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Lifeguard Training in Dane County, Wisconsin

Dane County is home to Madison and several major lakes, including Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, along with multiple YMCA locations that support swimming and water-safety programs. Lifeguard and CPR certification training is widely available throughout the county to serve its many pools, lakes, and aquatic facilities.
Courses are offered in traditional in-person formats as well as blended learning options that combine online coursework with hands-on skills sessions. Training serves teens seeking summer jobs, adults pursuing certification or renewal, and aquatics staff working at pools, camps, and lakefront facilities across the Madison area. Flexible evening, weekend, and accelerated scheduling options accommodate busy student and work calendars.
Lifeguard Training in Dane County

Lifeguard training in Dane County, Wisconsin at a glance

Cost for Dane County, Wisconsin is $195.00. Total time is 27.5 hours, split into 7.5 online and 2 in-person days. You must be 15 and able to swim 300 yards.

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 Dane County, Wisconsin.

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).
Standards in force across aquatic safety shape the course, and acceptance varies from one employer and facility to the next.

Core Curriculum

In Dane 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: Choose an entry that suits the depth and the layout, then perform it at speed.
  • In-Water Stabilization: Stabilise and protect a casualty with suspected head, neck or back injury while still in the water.

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: Deliver rescue breaths at the right ratio for adult, child and infant casualties.

Dane County Lifeguard Certification Requirements

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

Minimum Age

Physical Performance Test

Rescue training assumes a working level of swimming ability, and these benchmarks are how that assumption gets verified.
  • 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.
  • Handling shock, heat illness and the wider range of medical emergencies on a pool deck.

How It Works: The Path to Certification

The Dane County programme is delivered in two halves: self-paced study first, then a single scheduled practical block.
  • Step 1: Finish the self-paced component covering rescue theory, CPR and AED use, and first aid.
  • Step 2: Book the in-person skills session with us and have the date confirmed.
  • Step 3: Attend the session and satisfy both the physical prerequisite and the rescue evaluation.
  • Step 4: Complete certification by passing the final written assessment.
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

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

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 Dane 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 Dane County?

As Wisconsin’s second-most populous county, Dane County offers substantial year-round demand for certified lifeguards at YMCAs, community pools, and lakefront beaches. Training builds essential CPR, first aid, and rescue skills while opening doors to steady seasonal and part-time employment. With so much recreation centered on Madison’s lakes, trained lifeguards play a vital role in community safety.
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 Dane 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 Dane 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, the certification follows standards referenced by the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC) and is issued by American Aquatics and Safety Training.
You will need swimwear, a towel, a swim cap, a dry change, water, and photo identification confirming age. Goggles are permitted on the swim and prohibited on 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 Wisconsin by County

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

Enroll in a lifeguard class in Dane County

$195 Expect 27.5 hours: online coursework plus one skills session in person. The resulting 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 Dane County

Dane County classes separate theory from practice: the coursework is online and self-paced, the assessment is in the water. A Dane 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 Dane County

The structure is online theory covering surveillance, rescue theory and emergency action planning, followed by a practical session assessing entries, approaches, extrications and spinal management.

Who lifeguard courses in Dane County are for

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

What lifeguard certification in Dane County costs

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

More lifeguard training locations

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Before you book a course

Last updated September 20, 2026

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