First Time Lifeguard Certification & Training with First Aid and CPR/AED that you can start and complete right away.  Save $100 today with a special Grant!

First Time Lifeguard Certification & Training with First Aid and CPR/AED that you can start and complete right away. Save $100 today with a special Grant!

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The American Lifeguard Association® is pleased to announce that we have secured a national grant for 2024 to lower our Lifeguard and safety training fees. These funds will be made available until they are exhausted. The price reflects a special $100 discount due to the grant we received, for our regular price is $385. The funds are limited, so register today to ensure you can take advantage of the grant. 

Our video instructor-led course allows individuals to become trained and certified in lifeguarding without the wait for a group class. Upon completion of the online components of the program, you will receive a two-year certification in lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and first aid. If you need assistance at any point during your training, we are available 24/7 in real-time at alalifeguard@aol.com. After finishing the course, your certification records will be uploaded to the National Verification System, enabling employers and health department officials to easily verify your credentials.

Our lifeguard training and certification program requires that employers adhere to the standards outlined by the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC). In accordance with these national standards, employers are required to conduct both pre-service and in-service training evaluations. This rigorous approach ensures that our training not only meets national benchmarks but also provides candidates with top-tier education, preparing them for effective prevention and response to aquatic emergencies.

The American Lifeguard Association (ALA) has the support of Global Lifeguards and the Swimming Pool and Spa Foundation, which are 501(c)(3) nonprofit associations that oversee beaches and swimming pools. ALA works directly with employers nationwide to help train lifeguard professionals. The primary purpose of ALA is to reduce drownings and to help keep our swimming pools, beaches, and waterways safer.

Our Lifeguard course incorporates the latest ECC science and guidelines from the United States Lifeguard Training Standards Coalition.

Click on "ADD TO CART" at the top of the page to register.

The American Lifeguard Association has been listed on the CDC Healthy Swimming website over the years. Additionally, both the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. General Service Administration (GSA) have determined that the American Lifeguard Association offers lifeguard certification programs equivalent to those provided by the American Red Cross. Since the early 1990s, we have ensured that all our training programs meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements.

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the U.S. Department of Labor, as the federal Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), has determined that the American Lifeguard Association meets the national standards for lifeguard training and certification. The American Lifeguard Association is among a select few national training entities recognized by the United States Government as meeting these federal requirements. Consequently, the American Lifeguard Association fulfills the national requirements for lifeguard training and certification in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.

Provides entry-level participants the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies and to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies injuries and sudden illnesses until EMS personnel take over.

Prerequisites: Minimum age: 15 years; Swim 300 yards continuously; Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs; Complete a timed event within 1 minute 40 seconds by starting in the water swimming 20 yards surface dive to a depth of 7 to 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 exit the water without using steps or a ladder. Participants who successfully complete the Lifeguarding course receive an American Lifeguard certificate for Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED valid for 2 years.

30-DAY PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE

We owe our success to you, our members, and we know that price is a critical concern. We want you to feel confident that by choosing the American Lifeguard Association at the lowest prices. Even though we routinely monitor our competitors to assure that our prices are competitive, if you find a lower price after 30-days of your registration, on any training we offer within the county of where you live that is being conducted within 30 days of your registration, at your local park authority, community pool, school or university, we will match it.

We must be able to verify the lower price through a valid website. Lower prices that cannot be confirmed will not be honored. The training cannot be offered by an employer with whom you are required to go for employment purposes, as this would result in reduced pay for the lower-priced course. Additionally, the class must currently be open for registration and not already filled.

To take advantage of our offer, simply email us at alalifeguard@aol.com anytime within 30 days of your initial registration. Include the website, link, or advertisement where you found a better price. Once the lower price and source are confirmed, the American Lifeguard Association will instantly refund the difference. 

30-DAY SATISFACTION GUARANTEE

Your satisfaction is our priority. That's why we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. If our training doesn't meet your expectations, simply email us at alalifeguard@aol.com within 30 days of your registration. We'll process your refund on the same day.

The American Lifeguard Association promotes aquatic environments' safe and enjoyable use through public service announcements and national news media interviews. The Association’s opinions and viewpoints have been aired numerous times over the decades on network shows such as NBC Today Show, Good Morning America, Doctors, and Weather Channel. It has also worked with all the national news networks such as ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. To learn more about our Association and read the latest news stories regarding the American Lifeguard Association's nationwide efforts in the lifesaving profession, we ask that you tap American Lifeguard Association News.

The American Lifeguard and Safety Training™ is a trademark of the American Lifeguard Association health and safety courses. The American Lifeguard Association is one of the top associations specializing in the training and certifying of candidates in the American aquatics and safety training profession.

The American Lifeguard and Safety Training™ is a critical service with the support of employers and government agencies nationwide. With our program, you can get certified at your own pace and join our over 25,000 active lifeguard members across the USA.

The training can be accomplished on your own and at your own pace. The program is also eligible for 29 hours of Continuing Education Unit (CEU) and college elective credits. 

