Red Cross Lifeguard Trainings • Register • View Cart •

What You’ll Learn

During the course, training combines classroom instruction, hands-on practice, and aquatic simulations to build your confidence and ability.

The focus is both preventative (spotting risks and stopping accidents before they happen) and responsive (acting quickly and correctly in emergencies).

Physical Skills & Prerequisites

To enroll and ultimately earn certification, you must:

• Be at least 15 years old by the last day of the course (this is a universal Red Cross requirement).
• Successfully complete a swimming prerequisites test before or at the start of training.
  

  • Prerequisite A — Swim-Tread-Swim Sequence

    You must be able to:
    
    1. Jump into the water from the side, fully submerge, then resurface.
    2. Swim 150 yards continuously using front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination (no backstroke or side swimming).
       
       • This tests endurance, breath control, and rhythm.
    3. Tread water for 2 minutes using only your legs — arms are not used to support you.
    4. Swim another 50 yards continuously using front crawl or breaststroke.
    This entire swim-tread-swim sequence must be done without stopping to rest.
    

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    Prerequisite B — Timed Rescue-Style Event

    You must also complete this within 1 minute and 40 seconds:
    
    1. Start in the water and swim 20 yards (face in or out of the water).
    2. Surface dive (feet-first or head-first) to a depth of 7–12 feet to retrieve a weighted object (typically ~10 lbs).
    3. Return to the surface and swim 20 yards back on your back, holding the object at the surface with both hands.
    4. Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.
    This simulates an underwater search/retrieval and rescue carry.

Certification

Those who successfully complete all written and practical skills tests will earn the American Red Cross Lifeguarding certification, which also includes CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid. This certification is:

• Recognized nationwide
• Valid for 2 years
• Ideal for employment at community pools, water parks, recreation centers, and aquatic facilities like Creekside.

You’ll also often receive a digital certificate you can save or share with employers.

Flexible Format Options

Blended Learning: Some portion completed online before meeting in person for practical instruction and skills demonstration.