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Lifeguard Class in Bergen County New Jersey
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Lifeguard Class in Bergen County New Jersey runs as a blended course, with online coursework followed by in-person water skills sessions.
Lifeguard certification in Bergen County, New Jersey at a glance
Lifeguard certification in Bergen County, New Jersey 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
- $195.00 per participant is the starting price, with discounts for groups.
- 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
- 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
- Three components: Lifeguarding, CPR/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
- Online study at your own pace, then practical skills sessions in Bergen County, New Jersey.
A Lifeguard Class in Bergen County New Jersey takes a candidate from no certification at all to a card a facility will accept. Bergen County has about 957,736 residents, and its pools recruit on a local schedule rather than a national one. Registration is $195 and there is nothing further to pay for the certification itself.
The course suits summer hires, year round pool staff and anyone renewing a certification that has lapsed. Training covers CPR, AED use, First Aid, surveillance, emergency response and in water rescue. Bergen County holds 14 square miles of water, so waterfront postings sit alongside pool work here.
Sessions are scheduled through the season, which keeps the wait short in Bergen County. Registration is online, and a swimsuit and towel are what you bring on the day.
Locations for Lifeguard classes in New Jersey
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- Lifeguard classes in Cape May County
- Lifeguard classes in Cumberland County
- Lifeguard classes in Essex County
- Lifeguard classes in Hunterdon County
- Lifeguard classes in Monmouth County
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- See all 21 counties in New Jersey
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How to register for your Bergen County class
Choose your approved provider:
- American Aquatics and Safety Training
Registration has opened. Because demand peaks seasonally, seats tend to go quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Two years.
No. In-person skills evaluation is required.
Yes, this certification is accepted by employers throughout Bergen County, New Jersey.
You are able to apply the moment the digital certification card reaches you.
Where lifeguards work in Bergen County
Public mapping records 28 named aquatic facilities in Bergen County. Among the first 14 listed there are 7 beaches and open-water sites, 5 public pools and swim clubs, 1 water park and 1 school or college pool. Open water dominates that list: beaches and waterfront sites outnumber pools and aquatic centers among the recorded venues in Bergen County. Waterfront postings normally require a minimum age of 16.
Aquatic facilities in Bergen County
- Rutherford Waterfront Park
- Crystal Lake Beach Club
- Undercliff Beach
- Bloomer Beach
- Huylers Beach
- Hazard Beach
- Canoe Beach
- DreamWorks Water Park
- Goldfish Swim School
- Hasbrouck Heights Swim Club
- Ridgefield Community Pool
- Glen Rock Municipal Pool
- Palisades Park Swim Club
- Cresskill Municipal 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 Bergen County
These are the closest counties we also cover, spanning 2 states. Certification is approved in almost every state in the US and CMAHC approved, so it stays valid if you take a job in any of them.
Lifeguard class in Bergen County New Jersey: common questions
Where can I take lifeguard training in Bergen County, New Jersey?
American Aquatics and Safety Training runs blended lifeguard certification for candidates across Bergen County. The county's largest communities are Hackensack, Fort Lee and Fair Lawn, 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 Bergen County?
$195.00 buys the full certification, covering water rescue, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid in a single package. Renewing just one part costs $25.00 for CPR/AED or $19.99 for First Aid.
Will I be guarding a pool or open water in Bergen County?
Mostly open water. Beaches and waterfront sites outnumber pools among the recorded venues in Bergen County. Waterfront postings usually set the minimum age at 16. Named sites in Bergen County include Rutherford Waterfront Park, Crystal Lake Beach Club and Undercliff Beach. 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 New Jersey?
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 Bergen County can ask for more, so check the listing first.
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 Bergen County does training cover?
Candidates commonly travel from Hackensack (45,736 residents), Fort Lee (39,700 residents) and Fair Lawn (35,564 residents). Hackensack 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 Bergen County: the local picture
Bergen County has a population of about 957,736. That makes it the 1st most populated of the 21 counties in New Jersey. At 4,114 people per square mile it is an urban county, where most guarding work sits at municipal and apartment pools.
Bergen County holds 14 square miles of water, about 5.6% of the county. That ranks it 12th of 21 in the state for water area. Open water at that scale usually means waterfront and beach postings alongside pool work, and waterfront guarding is assessed differently from pool guarding.
Most hiring in the county clusters around Hackensack (45,736), Fort Lee (39,700), Fair Lawn (35,564), Garfield (32,456). Facilities in the larger of these usually recruit earliest, often before the season starts.
Aquatic sites recorded in Bergen County
- Beaches and waterfront: Rutherford Waterfront Park, Crystal Lake Beach Club, Undercliff Beach, Bloomer Beach, Huylers Beach, Hazard Beach
- Water parks and splash pads: DreamWorks Water Park
- School: Goldfish Swim School
- Pools: Hasbrouck Heights Swim Club, Ridgefield Community Pool, Glen Rock Municipal Pool, Palisades Park Swim Club, Cresskill Municipal Pool
Candidates in Bergen County often travel for a class date that fits. The nearest county pages are Essex County, Hudson County, Passaic County, Bronx 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 Bergen County New Jersey?
There are 28 aquatic facilities on record in Bergen County New Jersey. These 14 are named:
- Rutherford Waterfront Park (beach)
- Crystal Lake Beach Club (beach)
- Undercliff Beach (beach)
- Bloomer Beach (beach)
- Huylers Beach (beach)
- Hazard Beach (beach)
- Canoe Beach (beach)
- DreamWorks Water Park (water park)
- Goldfish Swim School (school)
- Hasbrouck Heights Swim Club (pool)
- Ridgefield Community Pool (pool)
- Glen Rock Municipal Pool (pool)
- Palisades Park Swim Club (pool)
- Cresskill Municipal 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
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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