There is no single lifeguard certificate. Which one you need is decided by where you will be guarding, not by preference, and a certificate for one setting does not always cover another. This page lists the course types and what each one is for.
Lifeguard course types
- Pool Lifeguard – the standard certification for guarding a swimming pool
- Shallow Water Lifeguard – a certification limited to water no deeper than a set depth
- Waterfront Lifeguard – an add-on for lakes, ponds and other non-surf open water
- Aquatic Attraction Lifeguard – the certification for waterparks and attraction features
- Surf Lifeguard – ocean and surf beach lifeguarding
- Wilderness Lifeguard – guarding swim areas far from an ambulance
- Junior Lifeguard – a youth programme for swimmers below certification age
- Lifeguard Crash Course – the full certification compressed into consecutive days
- Lifeguard Recertification – renewal for guards whose certificate is close to expiry
- Lifeguard Management – running a guard team rather than sitting the chair
- Aquatic Supervisor – responsibility for the facility, not only the guard team
How to choose
Start with the water. A pool with a deep end needs the full pool certificate; a lake or camp waterfront needs the waterfront module on top of it; surf needs its own discipline entirely. If you already hold a certificate and it is close to expiry, you want the recertification route rather than starting again.
Before you book
Ask the facility which certificate they will accept on your first day. Job adverts are often vaguer than the requirement behind them, and turning up with the wrong card is an expensive way to find out.