With the introduction of new national standards, all facilities must devise methods to verify and sustain adequate skill competency for all lifeguards. This includes new, returning, seasonal, and current lifeguards. While required certifications and pre-employment tests can contribute to this process, they don't negate the need for on-site orientation and in-service training. By adhering to these protocols, employers will satisfy the U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA Good Faith Efforts.

The national standards also state that the screening tests should not be so strict that they end up excluding lifeguard candidates whose skills are not as good, but whose dedication and personal characteristics could make them a better lifeguard than a person who can swim faster.

Please see below the information and all the steps needed to complete our national lifeguard training and certification program.

Minimum Requirements: Minimum age: 15 years; Swim 300 yards continuously; Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs; Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds by starting in the water, swimming 20 yards, surface dive to a depth of 7 to 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, exit the water without using steps or a ladder. Participants who complete the Lifeguarding course receive an American Lifeguard certificate for Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED, valid for 2 years.

With our lifeguard training program, you will not have to wait for a group class. Our national self-study programs can be taken anywhere and practiced by individuals, schools, universities, and community pools in the United States and abroad. The American Lifeguard Association® is one of only a few national certifying agencies for lifeguards.

The American Lifeguard Association (ALA) is a national educational association with the full support of the Swimming Pool and Spa Association and Global Lifeguards (a nonprofit 501c3) organization. These organizations are members of the Global Lifeguard Association, one of the largest worldwide aquatic consortiums, which has trained more than 250,000 certified lifeguards over the past 30 years.

To enroll in the Lifeguarding course, you may be of any age, but US Labor Laws require that you be 15 years or older to work at a swimming pool, water park, lake, and 16 years or older at beaches. Our programs may be eligible for Continuing Education Unit (CEU) and also college elective credits. Upon completion, we suggest that you contact your school or university for further details and eligibility.

STEPS TO COMPLETE THE ALA PROGRAM

  • Review all instructor-led training videos and online materials

Once you register, you will receive links to our online training videos, as well as an online lifeguard manual. These materials will cover various skills and techniques associated with CPR/AED and First Aid. You need to be familiar with and able to perform the skills shown in these materials.

All our programs require the participants to practice and demonstrate their skills in and out of the water. You can find a full list of these swimming, rescue, and first aid skills below. Upon completing this step, participants will obtain a Deep-Water Lifeguard certification as titled Professional Lifeguard and First Aid and CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer. Per the new national standards, the certificate will be valid for two years from the completion date.

  • Complete the online final exam

After you have reviewed the training videos and additional online materials and are able to accomplish your skills, you will need to go online and take the final written exam. Successful completion of the final exam requires a score of 80% or higher. You may review your online materials if needed at any time. There is no time limit to take the exam, but it must be taken at one time, for you cannot leave the exam and return where you left off. If you leave the exam, you will need to start it over until completed. If you do not receive a passing grade, you can retake the exam until you pass at no additional fees. Upon successful completion of the exam, you will receive a full printout of your exam score along with the correct answers to any questions you may have gotten wrong. We require that you look over your exam results to help ensure you know all the right answers. Upon completion, you will be given a lifeguard, CPR/AED, and First Aid certification. The certifications will be valid for two years from the date issued. The purpose of the ALA training program is to teach candidates the knowledge and skills needed to help prevent and respond to aquatic emergencies.

You will receive an email confirming your successful completion of the program, and your records will be placed in a national verification system the same day you complete the final exam; you will receive a Deep-Water Lifeguard certification as a titled Professional Lifeguard along with First Aid and CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer.

The verification system allows validated certification to be viewed by employers and health department officials. We request that you print out a copy of your American Lifeguard Association certification once you receive this official email. Also, a waterproof, wallet-size certification card will be mailed to you the next business day.

  • Employee Orientation

An orientation session about facility operations and responsibilities helps lifeguards understand the facility, their responsibilities, and management’s expectations. The orientation is critical for learning what is unique about your workplace. Ask your employer questions about your facility and become completely familiar with your facility’s operations.

The employer ensures that each Lifeguard candidate has all the skills and knowledge necessary for the position they are being considered. The employer also needs to make sure the candidate meets the requirements regarding physical and all other elements before starting employment. The employer to evaluate your current skill level. Your employer may have you participate in rescue scenarios to ensure that you understand your team's responsibilities and are familiar with your facility’s layout and equipment. 

  • Continue with in-service training with your employer.

Earning a lifeguarding certification means you have completed a training course on a given date. It does not mean that you have learned everything there is to know about lifeguarding. Once hired as a lifeguard, you should expect that you will be required to continue your training. 

Employers must adhere to the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) guidelines, which mandate both pre-service evaluations and continuous in-service training.

To enroll in the program, click the ADD TO CART button at the top. Once you register and pay, we will email you full instructions on how to complete the program.

SKILLS COVERED IN THE PROGRAM

Swimming Skills:

If you can answer “yes” to the following questions, you will pass the swimming test portion of the lifeguard certification requirements.

