Do you love the water and want to help people? If so, think about becoming a lifeguard.
Lifeguards are respected members of the community. And your lifeguard skills can open new doors—long after summer jobs are over.
Here you can find out how to become a lifeguard in New Jersey at Njswim.
Benefits of Lifeguard Training
Lifeguarding is a job that will keep you active all summer. It also helps you keep loved ones safe at the lake, beach, or pool.
Additionally, lifeguard training will help you build these important life skills:
- Communicating clearly
- Staying calm when dealing with an emergency
- Learning to work as part of a team
As part of lifeguard training, participants also become certified in basic first aid and CPR. These are critical lifesaving skills that are important no matter what walk of life you find yourself in.
Part of lifeguard training includes learning how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). This devise is used to determine a person’s heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock to get a heart properly beating again.
How to Prepare for the Lifeguarding Course
At Njswim, we are proud to offer lifeguard training that is certified by the American Red Cross (ARC).
Before signing up for a course, you will want to make sure your swimming skills are strong enough to meet the course prerequisites.
If you want to become a lifeguard, your first step may be to take some swim classes at Njswim to strengthen your swimming skills. This way, you will be sure to meet course sign-up requirements.
Prerequisites for Lifeguard Courses
To be eligible for lifeguard training, you must be 15 years old by the last day of the class.
You will also have to pass a pre-course swimming skills test.
You will need to demonstrate your ability to:
- Swim 300 yards using front crawl or breaststroke with breath control and rhythmic breathing, using front crawl or breaststroke. Swim googles allowed.
- Tread water for 2-minutes using legs only
- Surface dive to retrieve a 10-pound dive weight from 7 to 10 feet of water. Return to the surface and swim 20 yards with the weight, using legs only and exit the pool without using a ladder or steps—all within 1 minute 40 seconds. Swim googles not allowed.
What You Learn in Lifeguard Courses
The ARC Lifeguard Certification training not only provides you with lifeguarding skills. It also helps you develop the confidence you will need to perform your lifeguard duties.
You will learn how to prevent, recognize, and respond to water emergencies.
In addition, you will learn how to help people who are experiencing:
- breathing or cardiac emergencies
- injuries
- sudden illness
We will train you to provide this care until Emergency Medical Services arrive and take over.
New Jersey Lifeguard Certification Requirements
Our lifeguard courses follow the American Red Cross requirements. You will receive an ARC lifeguard certificate upon completion of the course.
The ARC Lifeguard Certification has strict requirements, whether you are becoming a certified lifeguard for the first time, or you are going for recertification.
A lifeguard certification/recertification course includes classroom hours and poolside training.
You will need to attend and take part in all class sessions for the full required hours.
The length of the course is approximately 25 hours.
You will also need to demonstrate that you are competent in all required skills and activities, including rescue skills.
At the end of the course, you will take a Lifeguard Certification test. This test includes both a written portion and a physical portion.
The written portion of the test includes questions on:
- CPR/AED and First Aid knowledge for the professional rescuer
- Lifeguarding Skills
You will need a minimum grade of 80% to pass this portion of the test.
You will receive an American Red Cross Certificate for Lifeguarding/First Aid/DPR/AED when you complete a Lifeguard Course at Njswim.
You will be a certified lifeguard for 2 years.
After 2 years, you will need to take the course again to be recertified.
What We Offer at Njswim
At Njswim, you can sign up for a variety of lifeguard training courses. All certifications and recertifications are those of the American Red Cross.
Njswim has a certified lifeguard instructor on staff.
We offer our lifeguarding courses year-round, at six different locations.
The Following Courses Culminate in NJ Lifeguard Certification/Re-Certification
- Shallow Water Lifeguard Certification and Recertification
For entry-level participants. Learn skills to prevent, recognize and respond to emergencies in shallow water up to 5 feet. Includes first aid, breathing and cardiac emergencies.
- Deep Water Lifeguard Certification and Recertification
Incorporates the Lifeguarding course with deep water skills.
- Waterfront Lifeguard Certification and Recertification
Incorporates Lifeguarding course and Waterfront Skills that teach lifeguards skills and knowledge to prevent and respond to emergencies in non-surf open-water areas such as camps, resorts, and campgrounds.
If are interested and want to see which courses fit in with your personal schedule, check our lifeguard training course schedule.
The starting and ending dates, times, and locations are all listed, along with the current course openings.
We offer lifeguard courses at these six Njswim locations:
- Sparta
- Florham Park
- Turnersville
- Brick
- Manasquan
- Lakeside
Get to Know Njswim
At Njswim, we offer more than great courses and swim instruction year-round. We also offer aquatic activities for the entire family.
We are proud to be an active partner in the Stop Drowning Now 501© (3) organization.
We provide water safety education for members of our communities through visits to schools, boy scouts and girl scouts troops, homeowners’ associations, and other community groups.
To learn about our swim school or learn more about our outreach activities, contact us at Njswim.
