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Lifeguard Training in Will County, Illinois

Will County is a fast-growing part of the Chicago metro area southwest of the city, seated in Joliet along the Des Plaines River and the historic Illinois and Michigan Canal corridor.
Get certified in professional lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid through a flexible, blended training program built for Will County’s growing suburban pool scene.
Lifeguard Training in Will County

Lifeguard training in Will County, Illinois at a glance

Cost for Will County, Illinois is $195.00. Total time is 27.5 hours, split into 7.5 online and 2 in-person days. You must be 15 and able to swim 300 yards.

Cost
$195.00 per participant, group discounts available.
Length
7.5 hours online plus 2 days in person (27.5 hours total).
Minimum age
15 by the last day of class.
Swim test
300 yards unbroken, 2 minutes treading using legs only, and a 10-lb brick from 7 to 10 ft within 1:40.
Certifications
Lifeguarding, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, First Aid.
Valid for
Two years. Recertification is 10 hours in person.
Format
Blended, online at your own pace, then an in-person skills session available on request in Will County, Illinois.

CMAHC-Aligned Training

Curriculum review at American Aquatics and Safety Training tracks the current standards of the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC).
Our curriculum is designed for municipal and park district pools serving Joliet, Bolingbrook, Plainfield, and New Lenox.

Core Curriculum

In Will County, coursework divides between water rescue and surveillance on one hand and professional resuscitation on the other.

Water Rescue & Surveillance

  • Active vs. Passive Recognition: Cover your zone to a set pattern and distinguish active distress from passive drowning.
  • Water Entries: Drill fast entries matched to varying pool depths and facility shapes.
  • In-Water Stabilization: Stabilise and protect a casualty with suspected head, neck or back injury while still in the water.

CPR & AED Training

  • High-Quality Compressions: Work to the required rate and depth, and let the chest come all the way back up.
  • AED Operation: Site the pads properly and keep interruptions to compressions as short as the device allows.
  • Rescue Breathing: Deliver rescue breaths at the right ratio for adult, child and infant casualties.

Will County Lifeguard Certification Requirements

To enroll in Will County, candidates must meet the following age and physical performance requirements.

Minimum Age

Physical Performance Test

Rescue training assumes a working level of swimming ability, and these benchmarks are how that assumption gets verified.
  • Complete 300 yards without stopping, using front crawl, breaststroke, or both.
  • Tread water for 2 minutes using only your legs.
  • Recover a 10-pound object lying at 7 to 10 feet inside 1 minute 40 seconds, then carry it back through the water without touching a ladder or the steps.

Skills You'll Master

The curriculum is organized into three core disciplines: water rescue, resuscitation, and first aid.

Water Rescue Techniques & Surveillance

  • Reaching and throwing assists using rescue equipment.
  • Active and passive drowning victim rescues.
  • Multiple-victim response prioritization.
  • Submerged victim recovery in shallow and deep water.

CPR / AED for Professional Responders

  • Adult, child, and infant CPR technique.
  • Two-rescuer CPR coordination.
  • AED use on adult, child, and infant victims.
  • Choking and airway obstruction response.

Advanced First Aid & Medical Emergencies

  • Bleeding control and wound care.
  • Identifying shock and heat illness early, and responding to other medical emergencies.

How It Works: The Path to Certification

Will County candidates work through the coursework online and reserve their diary only for the in-person session.
  • Step 1: Study the online material: rescue theory, CPR and AED, and the first aid fundamentals.
  • Step 2: Get in touch to book the practical session and confirm a date.
  • Step 3: Turn up for the practical day and clear both the physical prerequisite and the rescue skills assessment.
  • Step 4: Sit and pass the final written evaluation to finish.
Contact Us to Enroll

Packing Checklist for Your Skills Session

Come to the practical day with the following:
Proper swimwear icon

Proper Swimwear

A functional, athletic-style swimsuit designed for rigorous physical activity.

Towels and warm layers icon

Towels & Warm Layers

Two dry towels minimum, plus warm clothing to keep your core temperature up between drills.

Hydration and nutrition icon

Hydration & Nutrition

Water and calorie-dense snacks. The practical work is tiring and blood sugar matters by the afternoon.

Documentation icon

Documentation

Valid photo identification from a government or school source, verifying age at Day 1 registration.

Certification

Upon successful completion, students in Will County earn a Certification from American Aquatics and Safety Training covering Lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid, valid for two years.
Curriculum review runs against current CMAHC-referenced criteria.
What an employer accepts varies by organisation and by region. Confirm with yours before assuming this certification covers their requirement.

Why Take Aquatic Safety Courses in Will County?

As one of the fastest-growing counties in the Chicago area, Will County’s municipalities and park districts operate numerous public pools and aquatic centers that need trained lifeguards every summer.
Throughout the course, you’ll receive hands-on instruction in:
  • Injury prevention and facility safety
  • Patron surveillance techniques
  • Water rescue skills
  • Victim assessment
  • First aid
  • CPR/AED

Career Opportunities

A lifeguard certification can open the door to rewarding employment opportunities in Will County and beyond.
  • Pool and waterpark lifeguard positions
  • Resort and hotel aquatics staff
  • Community and recreation center supervision
  • Camp and school aquatics programs
  • Aquatics facility management

Frequently Asked Questions About Lifeguard Training in Will County

How long does lifeguard training take?

Budget roughly 25 to 27.5 hours in total. Because the format is blended, the classroom share is completed online and only the skills session needs to be attended in person.
They are. Certification through American Aquatics and Safety Training aligns with the standards the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC) references.
You will need swimwear, a towel, a swim cap, a dry change, water, and photo identification confirming age. Goggles are permitted on the swim and prohibited on the object retrieval.
These are mandatory, because rescue training cannot proceed safely without them. A candidate who falls short leaves with targeted guidance and a place in a later session.
Find Upcoming Lifeguard Classes in Illinois by County

For the complete list, see lifeguard training in Illinois.

Enroll in a lifeguard class in Will County

$195 27.5 hours in total: online study plus a single in-person skills session. The certification lasts two years.

Enroll now, $195

Scheduling and delivery are handled by our training partner, American Aquatics & Safety Training.

Lifeguard classes in Will County

Study for a Will County class happens online at your own pace, followed by one session in the pool where rescue skills are assessed. Certification in Will County runs 27.5 hours and takes in water rescue, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid.

How the course is structured in Will County

Part one is online and covers surveillance, rescue theory and emergency action planning. Part two happens at the pool, where entries, approaches, extrications and spinal management are assessed.

Who lifeguard courses in Will County are for

Lifeguard courses in Will County are open to candidates aged 15 and over who can pass the prerequisite swim test. Most people who become a lifeguard in Will County go on to work at community pools, waterparks, school and university facilities and open-water sites across Illinois.

What lifeguard certification in Will County costs

The fee in Will County is $195 and covers everything, the online modules, the in-person session, and a two year certification. Will County runs classes year-round, with the online portion available as soon as you sign up.

More lifeguard training locations

4.9 out of 5 ★★★★½ from 409 reviews of the lifeguard certification course.

If you are still deciding

Last updated September 20, 2026

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