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Lifeguard Training in Horry County, South Carolina

Horry County is South Carolina’s Grand Strand, stretching along the Atlantic coast in the Pee Dee region with Conway as its county seat. It’s home to Myrtle Beach, one of the East Coast’s largest beach resort destinations, with miles of public beaches, hotels, and water parks.
Get certified in professional lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid through a flexible, blended training program built for Horry County’s high-demand tourism season.
Lifeguard Training in Horry County

Lifeguard training in Horry County, South Carolina at a glance

In Horry County, South Carolina 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 Horry County, South Carolina.

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 resort and hotel pools, water parks, and coastal recreation programs serving Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, and Conway.

Core Curriculum

In Horry County, two disciplines make up the coursework: water rescue and surveillance, then 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: Choose an entry that suits the depth and the layout, then perform it at speed.
  • In-Water Stabilization: Manage suspected spinal injuries in the water, which is where handling errors do the most harm.

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: Get the pads in the right place and work the unit into the cycle with minimal downtime.
  • Rescue Breathing: Apply the appropriate breath ratio for each casualty age group.

Horry County Lifeguard Certification Requirements

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

Minimum Age

Physical Performance Test

Each of these confirms a specific capability, stamina, comfort at depth and control without the use of arms, ahead of the practical syllabus.
  • 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.
  • Recognition and management of shock, heat-related illness and further medical emergencies.

How It Works: The Path to Certification

Horry County candidates work through the coursework online and reserve their diary only for the in-person session.
  • Step 1: Finish the self-paced component covering rescue theory, CPR and AED use, and first aid.
  • Step 2: Get in touch to book the practical session and confirm a date.
  • Step 3: Attend the session and satisfy both the physical prerequisite and the rescue evaluation.
  • 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

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 refillable water bottle and high-energy food, since the physical sessions are long and demanding.

Documentation icon

Documentation

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

Certification

Upon successful completion, students in Horry County earn a Certification from American Aquatics and Safety Training covering Lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid, valid for two years.
Course content is reviewed against the CMAHC-referenced criteria in force.
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 Horry County?

Horry County’s beaches, oceanfront hotel pools, and water parks bring millions of visitors every summer, creating steady, high-volume demand for trained lifeguards across the Grand Strand.
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 Horry 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 Horry 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.
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 South Carolina by County

All South Carolina counties are listed on lifeguard training in South Carolina.

Enroll in a lifeguard class in Horry 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

Scheduling and delivery are handled by our training partner, American Aquatics & Safety Training.

Lifeguard classes in Horry County and how they work

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

What a lifeguard course in Horry 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 Horry County

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

How much lifeguard certification in Horry County costs

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

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If you are still deciding

Last updated September 20, 2026

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