NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER IN LIFEGUARD TRAINING

A nationally recognized certification accepted in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Y has a long history and tradition in lifesaving and water safety since we created the first national lifesaving service corps in 1912.

The Y lifeguard certification course provides participants with the knowledge and skills needed to be a lifeguard and professional rescuer. The 36-hour course (27.5 hours in-person training and 8.5 hours of eLearning) teaches lifeguards how to effectively perform their duties in the pool, lake, river, surf, and waterpark environments.

Upon successful completion of the Y Lifeguard Certification Course, participants will receive certification in:

  • Lifeguard
  • CPR Pro/AED for the Professional Rescuer
  • Basic First Aid
  • Emergency Oxygen Administration


MORE AFFORDABLE

The Y strongly believes in access for all. That's why our lifeguard certification course is one of the lowest cost (if not the lowest), highest quality courses in central Maryland -- as low as $240 less than other comparable courses!

  • Y members - $110
  • Program participants - $160

You can register online for the Y Lifeguard Certification Course or sign up in person at any Y Center.

The Y can also offer Y lifeguard and re-certification training at your community pool, swim club, apartment complex, or recreation center. For more information, please contact Jill Black, VP of Swim and Family Programming at JillBlack@ymaryland.org. 


PRE-COURSE ASSESSMENT

In order to take a Y lifeguard certification course, you must be at least 16 years old and you must pass a pre-course assessment:

  • Tread water for one minute with both hands out of the water
  • Tread water for two minutes with both hands in the water
  • Swim 100 yards freestyle in two minutes or less
  • 250 yard endurance swim: 50 yards each of front crawl (head out of water); sidestroke; breaststroke; breaststroke (head out of water); elementary backstroke kick with hands on chest
  • Surface dives/underwater swim: perform an arm-over-arm surface dive; feet first surface dive; feet first surface dive and swim underwater for 15 feet
  • Perform a series of sequence skills