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Lifeguard Class in Coles County Illinois
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Lifeguard Class in Coles County Illinois runs as a blended course, with online coursework followed by in-person water skills sessions.
Lifeguard certification in Coles County, Illinois at a glance
Lifeguard certification in Coles County, Illinois starts at $195.00 and takes Expect 7.5 hours of online work plus 2 days on site. You must be at least 15 years old and swim 300 yards continuously to qualify.
- Cost
- Prices begin at $195.00 per person, and groups are discounted.
- Course length
- Expect 7.5 hours of online work plus 2 days on site.
- Minimum age
- Reach 15 on or before the final class day.
- Swim test
- Front crawl and breaststroke across 300 continuous yards, a 2 minute armless tread, and a 10-lb brick carried back from 7 to 10 feet within 1 minute, 40 seconds.
- Certifications
- Lifeguarding, CPR and AED for the Professional Rescuer, and First Aid.
- Valid for
- Two years from issue, after which recertification requires 10 hours in person.
- Format
- Coursework online at whatever pace suits you, then skills sessions in person across Coles County, Illinois.
The Lifeguard Class in Coles County Illinois on this page is the complete certification course, open to first time candidates and to guards whose cards have run out. Coles County has about 46,060 residents, and its pools recruit on a local schedule rather than a national one. The course costs $195 and finishes with a lifeguard certification card.
New candidates and lapsed guards sit the course together. The course works through CPR, AED, First Aid, surveillance practice, emergency response and water rescue. University Court Swimming Pool and Charleston Rotary Community Aquatic Center are among the aquatic sites recorded in the county.
Dates are held often enough that most candidates in Coles County are certified within a few weeks of enquiring. Reserve a place online, then bring a swimsuit and a towel.
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How to register for your Coles County class
Choose your approved provider:
- American Aquatics and Safety Training
Places are available now. Demand is seasonal and capacity is limited, so book ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Two years.
No. In-person skills evaluation is required.
Yes. Across Coles County, Illinois, employers accept the certification.
You are able to apply the moment the digital certification card reaches you.
Where lifeguards work in Coles County
Public mapping records 3 named aquatic facilities in Coles County. Among the sites listed there are 2 public pools and swim clubs and 1 school or college pool. Every recorded site in Coles County is a pool or aquatic center.
Aquatic facilities in Coles County
- University Court Swimming Pool
- Charleston Rotary Community Aquatic Center
- Oakland Swimming Pool
Listed for orientation only. American Aquatics and Safety Training is not affiliated with, and does not run classes at, the facilities above.
Counties near Coles 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 Coles County Illinois: common questions
Where can I take lifeguard training in Coles County, Illinois?
American Aquatics and Safety Training runs blended lifeguard certification for candidates across Coles County. The county's largest communities are Charleston, Mattoon and Oakland, 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 Coles County?
Full certification costs $195.00, packaging water rescue, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid. Component renewals are cheaper: $25.00 for standalone CPR/AED, $19.99 for standalone First Aid.
Will I be guarding a pool or open water in Coles County?
Pools. No open-water venue is recorded in Coles County. Named sites in Coles County include University Court Swimming Pool, Charleston Rotary Community Aquatic Center and Oakland Swimming Pool. 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?
Most pools ask for 15 years old on the final day of the course. Waterfront and beach roles generally want 16 or above. Because individual Coles County employers may require more, check the advert before committing.
What swim test do I have to pass?
The test is 300 yards unbroken, a 2 minute legs-only tread, and a 10-pound brick retrieved from 7 to 10 feet and returned. It runs first thing in the in-person session, so arrive changed and ready.
Which communities in Coles County does training cover?
Candidates commonly travel from Charleston (17,028 residents), Mattoon (16,560 residents) and Oakland (723 residents). Charleston 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.
Lifeguarding in Coles County: the local picture
Coles County has a population of about 46,060. That makes it the 31st most populated of the 102 counties in Illinois. At 91 people per square mile it is a rural county, where a small number of public pools and open water sites carry the whole season.
Coles County holds 1.8 square miles of water, about 0.4% of the county. That ranks it 82nd 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 Charleston (17,028), Mattoon (16,560), Oakland (723), Ashmore (627). Facilities in the larger of these usually recruit earliest, often before the season starts.
Aquatic sites recorded in Coles County
- School: University Court Swimming Pool
- Pools: Charleston Rotary Community Aquatic Center, Oakland Swimming Pool
Candidates in Coles County often travel for a class date that fits. The nearest county pages are Clark County, Cumberland County, Douglas County, Edgar County.
The course itself does not vary by county: certification details, who pays for a class, refunds and rescheduling, and every area covered.
What students say
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What pools, beaches and aquatic facilities are in Coles County Illinois?
3 aquatic facilities are on record in Coles County Illinois:
- University Court Swimming Pool (school)
- Charleston Rotary Community Aquatic Center (pool)
- Oakland Swimming Pool (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
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