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Lifeguard Training in Codington County, South Dakota

Codington County, home to Watertown and Lake Kampeska, provides residents with strong access to lifeguard and water safety training through local pools, the Watertown Family YMCA, and area recreation programs. The county’s lakes and aquatic facilities make it a natural setting for both training and future employment.
Courses are offered in-person and through blended learning, allowing students to complete coursework online before attending a hands-on skills and certification session. This flexibility serves teens seeking summer jobs, aquatics staff, and adults renewing or upgrading their credentials.
Lifeguard Training in Codington County

Lifeguard training in Codington County, South Dakota at a glance

Codington County, South Dakota: $195.00, 27.5 hours in total (7.5 online plus 2 days in person), minimum 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 Codington County, South Dakota.

CMAHC-Aligned Training

American Aquatics and Safety Training keeps the syllabus aligned with current Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code standards (CMAHC).
Certification is issued by the training provider you enroll with, though acceptance varies by employer and facility.

Core Curriculum

In Codington County, the coursework splits into two disciplines, water rescue and surveillance, and 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: Manage suspected spinal injuries in the water, which is where handling errors do the most harm.

CPR & AED Training

  • High-Quality Compressions: Rate and depth to standard, with complete chest recoil every time.
  • 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.

Codington County Lifeguard Certification Requirements

To enroll in Codington 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.
  • 300 continuous yards, front crawl or breaststroke or any combination of them.
  • Tread water for 2 minutes using only your legs.
  • Recover a 10-pound object lying at 7 to 10 feet inside 1 minute 40 seconds, then carry it back through the water without touching 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.
  • Spotting and treating shock, heat illness and the other medical emergencies that occur poolside.

How It Works: The Path to Certification

Courses serving Codington 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: Book the in-person skills session with us and have the date confirmed.
  • 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

Come to the practical day with the following:
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

Government or school photo identification proving your age, checked on Day 1.

Certification

Upon successful completion, students in Codington 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.
What an employer accepts varies by organisation and by region. Confirm with yours before assuming this certification covers their requirement.

Why Take Aquatic Safety Courses in Codington County?

With Lake Kampeska and multiple aquatic facilities in the area, Codington County has consistent demand for certified lifeguards each summer. Training provides reliable seasonal income along with CPR and rescue skills valuable at the lake, pool, or in daily life.
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 Codington 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 Codington County

How long does lifeguard training take?

Budget roughly 25 to 27.5 hours in total. Because the format is blended, the classroom share is completed online and only the skills session needs to be attended in person.
Yes. American Aquatics and Safety Training certifications follow the standards referenced by the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC).
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.
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 South Dakota by County

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

Enroll in a lifeguard class in Codington 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

Our training partner American Aquatics & Safety Training schedules and runs the classes.

Lifeguard classes in Codington County: what to expect

Blended delivery is standard across Codington County, meaning online coursework and a single in-person water assessment. The Codington County award comes on passing rescue, CPR/AED and First Aid, 27.5 hours of training in total.

The format of a lifeguard course in Codington County

The course divides cleanly: online, self-paced coverage of scanning, rescue theory and emergency planning, then a single day of entries, approaches, extrications and spinal management in the water.

Entry requirements for lifeguard courses in Codington County

Lifeguard courses in Codington 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 Codington County typically work at municipal pools, waterparks, campus aquatic centers and waterfronts across South Dakota.

Cost of lifeguard certification in Codington County

The Codington County course is $195, covering the online modules, the in-person skills assessment and a certification valid two years. Classes in Codington County are scheduled all year round.

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Before you book a course

Last updated September 20, 2026

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