Skip to main content

LIFEGUARD TRAINING HEADQUARTERS – Your Center for Life Guard Training

Facebook X-twitter Youtube Linkedin
Menu
Menu

Lifeguard Training in Grand Forks County, North Dakota

Grand Forks County is home to Grand Forks, North Dakota’s third-largest city, situated on the Red River across from East Grand Forks, Minnesota. The county hosts the University of North Dakota, along with Grand Forks Air Force Base.
Get certified in professional lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid through a flexible, blended training program built for Grand Forks County’s university and river-town community.
Lifeguard Training in Grand Forks County

Lifeguard training in Grand Forks County, North Dakota at a glance

Cost for Grand Forks County, North Dakota 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
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 Grand Forks County, North Dakota.

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 university recreation centers, municipal pools, and Red River-adjacent recreation serving Grand Forks and the rest of Grand Forks County.

Core Curriculum

In Grand Forks County, the material covers 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: Select and execute the right entry for the depth and deck layout in front of you.
  • In-Water Stabilization: Apply in-water protocols for suspected spinal trauma without worsening the injury.

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: Accurate pad placement, and a shock delivered inside the cycle rather than instead of it.
  • Rescue Breathing: Ventilate at the correct ratio, which differs between adults, children and infants.

Grand Forks County Lifeguard Certification Requirements

To enroll in Grand Forks 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.
  • Bring up a 10-pound object from 7 to 10 feet and return it, all within 1 minute 40 seconds, and without using the ladder or pool steps to exit.

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

Grand Forks County candidates work through the coursework online and reserve their diary only for the in-person session.
  • Step 1: Work through the online modules on rescue theory, CPR and AED, and first aid basics.
  • Step 2: Reach out so we can schedule the hands-on session and confirm timings.
  • Step 3: Complete the in-person day, clearing the physical gate and the rescue skills test.
  • Step 4: Pass the final written paper to complete the certification.
Contact Us to Enroll

Packing Checklist for Your Skills Session

Arrive at the in-person session equipped with:
Proper swimwear icon

Proper Swimwear

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

Towels and warm layers icon

Towels & Warm Layers

Bring at least two towels and something warm to change into, because you will cool down fast 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

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

Certification

Upon successful completion, students in Grand Forks 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 Grand Forks County?

With the University of North Dakota’s campus recreation facilities and the city’s municipal pools along the Red River, Grand Forks County has consistent, real demand for certified lifeguards across both campus and community aquatics programs.
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 Grand Forks 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 Grand Forks 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.
They are. Certification through American Aquatics and Safety Training aligns with the standards the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC) references.
The list: swimsuit, towel, swim cap, dry clothes, water, and photo identification showing your date of birth. Goggles are allowed while swimming but not during the brick retrieval.
They are non-negotiable for safety. If day one does not go your way, expect precise feedback on what to work on and a transfer rather than a lost fee.
Find Upcoming Lifeguard Classes in North Dakota by County

All North Dakota counties are listed on lifeguard training in North Dakota.

Enroll in a lifeguard class in Grand Forks County

$195 Expect 27.5 hours: online coursework plus one skills session in person. The resulting certification is valid for two years.

Enroll now, $195

Delivery and scheduling sit with American Aquatics & Safety Training, our training partner.

Lifeguard classes in Grand Forks County

A class in Grand Forks County runs online first, in the pool second, with the water session carrying the assessment. The Grand Forks County certification packages water rescue, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid into 27.5 hours.

How the course is structured in Grand Forks 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 Grand Forks County are for

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

What lifeguard certification in Grand Forks County costs

Expect to pay $195 in Grand Forks County for the online modules, the skills session and a certification valid two years from issue. Courses in Grand Forks County are available year-round and online study starts at enrolment.

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

Skip to content