How to become a certified lifeguard: you must be at least 15 years old, pass a swim test, and complete 27.5 hours of blended training costing $195. The certification covers Lifeguarding, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid, and stays valid for two years.
That is the short answer. Below is what the swim test actually asks for, what you learn, which certification suits the water you want to work at, and how to enrol.
How to become a certified lifeguard: the two requirements to enrol
There are only two hard gates, and neither is as demanding as most people expect.
Age. You must be at least 15 years old by the last day of your class — not by the first. If you turn 15 partway through, you still qualify.
Swimming ability. You have to pass a pre-course swim test. This is the part candidates worry about, and it is worth knowing exactly what it asks rather than guessing.
The pre-course swim test, in full
Three parts, taken in one session:
- Swim 300 yards continuously, using front crawl and breaststroke. Continuous means without stopping to rest — it does not mean fast. There is no time limit on this portion.
- Tread water for 2 minutes without using your arms, hands tucked under your armpits. This tests leg strength and comfort in deep water.
- Retrieve a 10-lb brick from 7 to 10 feet of water, surface with it, and swim it back within 1 minute, 40 seconds, both hands on the brick and your face out of the water.
If you swim comfortably and are reasonably fit, this is achievable with a few weeks of practice. The brick retrieval catches out more candidates than the 300 yards, so practise that specifically.
What the course teaches
A lifeguard certification is really three certifications delivered together.
Surveillance and prevention. The largest part of the job is watching water well enough that you never need to make a rescue. You will learn zone coverage — dividing the water so no area goes unwatched — and the scanning discipline behind the 10/20 standard: spot a swimmer in difficulty within 10 seconds, reach them within 20.
Water rescue. Approaches for active victims (still at the surface, usually vertical, unable to call for help) and passive victims (unresponsive, face-down or submerged). You will practise rescue-tube approaches, cross-chest carries, escapes from a panicked victim’s grasp, and spinal management using the head splint and backboard.
Professional resuscitation. CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer differs from a public CPR class: it covers two-rescuer technique, bag-valve-mask ventilation and working as part of an emergency response team.
First aid. Bleeding control, shock, sudden illness, heat and cold emergencies, and the injuries that actually occur at aquatic facilities.
Personal survival. Keeping yourself safe is a prerequisite for keeping anyone else safe — including recognising when a rescue is beyond your capability and what to do instead.
Course format, length and cost
Training is blended: 7.5 hours of online coursework at your own pace, then 2 days of in-person skills sessions where every water skill is demonstrated and tested. That is 27.5 hours in total.
The lifeguard educational class costs $195 per participant, with group discounts available. You cannot certify online alone — the water skills must be tested in person.
Which certification do you need?
Not all lifeguarding certifications cover the same water, and choosing wrong is a common, expensive mistake.
- Lifeguarding (core) — full-depth pools: community pools, hotels, schools, health clubs.
- Shallow-water — water up to a defined depth, commonly 5 feet: hotel pools, splash pads, some waterparks.
- Waterfront — non-surf open water: lakes, ponds, reservoirs and camps.
Open water is a genuinely different job. Visibility is poor or nil, the bottom is uneven, currents and wind matter, and a submerged victim can be invisible from the surface — which is why waterfront lifeguard training carries its own certification. Start with the core course; add-ons build on it.
What you receive, and how long it lasts
On passing you are certified in Lifeguarding, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid, valid two years from the date of issue.
Before it expires you need recertification — 10 hours of in-person training rather than the full 27.5-hour course. Do not let it lapse; most providers then require the full course again.
Where to enrol
Classes are listed by state and county so you can find the nearest rather than travelling further than necessary.
- Find lifeguard training by state and county
- CPR/AED certification — if you already hold a current lifeguarding credential
- Lifeguard jobs and what employers require
Frequently asked questions about how to become a certified lifeguard
How long does it take? 27.5 hours — 7.5 online at your own pace, then 2 days of in-person skills sessions.
How much does it cost? $195 per participant, with group discounts available.
How old do you have to be? 15, by the last day of your class.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer? You need 300 yards continuous, 2 minutes treading water without arms, and a 10-lb brick retrieved from 7–10 feet within 1 minute 40 seconds. Comfort in deep water matters more than speed.
How long is the certification valid? Two years. Recertification is 10 hours of in-person training.
Can I certify entirely online? No. Theory is online; water skills must be tested in person.
Get certified
Find lifeguard training by state and county