Become a Certified Lifeguard at the YMCA
Make a splash and gain vital skills to protect lives with our comprehensive Lifeguard Certification and Recertification courses at the YMCA! Our expert-led training equips you with the knowledge and abilities to effectively prevent and respond to aquatic emergencies. You'll receive certifications in First Aid, AED, Water Rescue Skills, and CPR for the Professional Rescuer. Upon successful completion, you'll be a certified lifeguard ready to make a real difference and explore employment opportunities right here at the YMCA!
Upcoming Course Schedule
Complete Course Dates: (Attendance required for all dates)
- May 23-25
- June 20-22
Fees:
- Complete Course: $210 (Includes pocket mask)
- Re-Certification Course: $110
Prerequisites for Enrollment
To ensure the safety and success of all participants, the following prerequisites must be met:
- Minimum Age: 15 years old
- Swim-Tread-Swim Sequence:
- Jump in, submerge, resurface, and swim 150 yards using front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination. (Backstroke or sidestroke not permitted. Swim goggles allowed.)
- Maintain position at the surface for 2 minutes by treading water using only your legs.
- Swim 50 yards using front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination.
- Timed Test: Complete within 1 minute, 40 seconds.
- Starting in the water, swim (face may be in or out of the water; no goggles).
- Surface dive (feet-first or head-first) to a depth of 7-10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.
- Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on your back to the starting point, holding the object with both hands and keeping your face near the surface.
- Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.
- American Red Cross Certification Requirements:
- Attend all class sessions.
- Demonstrate competency in all required skills.
- Demonstrate competency in 3 final skill scenarios.
- Correctly answer at least 80% of the questions on the final written exams.
Important Information to Know
- For the Complete Course: 7 hours of online pre-work must be completed at least 48 hours before the course start date. A link will be emailed to you, so please ensure your email is current at the Front Desk.
- Prerequisites will be assessed on the first day of the course. Failure to complete the online pre-work on time or demonstrate the prerequisites will result in an automatic failure, as per American Red Cross guidelines.
- Successful completion of all online pre-work and prerequisites (300-yard swim, brick retrieval, treading) is mandatory to continue the course.
- Class sizes are limited to a maximum of 10 participants per instructor and are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Ready to Dive In?
For more information or to register for a course, please contact Aquatics Director, Erin Brown at 252-291-9622 or ebrown@wilsonymca.org
