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Lifeguard Class in Champaign County Illinois
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Lifeguard Class in Champaign County Illinois runs as a blended course, with online coursework followed by in-person water skills sessions.
Lifeguard certification in Champaign County, Illinois at a glance
Lifeguard certification in Champaign County, Illinois starts at $195.00 and takes 7.5 hours online, then 2 in-person days. You must be at least 15 years old and swim 300 yards continuously to qualify.
- Cost
- From $195.00 per participant, and group rates are available.
- Course length
- 7.5 hours online, then 2 in-person days.
- Minimum age
- Minimum age 15, measured on the last day of class.
- Swim test
- The prerequisites are 300 yards continuous in front crawl and breaststroke, 2 minutes treading without arms, and a 10-lb brick retrieved from 7 to 10 feet and returned in under 1 minute, 40 seconds.
- Certifications
- Lifeguarding, CPR and AED for the Professional Rescuer, and First Aid.
- Valid for
- Two years from the date issued. Renewing means 10 hours of in-person training.
- Format
- Blended: you complete the online portion independently, then attend skills sessions in Champaign County, Illinois.
A Lifeguard Class in Champaign County Illinois takes a candidate from no certification at all to a card a facility will accept. A county of about 205,644 people needs a predictable supply of certified guards every spring. The course costs $195 and finishes with a lifeguard certification card.
The same certification covers a summer at a camp pool and a full year at a fitness centre. Expect CPR, AED, First Aid, surveillance, emergency response and in water rescue across the course. Sites like Crystal Lake Park Family Aquatic Center and Hap Parker Family Aquatic Center are the kind of place that hires.
The schedule is built around the season facilities in Champaign County are actually hiring for. Book online, and plan on a swimsuit and a towel for the water sessions.
Locations for Lifeguard classes in Illinois
- Lifeguard classes in Calhoun County
- Lifeguard classes in Carroll County
- Lifeguard classes in Cass County
- Lifeguard classes in Christian County
- Lifeguard classes in Clark County
- Lifeguard classes in DuPage County
- Lifeguard classes in Henderson County
- Lifeguard classes in Montgomery County
- Lifeguard classes in St. Clair County
- Lifeguard classes in Wayne County
- See all 102 counties in Illinois
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How to register for your Champaign County class
Choose your approved provider:
- American Aquatics and Safety Training
You can register now. Seasonal demand clears places fast, so secure yours early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Two years.
No. In-person skills evaluation is required.
They do. Champaign County employers in Illinois recognise these certifications.
Once your digital certification card arrives you can start applying.
Where do lifeguards work in Champaign County?
Public mapping records 15 named aquatic facilities in Champaign County. Among the first 14 listed there are 9 public pools and swim clubs and 5 water parks. Every recorded site in Champaign County is a pool or aquatic center.
Aquatic facilities in Champaign County
- Crystal Lake Park Family Aquatic Center
- Hap Parker Family Aquatic Center
- Douglass Park Splash Pad
- Sholem Aquatic Center
- Hessel Splash Pad
- Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center
- Indian Acres Swim Club
- ARC Indoor Pool
- Splash Pool
- The Puddle
- The Rapids
- The Beach
- ARC Pool
- The Sea
Listed for orientation only. American Aquatics and Safety Training is not affiliated with, and does not run classes at, the facilities above.
Counties near Champaign County
Neighboring counties we also serve are listed below. The certification is approved in almost every state in the US and CMAHC approved, so it holds good if you take work in any of them.
Lifeguard class in Champaign County Illinois: common questions
Where can I take lifeguard training in Champaign County, Illinois?
American Aquatics and Safety Training runs blended lifeguard certification for candidates across Champaign County. The county's largest communities are Champaign, Urbana and Rantoul, and most candidates travel from those areas for the in-water portion. Coursework is completed online first, then the rescue skills, CPR/AED and First Aid sessions are done in person with an instructor.
How much does lifeguard certification cost in Champaign County?
