Thinking about a career as a lifeguard but not sure what it takes to get started? As the leading certifying body for lifeguards in the United States, the American Lifeguard Association has a few core requirements that all prospective students must meet before enrolling in one of our lifeguard certification classes.
In this article, we will outline the key criteria you need to satisfy in order to take your first steps toward becoming a certified lifeguard.
Age Requirements
The minimum age required to enroll in an American Lifeguard Association lifeguard class is 15 years old. Applicants must be at least 15 by the last scheduled day of the course. While younger individuals may be interested in pursuing lifeguarding as a career, our certification program curriculum and physical testing standards are designed for individuals aged 15 and older. Once accepted into a class, students who turn 15 during the course schedule will be permitted to complete certification.
Medical Requirements
All students enrolling in an ALA lifeguard class are required to complete a pre-participation medical history form. This form screens for any conditions such as diabetes, asthma, allergies, or cardiovascular/respiratory issues that could interfere with the physical demands of lifeguarding or pose a risk during in-water rescues and response times. Applicants should not enrol if they have any significant medical issues, as the training program includes strenuous physical components such as swimming, running, and fitness testing.
Course Prerequisites & Expectations
Beyond age and medical prerequisites, there are a few core swimming and fitness standards that must be demonstrated prior to formal enrollment in an ALA lifeguard course. Prospective students must prove they can complete the following:
Swim 300 yards continuously using front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both (without stopping). Goggles are optional.
Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs with hands placed under the armpits.
Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds:
Starting in the water, swim 20 yards.
Surface dive to a depth of 7-10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.
Surface and swim 20 yards on back to return to the starting point with both hands holding the object and keeping the face above water.
Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.
These prerequisite skills tests help ensure students have the minimum swimming competencies needed prior to the classroom portions of learning CPR, first aid, rescues, and other lifeguarding techniques. Meeting these prerequisites is a strict requirement for enrolling in an ALA lifeguard class.
Course Curriculum
Once accepted into a lifeguarding course through the American Lifeguard Association, what can students expect? Most full certification classes run between 30-40 hours total and cover the following key topics:
CPR and First Aid (8 hours)
This section reviews adult, child and infant CPR techniques along with first aid protocols for injuries ranging from cuts and burns to medical emergencies like seizures, diabetic emergencies, and cardiac issues. Key skills taught include CPR certification, AED operation and first aid assessments and treatments.
Scanning Techniques And Accident Prevention (6 hours)
This module focuses on surveillance methods and guarding behaviors to prevent accidents in aquatic facilities. Students learn scanning pathways, patron surveillance zones, and recognizing behaviours that could indicate a person in distress like horseplay near the water.
Rescue Techniques and Spinal Cord Management (10 hours)
Hands-on water rescue skills and spinal injury management make up a large portion of any lifeguard course. Students practice entering the water fully clothed, surface dives, underwater swims, rescue tube assists, backboard, removal from water with spine control, and in-water resuscitation.
Water Park Lifeguarding (optional 4 hours)
Some ALA courses offer an additional module for those hoping to work at waterparks. This section covers features of water slides, wave pools, and play structures, as well as facility-specific rescues and first aid protocols.
The course culminates with multiple practice scenario sessions and challenges where students demonstrate their learned professional lifeguarding skills. This includes timed response/rescue events in scenarios like patrols or emergencies at a simulated facility. Upon completion, students who pass both written and skills exams become ALA certified.
Becoming a certified lifeguard through the American Lifeguard Association provides a strong foundation in water safety and lifesaving skills.
Meeting the minimum enrollment requirements is the first step towards this rewarding career, providing aquatic supervision and emergency response to communities nationwide. Students with questions can consult the ALA website or contact their local certification provider to enroll in the next available course. I hope this article provided useful information for individuals considering pursuing lifeguard certification.