Water safety
Get Lifeguard Certification
Clean water is only half the story. The people who protect swimmers at pools, beaches, lakes and camps are part of keeping our waters safe for everyone.
Why water safety
Protecting people in and around the water
Team Ocean Foundation works for clean, healthy water from the open ocean to the neighborhood pond. Those same waters are where families swim, kids learn and communities gather, and they need people trained to keep them safe.
Lifeguards and lifeguard instructors are those people. If you love the water and want to protect others in and around it, lifeguard training is one of the most direct ways to make a difference. Our friends at Lifeguard-Pro offer both lifeguard certification courses and a lifeguard instructor certification course.
Become a lifeguard
Lifeguard Certification Courses
Lifeguard training prepares you to prevent, recognize and respond to emergencies in the water. Courses generally cover water rescue skills, scanning and surveillance of a swimming area, CPR and AED use, and first aid, so you can act quickly and confidently when someone needs help.
Lifeguard-Pro lifeguard certification courses start at $199 and follow a simple two-part format. Part 1 is an online home-study course with textbooks, videos and exams that you complete at your own pace; for most lifeguard courses Lifeguard-Pro estimates it at about 12 hours. Part 2 is instructor-led training, where you practice and demonstrate the physical rescue skills with a certified instructor. Courses are offered for shallow pool, swimming pool, deep pool, waterfront, youth camp and water park settings, plus an all-specialties option and recertification courses.
Lifeguard-Pro serves all 50 states, so wherever you are, they're nearby.
Certified lifeguards work at public and private pools, aquatic centers, beaches, water parks, youth camps, hotels and resorts, schools and universities, parks and recreation departments, and country clubs. Prerequisites vary by course, so check the course details before you enroll.
- Courses start at $199
- Two parts: Part 1 home study, Part 2 instructor-led training
- All 50 states: wherever you are, Lifeguard-Pro is nearby
- Courses for pools, waterfronts, water parks and youth camps
- Group training at your facility available for employers
Start your career
Lifeguard Instructor Certification Courses
A lifeguard instructor teaches and certifies new lifeguards. According to Lifeguard-Pro, its Lifeguard Instructor Certification Course qualifies you to teach and certify students in all its lifeguard courses, all CPR courses, basic first aid, bloodborne pathogens, swim coach safety training and workplace safety training. Your purchase includes home-study materials for the Lifeguard Instructor, CPR/AED Instructor, First Aid Basics Instructor and Bloodborne Pathogens Instructor courses.
Prerequisites are clear: you must be 18 or older, able to speak publicly with confidence and clarity, and organized enough to schedule classes, complete documentation and meet deadlines. You finish the online home-study course (under 12 hours, with up to 180 days to complete it), then attend instructor-led training, where you perform every required skill at least three times and score 90% or higher on a proctored written exam.
Becoming an instructor turns your water skills into a career path. Pools, camps, swim schools and employers all need certified lifeguards, and instructors are the ones who train them. Lifeguard-Pro lists the course at $499.00 total, payable in two installments of $249.50.
- Certification in as little as two days
- 18+ with public speaking and administrative skills
- $499.00 total (two payments of $249.50), per Lifeguard-Pro
FAQ
Lifeguard certification questions
Where can I find a lifeguard certification course near me?
Lifeguard-Pro serves all 50 states, so wherever you are, they're nearby. You complete Part 1, the home-study course, online from anywhere, then attend Part 2, instructor-led training, with a local Lifeguard-Pro certified instructor. Start with Lifeguard-Pro's lifeguard certification classes to find one near you.
How much does a lifeguard instructor course cost?
Lifeguard-Pro lists its Lifeguard Instructor Certification Course at $499.00 total, which you can pay in two installments of $249.50: one to Lifeguard-Pro for the online home-study course and one to your instructor for the instructor-led training. See the lifeguard instructor course page for current pricing.
How much does a lifeguard certification course cost?
Lifeguard certification courses start at $199. The price depends on the lifeguard course you choose (pool, deep pool, waterfront, water park and so on), and Lifeguard-Pro offers group discounts and a lowest price guarantee. See the lifeguard certification courses page for current prices.
Can I get lifeguard instructor certification?
Yes, if you meet the prerequisites. Lifeguard-Pro requires candidates to be 18 or older, able to speak publicly with confidence and clarity, and administratively competent in scheduling classes, completing documentation and meeting deadlines.
How long does it take to get certified?
Lifeguard-Pro says you can have your instructor certification in as little as two days: one day of online home-study and one day of instructor-led training. Its home-study courses can be completed in under 12 hours, and you have up to 180 days to finish. Courses are task-based, so class time can vary.
How long does lifeguard certification last?
The validity period depends on the specific certification and on your employer's or state's requirements. Lifeguard-Pro offers recertification and renewal courses; contact Lifeguard-Pro for the current validity period of your certification.
What are the requirements to pass?
For the Lifeguard Instructor course, you complete the online home-study course, then perform all required physical skills at least three times under your instructor's supervision and score 90% or higher on a closed-book, proctored written final exam covering lifeguard, CPR and first aid. Lifeguard course prerequisites vary by course, so check with Lifeguard-Pro.