Mon - Sat: 8:30-18:00
Lifeguard Class in Berks County Pennsylvania
Last updated
Lifeguard Class in Berks County Pennsylvania runs as a blended course, with online coursework followed by in-person water skills sessions.
Lifeguard certification in Berks County, Pennsylvania at a glance
Lifeguard certification in Berks County, Pennsylvania 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
- From $195.00 per participant, and group rates are available.
- Course length
- Expect 7.5 hours of online work plus 2 days on site.
- Minimum age
- You must have turned 15 by the final 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
- The card runs two years from the date of issue, and recertifying is a 10 hour in-person course.
- Format
- Coursework online at whatever pace suits you, then skills sessions in person across Berks County, Pennsylvania.
The Lifeguard Class in Berks County Pennsylvania is the same course whether you plan to work at a pool, a camp or a waterfront. Population in Berks County sits near 432,821. The price is $195 and includes the certification, not just the classroom time.
New candidates and lapsed guards sit the course together. Expect CPR, AED, First Aid, surveillance, emergency response and in water rescue across the course. About 1.1% of Berks County is water, and that changes the mix of jobs available.
Be ready for the swim screen, which asks for 300 yards continuously, and the rest follows in class. Book online, and plan on a swimsuit and a towel for the water sessions.
Locations for Lifeguard classes in Pennsylvania
- Lifeguard classes in Armstrong County
- Lifeguard classes in Beaver County
- Lifeguard classes in Bedford County
- Lifeguard classes in Blair County
- Lifeguard classes in Bradford County
- Lifeguard classes in Cameron County
- Lifeguard classes in Cumberland County
- Lifeguard classes in Greene County
- Lifeguard classes in Pike County
- Lifeguard classes in Venango County
- See all 67 counties in Pennsylvania
Training Photo Gallery
How to register for your Berks 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 Berks County, Pennsylvania, employers accept the certification.
Applications can begin as soon as the digital card is issued.
Where lifeguards work in Berks County
Public mapping records 36 named aquatic facilities in Berks County. Among the first 14 listed there are 11 public pools and swim clubs, 2 water parks and 1 YMCA facility. Every recorded site in Berks County is a pool or aquatic center.
Aquatic facilities in Berks County
- Shillington Swimming Pool
- Boyertown Pool
- South Mountain YMCA Pool
- Wyomissing Hills Swimming Association Pool
- Muhlenberg Swimming Association Pool
- Wilshire Recreation Association Pool
- Laurel Run Swimming Association Pool
- Twin Valley Recreation Association
- Amity Township Athletic Club Pool
- Penn Sylvan Health Society Pool
- Shoemakersville Swimming Pool
- Bally Community Swimming Pool
- Maple Springs Swimming Pool
- Flying Hills 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 Berks County
We cover the adjacent counties shown here too. Because certification is approved in almost every state in the US and CMAHC approved, moving between them does not affect its validity.
Lifeguard class in Berks County Pennsylvania: common questions
Where can I take lifeguard training in Berks County, Pennsylvania?
American Aquatics and Safety Training runs blended lifeguard certification for candidates across Berks County. The county's largest communities are Reading, Wyomissing and Shillington, 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 Berks County?
Expect $195.00 for the complete course, covering water rescue, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid. Standalone options exist for single renewals: CPR/AED at $25.00, First Aid at $19.99.
Will I be guarding a pool or open water in Berks County?
Pools. No open-water venue is recorded in Berks County. Named sites in Berks County include Shillington Swimming Pool, Boyertown Pool and South Mountain YMCA 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 Pennsylvania?
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 Berks County employers may require more, check the advert before committing.
What swim test do I have to pass?
Expect a continuous 300 yard swim, 2 minutes of legs-only treading, and a 10-pound brick recovered from between 7 and 10 feet. It is the first thing that happens in person, so be ready for the water on arrival.
Which communities in Berks County does training cover?
Candidates commonly travel from Reading (94,903 residents), Wyomissing (11,132 residents) and Shillington (5,464 residents). Reading 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 Berks County: the local picture
The county is home to roughly 432,821 residents. That makes it the 9th most populated of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania. At 505 people per square mile it is a mixed suburban county, where school, club and municipal pools carry most of the season.
Roughly 1.1% of the county, 9.4 square miles, is water. That ranks it 17th of 67 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 Reading (94,903), Wyomissing (11,132), Shillington (5,464), Birdsboro (5,095). Facilities in the larger of these usually recruit earliest, often before the season starts.
Aquatic sites recorded in Berks County
- Water parks and splash pads: Shillington Swimming Pool, Boyertown Pool
- Ymca: South Mountain YMCA Pool
- Pools: Wyomissing Hills Swimming Association Pool, Muhlenberg Swimming Association Pool, Wilshire Recreation Association Pool, Laurel Run Swimming Association Pool, Twin Valley Recreation Association, Amity Township Athletic Club Pool
Candidates in Berks County often travel for a class date that fits. The nearest county pages are Chester County, Lancaster County, Lebanon County, Lehigh County.
Price, entry requirements and format are county independent and live here: 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.
- ★★★★★
Quick and easy
Sarah M., May 2021 - ★★★★★
The course was overall easy and fun
Emmalee F., May 2021 - ★★★★★
The course was overall easy and fun
Stephanie F., May 2021 - ★★★★★
The course fun yet informative
Sophia P., May 2021 - ★★★★★
Great course and very concise which is great!
Esther Noa N., May 2021 - ★★★★★
Quick and informative. Very useful review.
Edwin Z., May 2021
What pools, beaches and aquatic facilities are in Berks County Pennsylvania?
There are 36 aquatic facilities on record in Berks County Pennsylvania. These 14 are named:
- Shillington Swimming Pool (water park)
- Boyertown Pool (water park)
- South Mountain YMCA Pool (YMCA)
- Wyomissing Hills Swimming Association Pool (pool)
- Muhlenberg Swimming Association Pool (pool)
- Wilshire Recreation Association Pool (pool)
- Laurel Run Swimming Association Pool (pool)
- Twin Valley Recreation Association (pool)
- Amity Township Athletic Club Pool (pool)
- Penn Sylvan Health Society Pool (pool)
- Shoemakersville Swimming Pool (pool)
- Bally Community Swimming Pool (pool)
- Maple Springs Swimming Pool (pool)
- Flying Hills 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
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.
© Copyright American Aquatics and Safety Training. All Rights Reserved