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Lifeguard Class in Philadelphia County Pennsylvania
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Lifeguard Class in Philadelphia County Pennsylvania runs as a blended course, with online coursework followed by in-person water skills sessions.
Lifeguard certification in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania at a glance
Lifeguard certification in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania 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
- Reach 15 on or before the final class day.
- Swim test
- Swim 300 continuous yards (front crawl and breaststroke), tread 2 minutes using legs only, then retrieve a 10-lb brick from 7 to 10 feet and swim it back inside 1 minute, 40 seconds.
- Certifications
- Lifeguarding, CPR and AED for the Professional Rescuer, and First Aid.
- Valid for
- Valid two years from issue. Recertification takes 10 hours of in-person training.
- Format
- Online study at your own pace, then practical skills sessions in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
A Lifeguard Class in Philadelphia County Pennsylvania takes a candidate from no certification at all to a card a facility will accept. Philadelphia is where most of the county aquatic hiring happens. At $195 the course covers the training, the assessment and the certification card.
Most people in the room are either starting their first guarding job or returning to one. Skills taught include CPR, AED operation, First Aid, surveillance, emergency response and in water rescues. About 5.8% of Philadelphia County is water, and that changes the mix of jobs available.
Course dates come round often, so a Philadelphia County candidate rarely waits long. Register online, then bring a swimsuit and a towel to the first session.
Locations for Lifeguard classes in Pennsylvania
- Lifeguard classes in Bucks County
- Lifeguard classes in Clinton County
- Lifeguard classes in Forest County
- Lifeguard classes in Lancaster County
- Lifeguard classes in Northampton County
- Lifeguard classes in Northumberland County
- Lifeguard classes in Perry County
- Lifeguard classes in Pike County
- Lifeguard classes in Potter County
- Lifeguard classes in Susquehanna County
- Lifeguard classes in York County
- See all 67 counties in Pennsylvania
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How to register for your Philadelphia County class
Choose your approved provider:
- American Aquatics and Safety Training
Registration is open. Seasonal demand fills places quickly, so book while dates remain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Two years.
No. In-person skills evaluation is required.
Yes. Employers across Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania accept these certifications.
Once your digital certification card arrives you can start applying.
Where lifeguards work in Philadelphia County
Public mapping records 29 named aquatic facilities in Philadelphia County. Among the first 14 listed there are 12 public pools and swim clubs, 1 YMCA facility and 1 school or college pool. Every recorded site in Philadelphia County is a pool or aquatic center.
Aquatic facilities in Philadelphia County
- YMCA
- University City Swim Club
- Fletcher B. Amos Playground Community Swimming Pool
- Hank Gathers Youth Access Center Pool
- Ernest L. Tustin Recreation Pool
- Frederick Cione Playground Pool
- Athletic Recreation Center Pool
- Belfield Recreation Center Pool
- James O'Connor Memorial Pool
- Monkiewicz Playground Pool
- Waterloo Playground Pool
- Chestnut Hill Tower Pool
- Pleasant Playground Pool
- Penrose Playground 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia County Pennsylvania: common questions
Where can I take lifeguard training in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania?
American Aquatics and Safety Training runs blended lifeguard certification for candidates across Philadelphia County. The county's largest communities are Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia County?
The complete certification is $195.00 and bundles water rescue, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid together. If you only need one component renewed, CPR/AED alone is $25.00 and First Aid alone is $19.99.
Will I be guarding a pool or open water in Philadelphia County?
Pools. No open-water venue is recorded in Philadelphia County. Named sites in Philadelphia County include YMCA, University City Swim Club and Fletcher B. Amos Playground Community 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 Pennsylvania?
Age 15 on the last day of class covers most pool jobs, and waterfront or beach positions usually need 16. Employers in Philadelphia County can impose a higher floor, so look at the posting before you register.
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 Philadelphia County does training cover?
Candidates commonly travel from Philadelphia (1,550,542 residents). Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia County: the local picture
Philadelphia County has a population of about 1,550,542. That makes it the 1st most populated of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania. At 11,537 people per square mile it is an urban county, where most guarding work sits at municipal and apartment pools.
Philadelphia County holds 8.3 square miles of water, about 5.8% of the county. That ranks it 26th of 67 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 Philadelphia (1,550,542). Facilities in the larger of these usually recruit earliest, often before the season starts.
Aquatic sites recorded in Philadelphia County
- Ymca: YMCA
- School: University City Swim Club
- Pools: Fletcher B. Amos Playground Community Swimming Pool, Hank Gathers Youth Access Center Pool, Ernest L. Tustin Recreation Pool, Frederick Cione Playground Pool, Athletic Recreation Center Pool, Belfield Recreation Center Pool
Candidates in Philadelphia County often travel for a class date that fits. The nearest county pages are Burlington County, Camden County, Gloucester County, Bucks County.
The parts that do not change by county are held on their own pages: certification details, who pays for a class, refunds and rescheduling, and every area covered.
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What pools, beaches and aquatic facilities are in Philadelphia County Pennsylvania?
There are 29 aquatic facilities on record in Philadelphia County Pennsylvania. These 14 are named:
- YMCA (YMCA)
- University City Swim Club (school)
- Fletcher B. Amos Playground Community Swimming Pool (pool)
- Hank Gathers Youth Access Center Pool (pool)
- Ernest L. Tustin Recreation Pool (pool)
- Frederick Cione Playground Pool (pool)
- Athletic Recreation Center Pool (pool)
- Belfield Recreation Center Pool (pool)
- James O'Connor Memorial Pool (pool)
- Monkiewicz Playground Pool (pool)
- Waterloo Playground Pool (pool)
- Chestnut Hill Tower Pool (pool)
- Pleasant Playground Pool (pool)
- Penrose Playground 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.
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