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Lifeguard Training in King County, Washington

King County, home to Seattle and dozens of YMCA branches and public pools, offers residents extensive access to lifeguard and water-safety certification training. As Washington’s most populous county, King County has one of the state’s largest concentrations of aquatic facilities where certified lifeguards are needed.
Courses are offered in-person and through blended learning formats that combine online coursework with hands-on pool sessions, giving teens, college students, and working adults flexible paths to certification. Programs are designed for aspiring lifeguards, swim instructors, camp counselors, and aquatics staff across the county.
Lifeguard Training in King County

Lifeguard training in King County, Washington at a glance

King County, Washington 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
A continuous 300 yard swim, a 2 minute tread without arms, and a 10-lb brick recovered 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 King County, Washington.

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).
Certification is based on current aquatic safety standards, with credentials honored at pools and aquatic centers throughout Seattle and the greater Puget Sound region.

Core Curriculum

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

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: Select and execute the right entry for the depth and deck layout in front of you.
  • In-Water Stabilization: Hold and protect casualties with possible head, neck or back damage until extrication is safe.

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: Site the pads properly and keep interruptions to compressions as short as the device allows.
  • Rescue Breathing: Apply the appropriate breath ratio for each casualty age group.

King County Lifeguard Certification Requirements

To enroll in King 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.
  • Swim 300 yards unbroken, choosing front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination.
  • Tread water for 2 minutes using only your legs.
  • Bring up a 10-pound object from 7 to 10 feet and return it, all within 1 minute 40 seconds, and without using the ladder or pool steps to exit.

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

King County candidates work through the coursework online and reserve their diary only for the in-person session.
  • Step 1: Study the online material: rescue theory, CPR and AED, and the first aid fundamentals.
  • Step 2: Contact us to reserve your in-person skills day and lock in the schedule.
  • Step 3: Attend the session and satisfy both the physical prerequisite and the rescue evaluation.
  • Step 4: Sit and pass the final written evaluation to finish.
Contact Us to Enroll

Packing Checklist for Your Skills Session

Arrive at the in-person session equipped with:
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

Valid photo identification from a government or school source, verifying age at Day 1 registration.

Certification

Upon successful completion, students in King 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.
Since each organisation sets its own bar, confirm directly with your intended employer that this certification is one they accept.

Why Take Aquatic Safety Courses in King County?

King County’s large network of public pools, YMCAs, and water parks creates consistent, year-round demand for certified lifeguards, offering strong job prospects. Training also equips residents with essential CPR and water-rescue skills valuable across the region’s many lakes, pools, and Puget Sound shoreline.
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 King 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 King 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, the certification follows standards referenced by the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC) and is issued by American Aquatics and Safety Training.
Required: a proper swimsuit, towel, swim cap, dry change of clothing, a water bottle, and age-verifying photo identification. Goggles may be worn swimming but not during the retrieval test.
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 Washington by County

For the complete list, see lifeguard training in Washington.

Enroll in a lifeguard class in King 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 King County

King County classes separate theory from practice: the coursework is online and self-paced, the assessment is in the water. A King County certification covers water rescue, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid inside one 27.5-hour course.

How the course is structured in King County

Part one is online and covers surveillance, rescue theory and emergency action planning. Part two happens at the pool, where entries, approaches, extrications and spinal management are assessed.

Who lifeguard courses in King County are for

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

What lifeguard certification in King County costs

Expect to pay $195 in King County for the online modules, the skills session and a certification valid two years from issue. Courses in King County are available year-round and online study starts at enrolment.

More lifeguard training locations

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If you are still deciding

Last updated September 20, 2026

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