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Lifeguard Training in McHenry County, North Dakota

McHenry County is located in north-central North Dakota’s lake region, with Towner as its county seat. The Souris (Mouse) River winds through the county, and the northern edge of the county lies near J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge.
Get certified in professional lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid through a flexible, blended training program built for McHenry County’s river and lake-country setting.
Lifeguard Training in McHenry County

Lifeguard training in McHenry County, North Dakota at a glance

McHenry County, North Dakota 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
300 yards unbroken, 2 minutes treading using legs only, and a 10-lb brick from 7 to 10 ft within 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 McHenry County, North Dakota.

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 community and river-adjacent recreation programs serving Towner and the surrounding McHenry County area.

Core Curriculum

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

Water Rescue & Surveillance

  • Active vs. Passive Recognition: Cover your zone to a set pattern and distinguish active distress from passive drowning.
  • Water Entries: Practise entries appropriate to shallow and deep water and to different deck configurations.
  • 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: Compress at the correct rate and depth, letting the chest recoil fully between each one.
  • AED Operation: Get the pads in the right place and work the unit into the cycle with minimal downtime.
  • Rescue Breathing: Deliver rescue breaths at the right ratio for adult, child and infant casualties.

McHenry County Lifeguard Certification Requirements

To enroll in McHenry 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.
  • A continuous 300 yard swim in front crawl, breaststroke, or a mix of the two.
  • 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.
  • Identifying shock and heat illness early, and responding to other medical emergencies.

How It Works: The Path to Certification

Courses serving McHenry County run on a blended model, which keeps most of the study off the calendar and away from a classroom.
  • 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: Finish by scoring a pass on the closing written evaluation.
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

Water and calorie-dense snacks. The practical work is tiring and blood sugar matters by the afternoon.

Documentation icon

Documentation

Age-verifying photo ID, government or school issued, presented on Day 1.

Certification

Upon successful completion, students in McHenry 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 McHenry County?

The Souris River and the region’s lakes give McHenry County genuine recreational water use, supporting demand for trained lifeguards at public access points across the 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 McHenry 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 McHenry 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.
Yes, the certification follows standards referenced by the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC) and is issued by American Aquatics and Safety Training.
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.
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 Dakota by County

Every county in North Dakota is listed on the North Dakota training page.

Enroll in a lifeguard class in McHenry County

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

Enroll now, $195

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

Lifeguard classes in McHenry County and how they work

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

What a lifeguard course in McHenry 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 McHenry County

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

How much lifeguard certification in McHenry County costs

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

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If you are still deciding

Last updated September 20, 2026

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