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Lifeguard Training Centers
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What is American Aquatics and Safety Training?
American Aquatics and Safety Training (AAST) is more than just a training provider, we are a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and promoting water safety across the country. With expert instructors and a curriculum rooted in the latest safety standards, AAST is a trusted name in lifeguard training and aquatic safety.
Mission and Values
At the core of American Aquatics and Safety Training is a mission to provide accessible, affordable, and top-quality safety training to communities nationwide. We believe that every life matters, and everyone should have access to lifesaving skills regardless of background or income.
Why Choose a Nonprofit Organization for Training?
Unlike for-profit entities, AAST reinvests every dollar into improving our courses, expanding outreach, and providing scholarships for underserved communities. When you train with us, you’re helping others too.
Lifeguard Training Programs Offered
Lifeguarding Certification
Our flagship Lifeguarding Certification Course prepares you for professional roles at pools, waterparks, and aquatic centers. Learn rescue techniques, first aid, and CPR/AED.
What You’ll Learn
Victim recognition and rescue
Safe water entry and exit
Emergency response procedures
Legal responsibilities of a lifeguard
Who Should Take This Course?
Anyone aged 15 years and older who wants to work as a professional lifeguard should enroll in this comprehensive course.
Waterfront Lifeguarding
Perfect for lakes, beaches, and rivers, our Waterfront Lifeguarding Certification teaches specialized skills for open-water rescues.
Skills for Open Water Rescues
Managing surf, tides, and currents
Using rescue boards and fins
Extended search and recovery techniques
Requirements for Enrollment
You must be a strong swimmer with experience in open water conditions to succeed in this program.
Junior Lifeguarding
Want to get your kids involved early? Our Junior Lifeguarding program is designed for ages 11–14.
Designed for Youth Ages 11–14
This course builds confidence in the water while teaching basic rescue and first aid skills.
Preparing Future Lifeguards
Junior Lifeguards often go on to become certified professionals once they meet the age requirements.
Shallow Pool Lifeguarding
Do you manage a small facility like a hotel or gym pool? Our Shallow Pool Lifeguarding is ideal for environments up to 5 feet deep.
Perfect for Hotels and Apartment Complexes
Shallow water environments have unique safety challenges, and this program addresses those specific risks.
Additional Certifications and Safety Courses
CPR/AED Certification
Learn lifesaving CPR techniques combined with automated external defibrillator (AED) training to handle cardiac emergencies effectively.
CPR for Lifeguards
Tailored specifically for professional lifeguards, this program dives deeper into water-related CPR emergencies.
First Aid and Emergency Oxygen
Equip yourself with the skills to treat injuries and administer emergency oxygen while waiting for professional medical help.
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
Water safety isn’t just about rescues. Our courses also include professional conduct and sexual harassment prevention, especially useful for staff in aquatic recreation settings.
Comprehensive Swimming Lessons
Beginner to Advanced Swimming Skills
We offer swimming lessons for all ages and skill levels, from basic floating and kicking to competitive stroke techniques.
Water Safety Techniques for All Ages
Water safety is a lifelong skill, and our instructors make sure everyone can swim confidently and safely.
Locations of Our Lifeguard Training Centers
Nationwide Coverage
With training centers across the United States, AAST is ready to serve communities both large and small.
Finding a Center Near You
Just visit our website to search by ZIP code or state to find your nearest lifeguard training center.
How to Register for a Course
Online Registration Process
Our user-friendly online portal lets you browse upcoming courses, select dates, and enroll with ease.
Group Bookings and Private Classes
Hosting a corporate event, summer camp, or school program? Ask about our private training sessions and group discounts.
Benefits of Lifeguard Certification
Career Opportunities
Certified lifeguards are in high demand at pools, camps, beaches, and resorts.
Life-Saving Skills Beyond the Pool
The skills you learn will make you a hero in your community, not just around water, but anywhere emergencies can happen.
Join the Lifeguard Community
Staying Connected
Join our exclusive online community of lifeguards for resources, job postings, and ongoing support.
Continuing Education Opportunities
We provide refresher courses and advanced rescue techniques for those who want to continue growing their skills.
FAQs
You must be at least 15 years old to enroll in our standard Lifeguard Certification program.
Certification typically lasts 2 years, after which you can take a recertification course.
While certain components like theory and knowledge exams may be available online, practical skills require in-person attendance.
We partner with local pools and recreation centers to help match certified lifeguards with employment opportunities.
Yes! We provide discounted rates for schools, camps, and organizations enrolling multiple participants.
Conclusion
Choosing American Aquatics and Safety Training isn’t just about earning a certification, it’s about becoming part of a lifesaving community. Whether you’re starting your career as a lifeguard, preparing for a summer job, or just wanting the confidence to keep your family safe around water, we’re here to help you succeed.
Our lifeguard training centers across the country provide top-tier instruction, backed by a mission-driven nonprofit organization that genuinely cares about safety and service. Every course you complete with us gives you practical skills, career advantages, and, most importantly, the power to save a life when it matters most.
Ready to start your journey? Find your nearest center today, enroll, and join the community of certified heroes making a difference every day.
What a training venue has to provide
Not every pool can host lifeguard training. The requirements are specific: water deep enough for a brick retrieval from 7 to 10 feet, clear space for rescue approaches and extrication practice, room on deck for CPR manikins, and uninterrupted access for the duration of the session. A busy community pool squeezing a course into a lane during public swimming cannot deliver the practical content properly.
Extrication practice is the element most often compromised. Removing an unresponsive casualty from the water, with spinal precautions and usually with a backboard, needs deck space and time. Where the venue cannot accommodate it comfortably, candidates end up watching a demonstration instead of performing it, and it is one of the physically hardest things a guard actually has to do.
For organizations arranging training, a center that will come to your own facility offers something a fixed venue cannot: candidates learn in the pool they will be guarding. They discover its blind spots, its depth changes and its access points during training rather than during their first shift, which is worth a great deal.
Updated for 2026. Reviewed in 2026. The detail below is the current standard, and is worth reading alongside the article above.
Certification is issued only after both the written examination and the hands-on skills evaluation are passed. Neither substitutes for the other.
The course runs in two formats and both end at the same standard. In the classroom format all instruction, testing and skills evaluation happen in person.
Reviewed by Jackie Stern, Lifeguard Instructor, Firefighter and EMT. Jackie Stern has taught lifeguarding for more than 20 years and works as a firefighter, EMT and swim instructor. She reviews course content, prerequisites and rescue standards against current certification requirements.
About Us
We are a nonprofit that trains and certifies in Lifeguarding, Waterfront Lifeguarding, Junior Lifeguarding, Shallow Pool Lifeguarding, Sexual Harassment Training, CPR/AED, CPR for Lifeguards, First Aid Emergency Oxygen, and swimming lessons.
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