Lifeguard Training & Certifications

This is an online and in-person course. The primary purpose of the American Red Cross (ARC) Blended Lifeguarding Course is to provide entry-level lifeguard participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize, and respond to aquatic emergencies and to provide professional-level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries, and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services (EMS) personnel take over.

ARC Lifeguard Certification Training Prerequisites

- Must be at least 15 years of age by course completion

- Must successfully pass the pre-course assessment on the first course date, which requires you to:

Prerequisite 1: Complete a swim-tread-swim sequence without stopping to rest: 

• Jump into the water and totally submerge, resurface then swim 150 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both. (Swimming on the back or side is not permitted. Swim goggles are allowed) 
• Maintain position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes by treading water using only the legs
• Swim 50 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both 

Prerequisite 2: Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds: 

• Swim 50 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both 
• Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. (The face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed). 
• Submerge to a depth of 7 - 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object. 
• Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point, holding the object at the surface with both hands and keeping the face out at or near the surface. 
• Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.