The all-in price is $195.00, which includes water rescue, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid. Where only one element has lapsed, CPR/AED on its own is $25.00 and First Aid on its own is $19.99.
Will I be guarding a pool or open water in Champaign County?
Pools. No open-water venue is recorded in Champaign County. Named sites in Champaign County include Crystal Lake Park Family Aquatic Center, Hap Parker Family Aquatic Center and Douglass Park Splash Pad. Whether a certification is accepted for waterfront or surf positions depends on the employer and, in some states, on state rules, so check the posting before you apply. Surf beaches often run their own qualifying test.
How old do I need to be to become a lifeguard in Illinois?
The usual minimum at pools is 15 on the last day of class; waterfront and beach posts typically require 16 or over. Individual employers in Champaign County can ask for more, so check the listing first.
What swim test do I have to pass?
Three elements: a continuous 300 yard swim, 2 minutes treading with legs only, and recovering a 10-pound brick from 7 to 10 feet and bringing it back. This happens at the very start of the in-person session, so come ready to swim.
Which communities in Champaign County does training cover?
Candidates commonly travel from Champaign (89,189 residents), Urbana (38,209 residents) and Rantoul (11,956 residents). Champaign is the largest community in the county, and certification is approved in almost every state in the US and CMAHC approved, so it stays valid if you take a job in a neighboring county or another state.
Facility data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
What is lifeguarding like in Champaign County?
Champaign County has a population of about 205,644. That makes it the 10th most populated of the 102 counties in Illinois. At 206 people per square mile it is a mixed suburban county, where school, club and municipal pools carry most of the season.
Roughly 0.2% of the county, 2.4 square miles, is water. That ranks it 75th of 102 in the state for water area. With water that limited, almost all guarding here is pool based, which is the setting the standard certification covers.
The largest communities here are Champaign (89,189), Urbana (38,209), Rantoul (11,956), Mahomet (10,273). Facilities in the larger of these usually recruit earliest, often before the season starts.
Aquatic sites recorded in Champaign County
- Water parks and splash pads: Crystal Lake Park Family Aquatic Center, Hap Parker Family Aquatic Center, Douglass Park Splash Pad, Sholem Aquatic Center, Hessel Splash Pad
- Pools: Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center, Indian Acres Swim Club, ARC Indoor Pool, Splash Pool, The Puddle, The Rapids
Candidates in Champaign County often travel for a class date that fits. The nearest county pages are Douglas County, Edgar County, Ford County, McLean County.
What the course costs and asks of you is the same statewide: certification details, who pays for a class, refunds and rescheduling, and every area covered.
What students say
4.8 out of 5 ★★★★½ from 336 verified students who completed a course with us.
- ★★★★★
Very repetitive but overall good
Christian D., July 2022 - ★★★★★
Course was well taught
Benjamin R., July 2022 - ★★★★★
hard but it went well
Demitra I., July 2022 - ★★★★★
Everything was great ! Nikki and Mike are awesome
Annabella Z., July 2022 - ★★★★★
Make it harder
Max P., July 2022 - ★★★★★
Easy and quick
Meaghan A., June 2022
What pools, beaches and aquatic facilities are in Champaign County Illinois?
There are 15 aquatic facilities on record in Champaign County Illinois. These 14 are named:
- Crystal Lake Park Family Aquatic Center (water park)
- Hap Parker Family Aquatic Center (water park)
- Douglass Park Splash Pad (water park)
- Sholem Aquatic Center (water park)
- Hessel Splash Pad (water park)
- Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center (pool)
- Indian Acres Swim Club (pool)
- ARC Indoor Pool (pool)
- Splash Pool (pool)
- The Puddle (pool)
- The Rapids (pool)
- The Beach (pool)
- ARC Pool (pool)
- The Sea (pool)
Facilities are listed to show the kind of aquatic sites operating locally. Listing does not imply any affiliation with, or endorsement by, the operator.
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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