How to get a lifeguard certification

It is somewhat fulfilling to save one's life. There are indeed those who have a calling for a job that will save lives. Some of them do what it takes to become a lifeguard. Experts highly emphasized that a lifeguard is a very important occupation. He or she must know how to determine the difference between life and death. Whether you want to be a lifeguard for a swimming pool or perhaps for a natural body of water, there is need for you to undergo the necessary training and certification for you to qualify for the job. 

In order to get a job as a lifeguard, you will first have to obtain a lifeguard certification. In fact, there are three certification areas that everyone must have. The first is a lifeguard certificate that has passed the basic course. The second is evidence of CPR / AED training and the third is first aid training. But before you can qualify for a lifeguard certification course, you must be at least 15 years old at the time of your last training.

It is not difficult to find certification courses offered by local schools and water facilities, as well as by the American Red Cross, Aquatic Solutions, and the YMCA among many other national organizations. Many courses offer first aid and CPR training, so it is possible to get all 3 certificates in only 1 class.

To pass the class, students must complete a physical fitness test to prove that they can meet the demands of lifeguard duties. The tests may vary depending on your teacher or organization, but in general you will have to swim for 300 yards, both the crawl and breaststroke, without stopping. The other part of the test usually requires the participants to dive and take a weight of 10 pounds at the bottom of the pool. Basically, you have to be more than just a stylish swimmer to perform these 2 rounds. However, tests might vary according to the program you have signed up for.

Apart from reinforcing your swimming skills, you will also need to undergo emergency training courses so you are sure to pass complete certification. You must know that lifeguards will deal with lots of critical situations apart from drowning. With that said, you must also undergo training for first aid and CPR aside from the basic lifeguard course. You can actually undertake classes given by the top safety consultants - something that will provide you with a boost to your credentials if you are already applying for work.

Before enrolling in a class, you should be aware that there are different certification types which each prepare students for a specific aquatic environment with its own unique challenges. For example, the American Red Cross has 4 different classes. The standard Lifeguarding class is for working at a normal pool. The Waterpark lifeguard is required to work in a water park and the Waterfront Lifeguarding course is suitable for aquatic environments such as ponds, lakes and rivers. The simplest of the 4 courses is for shallow water operator certification, which qualifies only for working in a pool or body of water 4 feet deep or less.

Many other facilities offer similar classes but if you are dreaming of becoming a beach lifeguard, it is a little harder to find a course that specializes in this area because it is more demanding than the others. You will need to find a school that offers a course specifically in "surf" lifeguarding in order to be qualified to work at a beach.

Although certification requirements for lifeguards are fairly standard in all parts of the country, it is helpful to know that there may be some country-specific requirements. To find out if the condition in which you live has a particular need, ask someone at the water facility where you are considering your certification course. They will surely know the requirements and be able to give you more detailed information.