LIFEGUARD TRAINING HEADQUARTERS – Your Center for Life Guard Training
Jones County is a Piney Woods county in southeast Mississippi known for its Civil War-era ‘Free State of Jones’ history, with Laurel and Ellisville serving as its two county seats. Laurel is home to Sanderson Farms’ headquarters and a growing arts and antiques district.
Get certified in professional lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid through a flexible, blended training program built for Jones County’s growing communities.
Lifeguard training in Jones County, Mississippi at a glance
In Jones County, Mississippi the course is $195.00 and runs 27.5 hours (7.5 online, 2 days in person). Entry requires age 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
- Swim 300 yards without stopping, tread 2 minutes with no arms, and bring a 10-lb brick up 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 Jones County, Mississippi.
CMAHC-Aligned Training
The curriculum is reviewed by American Aquatics and Safety Training against current standards from the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC).
Our curriculum is designed for pools, camps, and aquatic facilities serving Laurel, Ellisville, and Sandersville.
Core Curriculum
In Jones County, the coursework splits into two disciplines, water rescue and surveillance, and professional resuscitation.
Water Rescue & Surveillance
- Active vs. Passive Recognition: Scan a zone to a repeatable pattern, and tell an actively struggling swimmer from a silent, unconscious one.
- Water Entries: Practise entries appropriate to shallow and deep water and to different deck configurations.
- In-Water Stabilization: Manage suspected spinal injuries in the water, which is where handling errors do the most harm.
CPR & AED Training
- High-Quality Compressions: Compress at the correct rate and depth, letting the chest recoil fully between each one.
- AED Operation: Site the pads properly and keep interruptions to compressions as short as the device allows.
- Rescue Breathing: Ventilate at the correct ratio, which differs between adults, children and infants.
Jones County Lifeguard Certification Requirements
To enroll in Jones County, candidates must meet the following age and physical performance requirements.
Minimum Age
- 15 years or older for pool/waterpark certification.
- 16 years or older for waterfront/beach certification.
Physical Performance Test
The point of these benchmarks is to establish baseline water competence before anyone practises a rescue on you or with you.
- Swim 300 yards unbroken, choosing front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination.
- Tread water for 2 minutes using only your legs.
- A 10-pound object sits at 7 to 10 feet. Retrieve it and swim it back inside 1 minute 40 seconds, avoiding the ladder and the pool 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
Courses serving Jones County run on a blended model, which keeps most of the study off the calendar and away from a classroom.
- Step 1: Finish the self-paced component covering rescue theory, CPR and AED use, and first aid.
- Step 2: Contact us to reserve your in-person skills day and lock in the schedule.
- Step 3: Complete the in-person day, clearing the physical gate and the rescue skills test.
- Step 4: Complete certification by passing the final written assessment.
Packing Checklist for Your Skills Session
Pack the following for your skills day:
Proper Swimwear
A functional, athletic-style swimsuit designed for rigorous physical activity.
Towels & Warm Layers
A minimum of two dry towels and warm layers, to stay at temperature during the gaps between drills.
Hydration & Nutrition
A water bottle you can refill, plus high-energy snacks for the demanding practical sessions.
Documentation
Age-verifying photo ID, government or school issued, presented on Day 1.
Certification
Upon successful completion, students in Jones County earn a Certification from American Aquatics and Safety Training covering Lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid, valid for two years.
The syllabus is measured 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 Jones County?
As one of the larger population centers in the Pine Belt, Jones County’s municipal and community pools generate steady seasonal demand for trained lifeguards each year.
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 Jones 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
Open water is treated separately. Beach, ocean and waterfront positions commonly require additional waterfront rescue training beyond the pool award.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lifeguard Training in Jones County
How long does lifeguard training take?
The full course runs about 25 to 27.5 hours. Most of that is the online classroom component, which you finish before the required in-person skills session.
Where is this certification accepted?
Yes. Standards referenced by the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC) underpin the American Aquatics and Safety Training certification.
What should I bring to my in-person skills session?
Required: a proper swimsuit, towel, swim cap, dry change of clothing, a water bottle, and age-verifying photo identification. Goggles may be worn swimming but not during the retrieval test.
What happens if I don't pass the physical prerequisites?
Not clearing them on the first day is common. You will get specific feedback on the element that failed, and scheduling is flexible enough to move you to a future date.
Find Upcoming Lifeguard Classes in Mississippi by County
- Lifeguard classes in Jasper County
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- Lifeguard classes in Choctaw County
- Lifeguard classes in Greene County
- Lifeguard classes in Lincoln County
- Lifeguard classes in Panola County
- Lifeguard classes in Smith County
For the complete list, see lifeguard training in Mississippi.
Enroll in a lifeguard class in Jones County
$195 Total 27.5 hours, delivered as online modules and one in-person skills day. Certification is valid for two years.
Delivery and scheduling sit with American Aquatics & Safety Training, our training partner.
Lifeguard classes in Jones County
Jones County classes separate theory from practice: the coursework is online and self-paced, the assessment is in the water. A Jones County certification covers water rescue, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid inside one 27.5-hour course.
How the course is structured in Jones County
Delivery splits in two. Online you cover surveillance, rescue theory and emergency action planning; in person you are assessed on entries, approaches, extrications and spinal management.
Who lifeguard courses in Jones County are for
Lifeguard courses in Jones County are open to candidates aged 15 and over who can pass the prerequisite swim test. Most people who become a lifeguard in Jones County go on to work at community pools, waterparks, school and university facilities and open-water sites across Mississippi.
What lifeguard certification in Jones County costs
Pricing in Jones County is $195, inclusive of online modules, the in-person skills session and a two year certification. Courses in Jones County are scheduled year-round and you can begin online immediately.
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If you are still deciding
Last updated September 20, 2026