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Lifeguard Class in Horry County South Carolina
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Lifeguard Class in Horry County South Carolina runs as a blended course, with online coursework followed by in-person water skills sessions.
Lifeguard certification in Horry County, South Carolina at a glance
Lifeguard certification in Horry County, South Carolina 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
- You must have turned 15 by the final day of class.
- Swim test
- 300 yards unbroken using front crawl and breaststroke; 2 minutes of treading with no arms; a 10-lb brick recovered from 7 to 10 feet and returned within 1 minute, 40 seconds.
- Certifications
- It covers 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
- Blended delivery: self-paced online coursework followed by in-person skills sessions held in Horry County, South Carolina.
The Lifeguard Class in Horry County South Carolina on this page is the complete certification course, open to first time candidates and to guards whose cards have run out. Most candidates come from Myrtle Beach and the communities around it. You pay $195 once, and certification is issued at the end of the course.
It is built for people who need to be working within weeks rather than months. Training covers CPR, AED use, First Aid, surveillance, emergency response and in water rescue. Locally that means sites such as Waites Island Beach and Cherry Grove Beach.
Most people book a date in Horry County and are working not long after. Sign up online and come with a swimsuit and a towel.
Locations for Lifeguard classes in South Carolina
- Lifeguard classes in Allendale County
- Lifeguard classes in Calhoun County
- Lifeguard classes in Colleton County
- Lifeguard classes in Florence County
- Lifeguard classes in Greenville County
- Lifeguard classes in Greenwood County
- Lifeguard classes in Hampton County
- Lifeguard classes in Jasper County
- Lifeguard classes in Kershaw County
- Lifeguard classes in McCormick County
- See all 46 counties in South Carolina
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How to register for your Horry 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 Horry County, South Carolina.
You are able to apply the moment the digital certification card reaches you.
Where lifeguards work in Horry County
Public mapping records 56 named aquatic facilities in Horry County. Among the first 14 listed there are 14 beaches and open-water sites. Open water dominates that list: beaches and waterfront sites outnumber pools and aquatic centers among the recorded venues in Horry County. Waterfront postings normally require a minimum age of 16.
Aquatic facilities in Horry County
- Waites Island Beach
- Cherry Grove Beach
- Ocean Lakes Beach
- Briarcliffe Beach
- Ocean Creek Beach
- Ocean Drive Beach
- State Park Beach
- Pirateland Beach
- Windy Hill Beach
- Singleton Swash
- Deephead Swash
- Long Bay Beach
- Lakewood Beach
- Surfside Beach
Listed for orientation only. American Aquatics and Safety Training is not affiliated with, and does not run classes at, the facilities above.
Counties near Horry 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 Horry County South Carolina: common questions
Where can I take lifeguard training in Horry County, South Carolina?
American Aquatics and Safety Training runs blended lifeguard certification for candidates across Horry County. The county's largest communities are Myrtle Beach, Conway and North Myrtle Beach, 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 Horry County?
The all-in price is $195.00, which includes water rescue, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid. Where only one element has lapsed, CPR/AED on its own is $25.00 and First Aid on its own is $19.99.
Will I be guarding a pool or open water in Horry County?
Mostly open water. Beaches and waterfront sites outnumber pools among the recorded venues in Horry County. Waterfront postings usually set the minimum age at 16. Named sites in Horry County include Waites Island Beach, Cherry Grove Beach and Ocean Lakes 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 South Carolina?
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 Horry County can ask for more, so check the listing first.
What swim test do I have to pass?
Swim 300 yards continuously, tread water 2 minutes without arms, and retrieve a 10-pound brick from 7 to 10 feet, returning with it. The session opens with this, so plan to be in the water immediately.
Which communities in Horry County does training cover?
Candidates commonly travel from Myrtle Beach (39,697 residents), Conway (27,985 residents) and North Myrtle Beach (20,303 residents). Myrtle Beach 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 Horry County: the local picture
The county is home to roughly 397,478 residents. That makes it the 4th most populated of the 46 counties in South Carolina. At 351 people per square mile it is a mixed suburban county, where school, club and municipal pools carry most of the season.
Horry County holds 122 square miles of water, about 9.7% of the county. That ranks it 5th of 46 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.
Work tends to concentrate in Myrtle Beach (39,697), Conway (27,985), North Myrtle Beach (20,303), Surfside Beach (4,321). Facilities in the larger of these usually recruit earliest, often before the season starts.
Aquatic sites recorded in Horry County
- Beaches and waterfront: Waites Island Beach, Cherry Grove Beach, Ocean Lakes Beach, Briarcliffe Beach, Ocean Creek Beach, Ocean Drive Beach
Candidates in Horry County often travel for a class date that fits. The nearest county pages are Brunswick County, Columbus County, Robeson County, Dillon 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.
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very thorough and informative
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Ryan A., May 2022 - ★★★★★
I wasn't given the opportunity to look at the AED.
Diane G., May 2022
What pools, beaches and aquatic facilities are in Horry County South Carolina?
There are 56 aquatic facilities on record in Horry County South Carolina. These 14 are named:
- Waites Island Beach (beach)
- Cherry Grove Beach (beach)
- Ocean Lakes Beach (beach)
- Briarcliffe Beach (beach)
- Ocean Creek Beach (beach)
- Ocean Drive Beach (beach)
- State Park Beach (beach)
- Pirateland Beach (beach)
- Windy Hill Beach (beach)
- Singleton Swash (beach)
- Deephead Swash (beach)
- Long Bay Beach (beach)
- Lakewood Beach (beach)
- Surfside Beach (beach)
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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