Which Course Should I Choose for My Lifeguard Certification?

Like training and certification for any other job, there are a few choices you have when it comes to selecting your lifeguard certification course. The lifeguard certification course is offered by several entities including the American Red Cross, the YMCA, and the Boy Scouts of America among others. These three courses are generally accepted by most employers. As always, remember to check with the employer you'd like to work for and with the state requirements to make sure the course you select is acceptable to both.

There are many similarities in the certifications from the American Red Cross, the YMCA, and the Boy Scouts of America. All three courses have pre-course swim and fitness tests that are very similar. Typically, they require a distance swim using various strokes, a dive to recover an object, and treading water. After the completion of each course, you will be a certified as a lifeguard, in first aid, and CPR/AED for a period of two years.

The certifications are all very similar, but they do offer some differences that you may want to consider. The American Red Cross offers the most customization as they have a regular lifeguarding course as well as a shallow water lifeguarding course that you can choose from. Once you choose which course you'd like to take, you can select to take either the traditional in-person course or the blended learning course which includes portions of in-person and online learning. Once you are certified, they also offer the opportunity to take optional modules to learn Waterfront skills and Waterpark skills.

The courses from the YMCA on the other hand, are not as standardized. The courses will differ from location to location. Some YMCA's even offer the American Red Cross course. While they all result in the same certification, the amount of time in classroom learning, practical demonstration, and online training differs by location. Typically, Y lifeguard courses will include instruction in professional CPR, basic First Aid, and emergency oxygen administration. Check with your local YMCA for the syllabus of the course you are interested in.

The last course we focus on is provided by the Boy Scouts of America. Their course is broken up into 28 units which are each given an allotted amount of time. The course is designed to teach each lifeguard to know, comprehend, and apply the information and skills learned. The requirements to pass the course are a variety of skills that instructors can observe and measure you in. It also includes a test for which you must answer 80 percent of the questions correctly. The course offers you a very practical way to learn how to be a good lifeguard.

The lifeguarding courses described above all have several ways they are unique. While they tend to be the most popular lifeguard-certifying organizations, they are not the only ones. In order to get the most out of your course, you will need to consider the aspects of each course that are best suited to you. No matter which course you choose, you must remember that the requirements to be a good lifeguard will always be the same.

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How to Become Lifeguard Certified

There are several ways to become lifeguard certified. One way is to apply for a lifeguard position at a lifesaving agency and receive lifeguard training directly from that organization. Another way to become lifeguard certified is to enroll in a private lifeguard course. Becoming lifeguard certified will allow you act as an independent contractor and sell your lifeguard services to private parties. These private lifeguard jobs can either be a one time job or a steady employment depending on the needs of your employer.

This is very different than being employed by a regular lifeguard agency, such as the YMCA. In effect, you become your own boss and are responsible for setting up your own lifeguard jobs. For example, an elementary school may need to hire a lifeguard to supervise a school group on a beach field trip. This is the type of job you can expect when you become an independent lifesaver.

Being an independent lifeguard comes with certain advantages and disadvantages.

Unless you have already received lifesaver training from a previous organization, such as YMCA or California State for example, you will have to enroll in a lifeguard training course. These courses are offered by numerous organizations, such as the Red Cross. You must also be CPR and first aid certified, however this is often included in most lifesaver certification classes. It is highly advisable that the lifesaver course you enroll in offers CPR and first aid certification.

You will also be expected to own your personal equipment. Alternatively, in a regular employed lifeguard position, your lifeguard agency will supply majority of your lifesaving equipment. As an independent lifeguard, you must purchase and maintain all of your equipment. The amount of equipment you must possess will depend on your environment.

 If you expect to be hired out for private pool jobs, the typical equipment will include a lifeguard buoy, uniform (red swimsuit, shirt labeled lifeguard), first aid equipment, whistle, and personal gear (hat, sunscreen etc). If you expect to be employed as a private beach lifeguard, you will need more equipment. The typical equipment will include buoy, uniform, first aid equipment, fins, wetsuit (dependent on water temperature), and binoculars.

A major benefit of getting lifesaver certified and becoming an independent lifeguard is that you will often be paid far more than the typical employed lifeguard. However, unless you can secure a regular private employer, hours are often far less regular than lifeguard agencies. If your schedule permits, you can simultaneously contract your private lifeguard services while still being regularly employed by a lifesaver organization!.

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