  • Can you swim for 300 yards without stopping using the following 3 strokes in this order and with the proper form? Front crawl (freestyle) for 100 yards, Breaststroke for 100 yards, Either the front crawl or the breaststroke for the final 100 yards
  • Can you retrieve a weight from the bottom of the pool within a time limit of 1 minute and 40 seconds?

Beginning in the water, you must swim for 20 yards using either the front crawl or the breaststroke. You must then complete a surface dive to “rescue” a 10-lb weight that is 7–10 ft below the surface. Once the weight is retrieved, you must swim back to the point where you started (a distance of 20 yards) and get out of the pool without using steps or a ladder.

Rescue Skills:

  • Slide-In Entry
  • Stride and Compact Jumps
  • Rescue Approach—Front Crawl or Breaststroke
  • Simple Assist
  • Extension Assist from the Deck
  • Reaching Assist with Equipment and
  • Throwing Assist
  • Swimming Extension Rescue
  • Active and Passive Drowning Victim Rear Rescue
  • Two-Person Removal from the Water
  • Using a Backboard
  • Passive Submerged Victim—Shallow Water
  • Submerged Victim—Deep Water
  • Multiple-Victim Rescue
  • Feet-First Surface Dive
  • Front and Rear Head-Hold Escape

Caring for Head, Neck, or Back Injury Skills:

  • Manual In-Line Stabilization for a Head, Neck, or Back Injury on Land—Lying
  • Down, Sitting, or Standing
  • Using a Backboard for a Standing Victim on Land
  • Head Splint Technique—Face-Up Victim, Shallow Water at or Near Surface
  • Head Splint Technique—Face-Down Victim, Shallow Water at or Near Surface
  • Head Splint Technique—Face-Up Victim, Deep Water at or Near Surface
  • Head Splint Technique—Face-Down Victim, Deep Water at or Near Surface
  • Head and Chin Support—Face-Up Victim, Shallow Water at or Near Surface
  • Head and Chin Support—Face-Down Victim, Shallow Water at or Near Surface
  • Head and Chin Support—Face-Up Victim, Deep Water at or Near Surface
  • Head and Chin Support—Face-Down Victim, Deep Water at or Near Surface
  • Stabilization for a Submerged Victim—Face-Up, Face-Down, or on One Side in Deep Water
  • Using a Backboard in Shallow and Deep Water

CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer Skills:

  • Removing Gloves
  • Initial Assessment
  • Rescue Breathing—Adult, Child, and Infant
  • Using a Bag-Valve-Mask Resuscitator—Two Rescuers
  • Conscious Choking—Adult, Child, and Infant
  • Unconscious Choking—Adult, Child, and Infant
  • CPR—Adult, Child, and Infant
  • Two-Rescuer CPR—Adult, Child, and Infant
  • Using an AED—Adult, and Child

First Aid Skills:

  • Secondary Assessment
  • Controlling External Bleeding
  • Applying a Sling and Binder
  • Applying an Anatomic Splint
  • Applying a Soft Splint

Skill Scenarios:

  • Final Skill Scenario 1—Active Drowning Victim
  • Final Skill Scenario 2—Submerged Passive Drowning Victim
  • Final Skill Scenario 3—Head, Neck, or Back Injury.

National standards require that all employers test each candidate to ensure they possess the required skills. Employers should also further their staff training through in-service programs to help increase their ability levels. At any time during employment, a staff member should be able to demonstrate their skills to show proficiency. Therefore, even after you complete our program, you must continue practicing your skills and work to improve them.

There is nothing more important than learning how to save a life, and nothing more rewarding than knowing you did it the right way. ALA has helped save tens of thousands of lives over the past quarter of a century. Learn to be alert, be professional, and save lives the right way. Get certified now and start saving lives!

The U.S. Department of Labor, under the Fair Labor Standards Act, sets the edibility and establishes national standards for lifeguard training and certification across the country and is the Authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). They have determined that the American Lifeguard Association meets these laws and regulations and offers lifeguard certification programs similar to those provided by the American Red Cross.

The American Lifeguard Association is just one of a handful of national training entities listed by the United States Government to meet these federal requirements. With this said, the American Lifeguard Association meets national lifeguard training and certification requirements for all 50 states along with the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, per Article VI of the U.S. Constitution which dictates that federal law is the "supreme law of the land." federal regulations, such as meeting the United States Department of Labor requirements regarding lifeguard training and certifications, take superiority over state laws. Preemption applies regardless of whether the conflicting laws come from state legislatures, courts, administrative agencies, or state constitutions.

To enroll in the program, click the ADD TO CART button at the top of the page. You can complete the certification program right away or at any time in the future.

Remember, we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 30-day price match guarantee. If you find a lower price for your training or are not completely satisfied, simply email us and request a refund.

If you have any questions about the registration process or encounter problems completing the training program, please email us at alalifeguard@aol.com. We monitor our incoming emails 24/7 and respond to inquiries in real-time. You can learn more by visiting our homepage at https://americanlifeguard.com.

Click on "ADD TO CART" at the top of the page to register.

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