Lifeguard Certification Courses

Course Timeline

Full lifeguard certification courses take place over the course of three days. All sessions must be attended and successfully completed to receive a certification.

Course Prerequisites

Participants must be at least 15 years of age on or before the last date of the course to register.

Participants must be able to pass a prerequisite swimming and skills test on the first day of class consisting of the following:

• Continuous 300 (not timed) yard swim, demonstrating proficiency in front crawl (using rhythmic breathing and a stabilizing, propellant kick), and breaststroke (using a pull, breathe, kick and glide sequence).
• 2-minute tread without support and without stopping. Participants can use only their legs.
• Retrieve a 10 lb. brick from the bottom of the pool (12 feet) and swim 20 yards with the brick, without the use of goggles. This must be done within 1 minute and 40 seconds.

Course Timeline

Lifeguard recertification courses take place over the course of two days. All sessions must be attended and successfully completed to receive a certification.

Course Prerequisites

Participants must have  a CURRENT lifeguard/First Aid/CPR/AED certification to participate in a lifeguard recertification course.

Participants must be able to pass a prerequisite swimming and skills test on the first day of class consisting of the following:

• Continuous 300 (not timed) yard swim, demonstrating proficiency in front crawl (using rhythmic breathing and a stabilizing, propellant kick), and breaststroke (using a pull, breathe, kick and glide sequence).
• 2-minute tread without support and without stopping. Participants can use only their legs.
• Retrieve a 10 lb. brick from the bottom of the pool (12 feet) and swim 20 yards with the brick, without the use of goggles. This must be done within 1 minute and 40 seconds.

Lifeguard Instructor Certification Courses trains instructor candidates to teach American Red Cross Lifeguarding, Shallow Water Lifeguarding, Aquatic Attraction Lifeguarding Waterpark Skills, CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers, and Bloodborne Pathogens Training.

Course Timeline

Lifeguard Instructor certification courses take place over the course of three days.

Course Prerequisites

Participants will be required to:

• Demonstrate proficient Lifeguarding skills
• Teach multiple course lessons
• Be a minimum of 17 years of age by the final day of the course and
• Possess a current American Red Cross Lifeguard certification
• Complete all online sessions prior to the first in-person course date
• Attended and successfully complete all in-person sessions

Custom lifeguard courses are available to groups of 5 or more that need to be certified together. Groups larger than 10 cannot be accommodated. Please request a custom course using the link below.

• Requests must be submitted at least 30 days before the desired certification course date.
• Dates, times, and course capacities for custom lifeguard courses are limited based on facility space and instructor availability.
• All courses utilize a blended learning format in which online course content must be completed before the start of the in-person session. Online learning content will take approximately 7 hours to complete.
• In-person instruction is taught over the course of several days (20 hours). 
• All courses will take place at Fike Recreation Center.
• Course fees are assessed per participant in the course.

Submitting a Request 

1. Sign in to the 25Live Dashboard, linked below, with your Clemson Credentials
2. Choose Event Form at the top right of your screen and complete the form
3. In the Event Type box, select CR Lifeguard Certification Course
4. For the location, select Certification Course

For step-by-step instructions, view our How-To Manual.

• All refunds are subject to a processing fee. Refund amounts will be prorated based on the number of days remaining until the program.
• Refund requests submitted fewer than 7 days in advance of a scheduled program will not be approved.
• All refund requests are subject to approval and are not a guarantee of a refund.
• Requester will be notified of confirmation or denial of their refund.
• Refunds for credit/debit purchases will be returned to the card used on the initial transaction. Refunds for checks will be made in the form of a check from Clemson University.
• A full refund will be offered in the case of any program cancellation. All program registrations should be considered pending until appropriate course numbers are reached.
• Complete a refund request form.