The Official Guide to Lifeguard Class

Becoming a certified lifeguard and working in aquatics is a rewarding way to spend your summers. However, it does require planning and dedication to complete the certification process. This comprehensive guide from American Lifeguard Events outlines each step you need to take to get from interested student to certified lifeguard class. We’ll break down the requirements, class details, skills assessment, and obtaining your official certifications. By the end, you’ll be fully prepared to start your career as a lifeguard!

Lifeguard Prerequisites

The first step is ensuring you meet the basic prerequisites. You must be at least 15 years old by the last day of class and be able to pass a 300 yard swim test demonstrating swimming ability. This test includes swimming 20 yards of front crawl or breaststroke, treading water for 2 minutes using only the legs, and completing a timed swim. Check out our descriptions of these prerequisites before registering for class. Contact us if you have any questions!

Registering for Class

Once you know you meet the prerequisites, you can register for our next available lifeguard class. simply visit our website www.americanlifeguardevents.com and choose from our schedule of open classes across the country. Classes are 2 weeks long meeting 3 times a week and the investment is only $250 per student.

Register early as classes have limited space. You can pay online or bring cash/check to the first class. Registered students will receive an emailed digital textbook to start preparing.

The Lifeguard Class

During your American Lifeguard Events class, you will spend approximately 30 hours over 2 weeks training in both classroom and pool environments. Classroom sessions will teach you CPR, First Aid, injury prevention strategies along with policy and procedure knowledge through lectures and videos. Novice lifeguarding skills like in-water rescues, spinal injury management, and first aid scenarios are practiced extensively in our safe, controlled pool environment.

Under the guidance of our world-class instructors, you will gain confidence in your abilities. Our focus is on reinforcing safe, quick response times through realistic simulations. Along with skill-building, be ready for drills on surveillance methods, communications, and documentation. Daily feedback on your progress will ensure you meet all the standards by test day.

Skills Testing Day

At the end of your 2 week class, you will spend the final day demonstrating your new skills and abilities to an American Lifeguard Events instructor who will intently evaluate every component. The skills test includes individual simulations of front and back carries from the deep end as well as active victim rescues from the shallow water.

You’ll also perform CPR on an adult manikin and respond to various first aid scenarios like controlling external bleeding, stabilizing a suspected spinal injury, and more. Once skills are complete, a 50 question multiple choice exam tests your full knowledge of lifeguarding topics. This comprehensive final assessment measures your readiness to act as a certified lifeguard class.

Results and Certification

After successfully completing all aspects of the skills test and exam, you will become officially certified! Your instructor will provide an American Lifeguard Events card showing you are now a trained professional lifeguard class.

Cards are valid for 2 years from the class end date and list all certifications earned like Lifeguarding, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, and First Aid. We are proud to have taught over 100,000 new lifeguards over the decades. Welcome to the rewarding world of lifeguarding – we know you will make a valuable addition to any aquatic facility.

Recertification and Refreshers

Even after becoming certified, it’s important to keep your skills sharp. American Lifeguard Events offers affordable recertification classes every 2 years to renew your credentials before they expire. These concise courses focus on reviewing rescue skills, scenario practice, and making sure all safety protocols are up to date.

We also provide in-service trainings that many facilities require guard staff to attend. These refreshers allow you to practice under the supervision of our instructors while earning continuing education hours. Staying current is key to guarding pool-goers with excellent form and rapid response times.

Career Opportunities

With the credentials from American Lifeguard Events, many exciting job prospects await you at pools, waterparks, beaches, and aquatic resorts across the nation. In addition to ensuring public safety through surveillance and rescues, many facilities employ full-time lifeguards to serve as lead guards, managers, instructors, and more.

We regularly receive calls looking to connect certified candidates directly with nearby facilities in need of staff. You may even decide to expand your skills by becoming a lifeguard class instructor yourself to train the next generation. And remember – lifeguard experience looks great on college applications too. Contact us if you need help finding potential employers in your area.

Preparing Your Application

When applying for lifeguard jobs, be ready to provide your resume and highlight any related experience from swimming lessons, WSI certifications, or other aquatics roles. Emphasize your American Lifeguard Events and the range of skills you learned. Don’t forget to bring copies of your certifications too. You may also want to refresh by practicing in-water skills before interviews.

We’re always happy to write recommendation letters if needed. With safeguarding as your top priority, employers will appreciate your commitment to public service and water safety. Best of luck in your career – let us know if there’s any other way we can support your job search.

In Summary

I hope this comprehensive guide has answered all your questions about the steps to become a certified lifeguard through American Lifeguard Events’ top-rated programs. Our new guards go on to save thousands of lives each season thanks to the expert training they receive. But don’t just take my word for it – come experience a class for yourself and see why we’ve taught over 100,000 lifeguards over the past few decades. You could start your aquatic career this summer!

Feel free to contact me if you need any other information as you prepare to register. I’d also be happy to review your swimming skills or provide counsel on the best way to brush up before class. My goal is to help as many people as possible achieve this rewarding certification and make a difference in aquatics safety. I hope to welcome you to our next lifeguard class soon – you have what it takes to join our mission of preventing water tragedies. Read more information click here.