Skip to main content

LIFEGUARD TRAINING HEADQUARTERS – Your Center for Life Guard Training

Facebook X-twitter Youtube Linkedin
Menu
Menu

Lifeguard Training in Wake County, North Carolina

Wake County, seated in Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina, is the state’s most populous county and anchors the Research Triangle region alongside a large network of municipal aquatic centers.
Get certified in professional lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid through a flexible, blended training program built for Wake County’s extensive network of public pools and aquatic centers.
Lifeguard Training in Wake County

Lifeguard training in Wake County, North Carolina at a glance

Wake County, North Carolina 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
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 Wake County, North Carolina.

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 aquatic centers, community pools, and swim clubs serving Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Wake Forest, and Garner.

Core Curriculum

In Wake County, the coursework splits into two disciplines, water rescue and surveillance, and professional resuscitation.

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: 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: 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.

Wake County Lifeguard Certification Requirements

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

Minimum Age

Physical Performance Test

These are screening standards, not fitness goals: they confirm you can work in deep water before rescue training starts.
  • Swim 300 yards unbroken, choosing front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination.
  • 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.
  • Recognition and management of shock, heat-related illness and further medical emergencies.

How It Works: The Path to Certification

Training for Wake County is structured so the theory happens at home and only the water work requires a fixed date.
  • 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: 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

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

A minimum of two dry towels and warm layers, to stay at temperature during the gaps between drills.

Hydration and nutrition icon

Hydration & Nutrition

Bring a reusable bottle and substantial snacks to keep energy up through the physical training.

Documentation icon

Documentation

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

Certification

Upon successful completion, students in Wake 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.
Employers and regions apply different rules, so verify with the facility you want to work at that this certification meets what they ask for.

Why Take Aquatic Safety Courses in Wake County?

Wake County operates numerous municipal pools and aquatic centers across Raleigh and its surrounding towns, creating year-round demand for certified lifeguards at one of North Carolina’s largest public aquatics networks.
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 Wake 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 Wake 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. Standards referenced by the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC) underpin the American Aquatics and Safety Training certification.
Bring swimwear you can work in, a towel, a swim cap, dry clothes, water, and photo ID that proves your age. Goggles are fine for the swim and must be removed for the object retrieval.
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 North Carolina by County

The full county index for North Carolina is on lifeguard training in North Carolina.

Enroll in a lifeguard class in Wake 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 Wake County and how they work

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

What a lifeguard course in Wake 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 Wake County

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

How much lifeguard certification in Wake County costs

Lifeguard training in Wake 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 Wake County are available year-round.

More lifeguard training locations

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

Worth reading first

Last updated September 20, 2026

Skip to content