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Lifeguard Class in Kent County Michigan
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Lifeguard Class in Kent County Michigan runs as a blended course, with online coursework followed by in-person water skills sessions.
Lifeguard certification in Kent County, Michigan at a glance
Lifeguard certification in Kent County, Michigan starts at $195.00 and takes 7.5 online hours are followed by 2 days of in-person training. 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
- 7.5 online hours are followed by 2 days of in-person training.
- Minimum age
- Age 15 or over on the last day of the course.
- 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 plus CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer plus 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 Kent County, Michigan.
Our Lifeguard Class in Kent County Michigan is a full certification course rather than a refresher clinic. Kent County is home to around 661,354 people, and seasonal hiring tracks that closely. Expect to pay $195, which carries you through to certification.
Summer hires, full year staff and returning guards all take the same course. You are trained in CPR, AED, First Aid, patron surveillance, emergency response and in water rescue technique. Sites like Millennium Park Beach and Kentwood Aquatic Center and Auditorium are the kind of place that hires.
Course dates come round often, so a Kent County candidate rarely waits long. Complete registration online and pack a swimsuit and a towel.
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How to register for your Kent County class
Choose your approved provider:
- American Aquatics and Safety Training
Enrolment is open now, and seasonal demand means seats go fast. Reserve early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Two years.
No. In-person skills evaluation is required.
It is accepted. Employers around Kent County in Michigan take these certifications.
Once your digital certification card arrives you can start applying.
Where do lifeguards work in Kent County?
Public mapping records 7 named aquatic facilities in Kent County. Among the sites listed there are 5 public pools and swim clubs, 1 guarded beach or open-water site and 1 community or club pool. Pools account for most of that list, with a small number of open-water sites in Kent County.
Aquatic facilities in Kent County
- Millennium Park Beach
- Kentwood Aquatic Center and Auditorium
- Ridgemoor Swim Club
- MLK Swimming Pool
- Briigs Park Pool
- Cannon Pool
- Anderson Woods 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 Kent County
Listed below are the closest counties we also cover. The certification is approved in almost every state in the US and CMAHC approved, so a job in any of them is still covered.
Lifeguard class in Kent County Michigan: common questions
Where can I take lifeguard training in Kent County, Michigan?
American Aquatics and Safety Training runs blended lifeguard certification for candidates across Kent County. The county's largest communities are Grand Rapids, Wyoming and Kentwood, 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 Kent 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 Kent County?
Mostly pools. A small number of open-water venues are recorded in Kent County. Named sites in Kent County include Millennium Park Beach, Kentwood Aquatic Center and Auditorium and Ridgemoor Swim Club. 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 Michigan?
Pool employers generally want candidates to be 15 by the final day of the course, while waterfront and beach roles usually start at 16. Some employers in Kent County set the bar higher, so read the job posting before booking.
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 Kent County does training cover?
Candidates commonly travel from Grand Rapids (196,608 residents), Wyoming (77,451 residents) and Kentwood (53,987 residents). Grand Rapids 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 Kent County?
Kent County has a population of about 661,354. That makes it the 4th most populated of the 83 counties in Michigan. At 779 people per square mile it is a mixed suburban county, where school, club and municipal pools carry most of the season.
Water covers 23 square miles of Kent County, 2.6% of its area. That ranks it 46th of 83 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 Grand Rapids (196,608), Wyoming (77,451), Kentwood (53,987), Walker (25,289). Facilities in the larger of these usually recruit earliest, often before the season starts.
Aquatic sites recorded in Kent County
- Beaches and waterfront: Millennium Park Beach
- Pools: Kentwood Aquatic Center and Auditorium, Ridgemoor Swim Club, MLK Swimming Pool, Briigs Park Pool, Cannon Pool
- Private: Anderson Woods Pool
Candidates in Kent County often travel for a class date that fits. The nearest county pages are Allegan County, Barry County, Ionia County, Montcalm 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.
- ★★★★★
Easy material to learn
Malachi S., June 2024 - ★★★★★
Amazing experience and instructor was fenomenal!
Jessica G., June 2024 - ★★★★★
Great course
Suzanne G., June 2024 - ★★★★★
Takes determinedness and strength.
Emma N., June 2024 - ★★★★★
Spread out of more time
Laura J., June 2024 - ★★★★★
Fun, physical, knowledgeable, and fulfilling
Justin R., June 2024
What pools, beaches and aquatic facilities are in Kent County Michigan?
7 aquatic facilities are on record in Kent County Michigan:
- Millennium Park Beach (beach)
- Kentwood Aquatic Center and Auditorium (pool)
- Ridgemoor Swim Club (pool)
- MLK Swimming Pool (pool)
- Briigs Park Pool (pool)
- Cannon Pool (pool)
- Anderson Woods Pool (private club)
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.
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