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Lifeguard Training in Santa Fe County, New Mexico

Santa Fe County is home to Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico and one of the state’s premier arts and tourism destinations. The county sits in the Rio Grande Valley at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and draws visitors year-round to its historic plaza and cultural sites.
Get certified in professional lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid through a flexible, blended training program built for Santa Fe County’s busy tourism and recreation economy.
Lifeguard Training in Santa Fe County

Lifeguard training in Santa Fe County, New Mexico at a glance

Santa Fe County, New Mexico: $195.00, 27.5 hours in total (7.5 online plus 2 days in person), minimum 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
Continuous 300 yard swim; 2 minute legs-only tread; 10-lb brick retrieved from 7 to 10 ft in under 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 Santa Fe County, New Mexico.

CMAHC-Aligned Training

American Aquatics and Safety Training keeps the syllabus aligned with current Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code standards (CMAHC).
Our curriculum is designed for municipal and community aquatics facilities serving Santa Fe and the surrounding Santa Fe County area.

Core Curriculum

In Santa Fe 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: Drill fast entries matched to varying pool depths and facility shapes.
  • 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: Rate and depth to standard, with complete chest recoil every time.
  • AED Operation: Place the pads correctly and fold the device into the compression cycle without pausing longer than needed.
  • Rescue Breathing: Rescue breathing at the ratio that matches the casualty, adult, child or infant.

Santa Fe County Lifeguard Certification Requirements

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

Minimum Age

Physical Performance Test

Each of these confirms a specific capability, stamina, comfort at depth and control without the use of arms, ahead of the practical syllabus.
  • Complete 300 yards without stopping, using front crawl, breaststroke, or both.
  • 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.
  • Recognition and management of shock, heat-related illness and further medical emergencies.

How It Works: The Path to Certification

Courses serving Santa Fe County run on a blended model, which keeps most of the study off the calendar and away from a classroom.
  • Step 1: Work through the online modules on rescue theory, CPR and AED, and first aid basics.
  • Step 2: Book the in-person skills session with us and have the date confirmed.
  • Step 3: Attend in person, pass the water prerequisite, then pass the rescue skills evaluation.
  • Step 4: Sit and pass the final written evaluation to finish.
Contact Us to Enroll

Packing Checklist for Your Skills Session

Pack the following for your skills day:
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

A water bottle you can refill, plus high-energy snacks for the demanding practical sessions.

Documentation icon

Documentation

Government or school photo identification proving your age, checked on Day 1.

Certification

Upon successful completion, students in Santa Fe 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.
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 Santa Fe County?

Santa Fe’s municipal pools and recreation centers, along with a steady flow of visitors and seasonal residents, create consistent demand for certified lifeguards and water-safety instructors throughout Santa Fe County.
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 Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe County

How long does lifeguard training take?

Expect around 25 to 27.5 hours across the whole course, with the classroom portion completed online ahead of the mandatory in-person skills session.
Yes. American Aquatics and Safety Training certifications follow the standards referenced by the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC).
Pack a swimsuit, towel, cap, dry clothes, drinking water and photo ID showing your age. You can wear goggles for the swimming element, though not for 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 New Mexico by County

The full county index for New Mexico is on lifeguard training in New Mexico.

Enroll in a lifeguard class in Santa Fe County

$195 Total 27.5 hours, delivered as online modules and one in-person skills day. Certification is valid for two years.

Enroll now, $195

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

Lifeguard classes in Santa Fe County

Santa Fe County classes separate theory from practice: the coursework is online and self-paced, the assessment is in the water. A Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe County

The structure is online theory covering surveillance, rescue theory and emergency action planning, followed by a practical session assessing entries, approaches, extrications and spinal management.

Who lifeguard courses in Santa Fe County are for

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

What lifeguard certification in Santa Fe County costs

A place in Santa Fe County costs $195. Included: the online modules, the practical skills session, and a certification lasting two years from the date of issue. Classes in Santa Fe County run throughout the year and you start online immediately.

More lifeguard training locations

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

Before you book a course

Last updated September 20, 2026

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