Re-certification courses are reserved for participants who have an active American Red Cross certification, or has lapsed within 30-days of the scheduled course completion date.

Re-certification courses are approx. 10-hours and expect participants to remember the skills and provide a re-fresher or update. 

Course and Materials

Red Cross training provides participants with flexible training options, improved tools and resources. Our in-person training has a strong focus on practicing the skills needed to prepare, respond and prevent emergencies. Course materials, including a complementary eBook, includes skill videos for lifeguards to review and refresh during and after training.

Pre-registration is required to be able to be sent and completed online material.

Flexible Training: Whether you prefer training in a classroom only in-person environment or the flexibility of blended learning (online courses followed by Instructor-led classes), the Red Cross Lifeguarding Certification is the trusted leader in lifeguard and aquatic training and accepted nationwide.

Courses & Certification

All lifeguarding participants must complete the required swimming skills prerequisite prior to taking the course. The prerequisite skills assessments include a swim-tread-swim and a timed event sequence.

Throughout the course, participants will learn and be evaluated on knowledge and skills related to lifeguarding, water rescues, extrications, CPR and AED and First Aid.

In addition, at the conclusion of the course, participants must successfully complete 3 final skills assessments:

• Rotate in-conduct surveillance – rotate out
• Timed Single-rescuer CPR Scenario
• Multiple Rescuer Response Scenario

Participants are required to take one final written exam consisting of 50 questions and score a minimum of 80%.

Participants who successfully complete the Lifeguarding certification course will be issued one of the following certifications depending on the Lifeguarding course completed. For example, participants that successfully complete the Lifeguarding (including Deep Water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid, will be issued a certification valid for 2 years.