Lifeguarding Instructor

Prepares Lifeguarding instructor applicants to deliver American Red Cross Lifeguarding, Lifeguarding Blended Learning, Shallow Water Lifeguarding, Aquatic Attraction Lifeguarding, Waterpark Skills, CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers, and Bloodborne Pathogens instruction.

Prerequisites: Minimum age: 17 years, Hold a current American Red Cross Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED certificate, complete the Lifeguarding Instructor Online Session, and successfully finish the precourse session.

After successful completion, participants earn an American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor certification valid for 2 years. All online coursework must be finished before attending in-person classroom activities. For additional details, refer to the attachment you will receive by email, which will be sent 2 weeks before this course. Attendance and participation are required for certification issuance.

Previous American Red Cross lifeguarding instructors with certifications lapsed within two years prior to the start of the Instructor Crossover/Re-Entry Bridge course, along with active lifeguarding instructors from approved outside organizations (refer to list below), may enroll in the Lifeguarding Instructor Crossover/Re-Entry Bridge course.

The goal of the American Red Cross r.24 Limited-Edition Lifeguarding Instructor/IT Recertification course is to allow instructors whose certifications expired by no more than 1 year and who did not qualify to enroll in the r.24 Lifeguarding Instructor Update online course an opportunity and pathway to transition to r.24 Lifeguarding program and obtain an r.24 Lifeguarding Instructor certification. This limited-edition course is available only through December 31, 2025.

If you are an Instructor Trainer and are required to complete the Lifeguard Instructor Trainer Recertification course, you must select the optional add-on at no extra cost. You must possess a current American Red Cross Lifeguarding Instructor Trainer certification to qualify for this. Failure to include this option will result in being recorded solely as an Instructor recertification only.

This course prepares American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (TM) applicants to deliver courses and presentations within the Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program by strengthening their knowledge of how to apply course materials, how to lead training sessions and how to assess participant progress. The courses and presentations cover Parent and Child Aquatics Levels 1 and 2, Preschool Aquatics Levels 1 – 3, Learn-to-Swim Levels 1 – 6, three adult courses as well as the Basic Water Rescue and Personal Water Safety courses and more. To enroll, instructor applicants must be at least 15 years of age on or before the final day of the instructor course and successfully complete the precourse session which includes demonstration of swimming skills at Learn-to-Swim Level 4 required.

This course prepares previously-certified (not lapsed more than two years) American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (TM) candidates to instruct courses and presentations within the Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program by enhancing their knowledge of how to apply the course resources, how to lead training sessions and how to assess participant progress.

The courses and presentations cover Parent and Child Aquatics Levels 1 and 2, Preschool Aquatics Levels 1 – 3, Learn-to-Swim Levels 1 – 6, three adult courses as well as the Basic Water Rescue and Personal Water Safety courses and more. To enroll, instructor candidates must be at least 16 years of age on or before the final day of the instructor course and successfully complete the precourse session which includes demonstration of swimming skills at Learn-to-Swim Level 4. Online materials must be completed prior to attending the classroom activities. For additional information, please review the attachment you will receive via email that will be sent two weeks prior to this course.

Are you registered or considering enrollment in our American Red Cross Blended Learning Water Safety Instructor course but unsure whether you can pass the precourse evaluation, have not been swimming recently, or simply want refinement of your advanced stroke technique? In this course, you will rehearse every skill required for the assessment administered on the first day of the American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Program to build confidence and readiness before instruction begins.