years (includes CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid).

Course Prerequisites

To enroll, participants must be at least 15 years old and pass a pre-course swim assessment in shallow water:

• Swim-Tread-Swim: Swim 50 yards, tread water for 2 minutes (legs only), and swim an additional 50 yards.

• Timed Brick Retrieval: Within 50 seconds, swim 20 yards, dive 4–7 feet to retrieve a 10lb object, and return it to the start without using a ladder.

Core Skills Covered

You will be trained and evaluated on:

• Shallow Water Rescue: Specialized techniques for environments up to 5–7 feet.

• Emergency Care: CPR, AED, and First Aid for professional rescuers.

• Surveillance: Effective scanning and rotation management.

Certification Requirements

To successfully graduate, participants must:

• Complete Online Work: Finish all digital modules before in-person sessions.

• Attendance: Attend all 21.5 hours of scheduled in-person training.

• Skill Mastery: Demonstrate proficiency in all rescue and resuscitation drills.

• Final Testing: Pass the written exam (80%+) and three final skill assessments.

Earn your American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification through our science-backed curriculum. We use a Blended Learning model, combining flexible online coursework with 21.5 hours of hands-on, instructor-led sessions.

• Included: eBook and skill videos for review during and after training.

• Validity: Certification lasts 2 years (includes CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid).

Course Prerequisites

To enroll, participants must be at least 15 years old and pass a pre-course swim assessment:

• Swim-Tread-Swim: Swim 150 yards, tread water for 2 minutes (legs only), and swim an additional 150 yards.

• Timed Retrieval: Swim 20 yards, dive 7–10 feet to retrieve a 10lb object, and return it to the start (on your back, no hands) within 1:40.

Core Skills Covered

You will be trained and evaluated on:

• Lifeguarding: Professional water rescues and victim extrications.

• Emergency Care: CPR, AED, and First Aid for professional rescuers.

• Management: Surveillance techniques and rotation protocols.

Certification Requirements

To successfully graduate, participants must:

• Complete Online Work: Finish all digital modules before in-person sessions.

• Attendance: Attend all 21.5 hours of scheduled in-person training.

• Skill Mastery: Demonstrate proficiency in all rescue and resuscitation drills.

• Final Testing: Pass the written exam (80%+) and three final skill assessments.

Earn your American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification through our science-backed curriculum. We use a Blended Learning model, combining flexible online coursework with 21.5 hours of hands-on, instructor-led sessions.

• Included: eBook and skill videos for review during and after training.

• Validity: Certification lasts 2 years (includes CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid).

Course Prerequisites

To enroll, participants must be at least 15 years old and pass a pre-course swim assessment:

• Swim-Tread-Swim: Swim 150 yards, tread water for 2 minutes (legs only), and swim an additional 150 yards.

• Timed Retrieval: Swim 20 yards, dive 7–10 feet to retrieve a 10lb object, and return it to the start (on your back, no hands) within 1:40.

Core Skills Covered

You will be trained and evaluated on:

• Lifeguarding: Professional water rescues and victim extrications.

• Emergency Care: CPR, AED, and First Aid for professional rescuers.

• Management: Surveillance techniques and rotation protocols.

Certification Requirements

To successfully graduate, participants must:

• Complete Online Work: Finish all digital modules before in-person sessions.

• Attendance: Attend all 21.5 hours of scheduled in-person training.

• Skill Mastery: Demonstrate proficiency in all rescue and resuscitation drills.

• Final Testing: Pass the written exam (80%+) and three final skill assessments.

The American Red Cross Lifeguard Program delivers excellent training to prepare lifeguards to prevent, protect, and respond to aquatic emergencies. Our training course content reflects the latest science and best practices, validated by the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council. The Lifeguard Recertification course is designed to refresh your knowledge and skills. Upon successful completion, you will renew your certification for another two years.

Blended Learning Recertification

The latest blended learning course (r.24) includes online + in-person skill demonstration and features adaptive learning. Participants can test out of the online content they already know, creating a custom learning path for each student in the online portion of the course.

Prerequisites:

• Participants must have a current American Red Cross Lifeguard certification (expired by no more than 30 days).
• Participants must pass a pre-course swim assessment. 

Skills Assessment

Participants must pass the swim requirements, final written test, and three final skill assessments:

1. Timed Response: Complete a passive submerged rescue, extrication with assistance, rapid assessment (including two initial ventilations by either rescuer) within 1 minute 30 seconds, followed by 3 minutes of single-rescuer CPR.
2. Rotation and Scanning: Rotate into the lifeguard station, conduct surveillance for 1 minute, and rotate out.
3. Final Team Response Testing Scenario: Perform a passive submerged rescue, extrication, rapid assessment, followed by multiple-rescuer CPR and use of AED and BVM resuscitator.

Certification Issued

Participants who successfully complete the recertification course will be issued one of the following certifications, valid for 2 years:

• Lifeguarding (including Deep Water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid
• Shallow Water Lifeguarding (Up to 5, 6, or 7’) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid

Train your senior staff to teach Lifeguarding in-house.

With our Onsite Lifeguard Instructor Course, we bring the training to your facility, saving you time and logistics.

• Group Size: Minimum of 5 participants required per session.
• Course Prerequisites:
  • Candidates must be 17+
  • Candidates must hold a current American Red Cross Lifeguarding (Deep Water) certificate with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid.
  • Candidates must also pass a rigorous in-water skill assessment to proceed with the course.
• Requirements for Successful Completion: To receive your Lifeguarding Instructor certification, candidates must:
  • Complete All Sessions: Finish the online pre-work and attend all in-person instructional hours.
  • Demonstrate Mastery: Pass the prerequisite skill assessment and show instructor-level competency in all skills (perfect form, correct order, and proficiency criteria).
  • Teach & Lead: Successfully complete two practice teaching assignments and actively participate in all activities.
  • Final Exam: Pass the written exam with a minimum grade of 80%.
• Format: Blended Learning (Online pre-work + two days of in-person instruction).

• Certifications, Valid 2 Years:
  • American Red Cross Lifeguarding Instructor (Deep Water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid