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Lifeguard Training in Berks County, Pennsylvania

Berks County is centered on the city of Reading, its county seat, in southeastern Pennsylvania at the foot of Blue Mountain. The county is known for the historic Reading Pagoda overlooking the city, along with a mix of urban, suburban, and rural communities across the Schuylkill River valley.
Get certified in professional lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid through a flexible, blended training program built for Berks County’s mix of city pools and community facilities.
Lifeguard Training in Berks County

Lifeguard training in Berks County, Pennsylvania at a glance

Berks County, Pennsylvania 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
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 Berks County, Pennsylvania.

CMAHC-Aligned Training

American Aquatics and Safety Training measures its curriculum against the prevailing standards of the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC).
Our curriculum is designed for community and municipal pools serving Reading, Wyomissing, and Wernersville.

Core Curriculum

In Berks County, coursework divides between water rescue and surveillance on one hand and professional resuscitation on the other.

Water Rescue & Surveillance

  • Active vs. Passive Recognition: Work a systematic scan and recognise both the active struggle and the passive, unconscious casualty.
  • Water Entries: Practise entries appropriate to shallow and deep water and to different deck configurations.
  • In-Water Stabilization: Hold and protect casualties with possible head, neck or back damage until extrication is safe.

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: Ventilate at the correct ratio, which differs between adults, children and infants.

Berks County Lifeguard Certification Requirements

To enroll in Berks 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.
  • Within 1 minute 40 seconds, retrieve a 10-pound object from 7 to 10 feet of water and swim it back, with no use of 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.
  • Handling shock, heat illness and the wider range of medical emergencies on a pool deck.

How It Works: The Path to Certification

Courses serving Berks 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: 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: 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

Two or more dry towels and a warm change of clothes, which matter more than people expect between water 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

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

Certification

Upon successful completion, students in Berks County earn a Certification from American Aquatics and Safety Training covering Lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid, valid for two years.
The syllabus is measured 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 Berks County?

Reading’s municipal pools and the many community and swim club facilities scattered across Berks County rely on certified lifeguards every summer. Our program gives candidates the training and credential local aquatic facilities look for when staffing up for the season.
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 Berks 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 Berks County

How long does lifeguard training take?

Total contact and study time is in the region of 25 to 27.5 hours. The blended structure means the theory is done online in advance, leaving the in-person session for practical work.
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.
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 Pennsylvania by County

The full county index for Pennsylvania is on lifeguard training in Pennsylvania.

Enroll in a lifeguard class in Berks County

$195 27.5 hours overall, combining self-paced online work with one in-person session. Certification runs two years.

Enroll now, $195

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

Lifeguard classes in Berks County: what to expect

Every Berks County class uses the same structure, online study followed by one pool session for assessment. The Berks County certification is awarded on passing the rescue, CPR/AED and First Aid components, which together run 27.5 hours.

The format of a lifeguard course in Berks County

Two halves make up the programme: self-paced online study, then one practical day. Online you cover scanning, rescue theory and emergency planning. In the water you cover entries, approaches, extrications and spinal management.

Entry requirements for lifeguard courses in Berks County

Lifeguard courses in Berks County require candidates to be at least 15 by the last day of class and to complete the swim test. Those who become a lifeguard in Berks County typically work at municipal pools, waterparks, campus aquatic centers and waterfronts across Pennsylvania.

Cost of lifeguard certification in Berks County

Training in Berks County costs $195 and that covers everything: online modules, the in-person assessment, and certification lasting two years. Courses in Berks County are scheduled year-round.

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Before you book a course

Last updated September 20, 2026

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