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Lifeguard Training in Franklin County, Ohio

Franklin County, seat Columbus, is Ohio’s most populous county and home to the state capital, with the Scioto and Olentangy rivers running through downtown and an extensive network of municipal pools and aquatic centers.
Get certified in professional lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid through a flexible, blended training program built for Franklin County’s year-round demand for trained aquatics staff.
Lifeguard Training in Franklin County

Lifeguard training in Franklin County, Ohio at a glance

In Franklin County, Ohio 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 Franklin County, Ohio.

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 pools, aquatic centers, and camps serving Columbus, Dublin, Westerville, and Grove City.

Core Curriculum

In Franklin County, two disciplines make up the coursework: water rescue and surveillance, then 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: 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: Apply the appropriate breath ratio for each casualty age group.

Franklin County Lifeguard Certification Requirements

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

Minimum Age

Physical Performance Test

The point of these benchmarks is to establish baseline water competence before anyone practises a rescue on you or with you.
  • 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 Franklin 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: Contact us to reserve your in-person skills day and lock in the schedule.
  • Step 3: Attend in person, pass the water prerequisite, then pass the rescue skills evaluation.
  • Step 4: Pass the final written paper to complete the certification.
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

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

Photo ID issued by a government body or school, confirming your age, required on the first day.

Certification

Upon successful completion, students in Franklin 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.
Requirements differ between organisations and regions, so check with the employer you are targeting that this certification satisfies their criteria.

Why Take Aquatic Safety Courses in Franklin County?

Columbus’s extensive Recreation and Parks pool system, along with suburban aquatic centers throughout Franklin County, generates some of the strongest lifeguard hiring demand in the state.
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 Franklin 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 Franklin 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. Standards referenced by the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC) underpin the American Aquatics and Safety Training certification.
Arrive with a swimsuit, towel, cap, a dry change of clothes, drinking water and age-verifying photo ID. Note that goggles are fine for the swim portion and not permitted 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 Ohio by County

Every county in Ohio is listed on the Ohio training page.

Enroll in a lifeguard class in Franklin 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

Classes run through American Aquatics & Safety Training, the training partner for this site.

Lifeguard classes in Franklin County

Classes in Franklin County pair self-paced online theory with one in-person session where your rescue skills are assessed in the water. The Franklin County certification covers water rescue, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid across a single 27.5-hour course.

How the course is structured in Franklin County

Two components make up the course. The online half handles surveillance, rescue theory and emergency action planning. The in-person half is assessment: entries, approaches, extrications and spinal management.

Who lifeguard courses in Franklin County are for

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

What lifeguard certification in Franklin County costs

$195 buys the whole Franklin County course: online modules, the practical session, and a certification good for two years from the date of issue. Franklin County classes run all year, with online access from enrolment.

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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