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Lifeguard Training in Benton County, Minnesota

Benton County is located in central Minnesota along the Mississippi River, with Foley as its county seat, and its southern edge borders the St. Cloud metro area.
Get certified in professional lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid through a flexible, blended training program built for Benton County’s river communities.
Lifeguard Training in Benton County

Lifeguard training in Benton County, Minnesota at a glance

Benton County, Minnesota pricing is $195.00 for 27.5 hours of training, 7.5 of them online and 2 days in person, with a minimum age of 15 and a 300 yard swim.

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
A continuous 300 yard swim, a 2 minute tread without arms, and a 10-lb brick recovered from 7 to 10 ft inside 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 Benton County, Minnesota.

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 community pools and camps serving Foley, Sauk Rapids, and Rice.

Core Curriculum

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

Water Rescue & Surveillance

  • Active vs. Passive Recognition: Read the water methodically, separating visible distress from the passive submersion that makes no noise.
  • Water Entries: Choose an entry that suits the depth and the layout, then perform it at speed.
  • In-Water Stabilization: Hold and protect casualties with possible head, neck or back damage until extrication is safe.

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: Get the pads in the right place and work the unit into the cycle with minimal downtime.
  • Rescue Breathing: Rescue breathing at the ratio that matches the casualty, adult, child or infant.

Benton County Lifeguard Certification Requirements

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

Minimum Age

Physical Performance Test

The point of these benchmarks is to establish baseline water competence before anyone practises a rescue on you or with you.
  • 300 continuous yards, front crawl or breaststroke or any combination of them.
  • 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.
  • Handling shock, heat illness and the wider range of medical emergencies on a pool deck.

How It Works: The Path to Certification

The Benton County programme is delivered in two halves: self-paced study first, then a single scheduled practical block.
  • 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: Complete certification by passing the final written assessment.
Contact Us to Enroll

Packing Checklist for Your Skills Session

For the skills clinic, bring:
Proper swimwear icon

Proper Swimwear

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

Towels and warm layers icon

Towels & Warm Layers

Two or more dry towels and a warm change of clothes, which matter more than people expect between water drills.

Hydration and nutrition icon

Hydration & Nutrition

A refillable water bottle and high-energy food, since the physical sessions are long and demanding.

Documentation icon

Documentation

Photo ID issued by a government body or school, confirming your age, required on the first day.

Certification

Upon successful completion, students in Benton County earn a Certification from American Aquatics and Safety Training covering Lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid, valid for two years.
The curriculum is checked against current CMAHC-referenced criteria.
Since each organisation sets its own bar, confirm directly with your intended employer that this certification is one they accept.

Why Take Aquatic Safety Courses in Benton County?

With Mississippi River frontage and proximity to the St. Cloud metro’s pools and recreation facilities, Benton County families and employers benefit from a portable, lifeguard credential.
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 Benton 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 Benton County

How long does lifeguard training take?

Total contact and study time is in the region of 25 to 27.5 hours. The blended structure means the theory is done online in advance, leaving the in-person session for practical work.
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.
The prerequisites are a safety gate and cannot be waived. Miss them on day one and instructors will tell you exactly what to practise, with a transfer into a later session once you are ready.
Find Upcoming Lifeguard Classes in Minnesota by County

Every county in Minnesota is listed on the Minnesota training page.

Enroll in a lifeguard class in Benton County

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

Enroll now, $195

Classes run through American Aquatics & Safety Training, the training partner for this site.

Lifeguard classes in Benton County and how they work

Booking a lifeguard class in Benton County means completing the online portion first and then attending a scheduled skills session in person. Lifeguard certification in Benton County bundles water rescue, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid into one 27.5-hour program.

What a lifeguard course in Benton County covers

The syllabus teaches surveillance and scanning, rescue technique, emergency action planning, and the CPR/AED and First Aid skills a professional rescuer is expected to perform. The in-person session is where each skill is signed off.

Prerequisites for lifeguard courses in Benton County

Lifeguard courses in Benton County are open to anyone aged 15 or over who can pass the swim test. People who become a lifeguard in Benton County find work at community pools, waterparks, schools and universities, and supervised open water across Minnesota.

How much lifeguard certification in Benton County costs

Lifeguard training in Benton County is priced at $195 and includes every part of the course, online modules, the in-person skills session and two-year certification. Lifeguard certification classes in Benton County are available year-round.

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Last updated September 20, 2026

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