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Lifeguard Class in Richland County South Carolina
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Lifeguard Class in Richland County South Carolina runs as a blended course, with online coursework followed by in-person water skills sessions.
Lifeguard certification in Richland County, South Carolina at a glance
Lifeguard certification in Richland County, South Carolina starts at $195.00 and takes Online training runs 7.5 hours, followed by 2 days in person. You must be at least 15 years old and swim 300 yards continuously to qualify.
- Cost
- $195.00 per participant to start, less for groups.
- Course length
- Online training runs 7.5 hours, followed by 2 days in person.
- Minimum age
- Minimum age 15, measured on the last day of class.
- 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 issue, after which recertification requires 10 hours in person.
- Format
- Blended: you complete the online portion independently, then attend skills sessions in Richland County, South Carolina.
People searching for a Lifeguard Class in Richland County South Carolina are usually a few weeks away from being able to work, not a few months. Columbia is the largest community in the county and the usual starting point for candidates. $195 is the total for the course and the card it issues.
It is taken by students working a summer, by staff at facilities that stay open all year and by guards whose cards expired. The syllabus runs through CPR, AED, First Aid, scanning and surveillance, emergency response and rescues in the water. Open water covers 15 square miles of the county, which shapes where guards end up working.
Most people book a date in Richland County and are working not long after. Online registration is all that is needed, along with a swimsuit and a towel on the day.
Locations for Lifeguard classes in South Carolina
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- Lifeguard classes in Orangeburg County
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- Lifeguard classes in Spartanburg County
- See all 46 counties in South Carolina
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How to register for your Richland 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. Across Richland County, South Carolina, employers accept the certification.
Applying is possible immediately on receipt of the digital certification card.
Where do lifeguards work in Richland County?
Public mapping records 8 named aquatic facilities in Richland County. Among the sites listed there are 6 public pools and swim clubs, 1 water park and 1 community or club pool. Every recorded site in Richland County is a pool or aquatic center.
Aquatic facilities in Richland County
- Palmetto Falls Water Park
- Maxcy Gregg Swimming Pool
- Maxcy Gregg Pool Building
- children's wading pool
- Legion Pool
- Myrtle Pool
- Kid Pool
- Magnolia Park 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 Richland County
The nearby counties below are also within our coverage. Because the certification is approved in almost every state in the US and CMAHC approved, it remains valid wherever among them you end up working.
Lifeguard class in Richland County South Carolina: common questions
Where can I take lifeguard training in Richland County, South Carolina?
American Aquatics and Safety Training runs blended lifeguard certification for candidates across Richland County. The county's largest communities are Columbia, Forest Acres and Irmo, 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 Richland 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 Richland County?
Pools. No open-water venue is recorded in Richland County. Named sites in Richland County include Palmetto Falls Water Park, Maxcy Gregg Swimming Pool and Maxcy Gregg Pool Building. 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?
Age 15 on the last day of class covers most pool jobs, and waterfront or beach positions usually need 16. Employers in Richland County can impose a higher floor, so look at the posting before you register.
What swim test do I have to pass?
You will swim 300 yards without stopping, tread for 2 minutes using legs alone, and bring a 10-pound brick back from 7 to 10 feet of water. Because it opens the in-person session, turn up prepared to get straight in.
Which communities in Richland County does training cover?
Candidates commonly travel from Columbia (141,793 residents), Forest Acres (10,376 residents) and Irmo (7,819 residents). Columbia 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 Richland County?
About 425,138 people live in Richland County. That makes it the 2nd most populated of the 46 counties in South Carolina. At 561 people per square mile it is a mixed suburban county, where school, club and municipal pools carry most of the season.
Water covers 15 square miles of Richland County, 1.9% of its area. That ranks it 20th of 46 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.
Most hiring in the county clusters around Columbia (141,793), Forest Acres (10,376), Irmo (7,819), Blythewood (6,140). Facilities in the larger of these usually recruit earliest, often before the season starts.
Aquatic sites recorded in Richland County
- Water parks and splash pads: Palmetto Falls Water Park
- Pools: Maxcy Gregg Swimming Pool, Maxcy Gregg Pool Building, children's wading pool, Legion Pool, Myrtle Pool, Kid Pool
- Private: Magnolia Park Pool
Candidates in Richland County often travel for a class date that fits. The nearest county pages are Calhoun County, Fairfield County, Kershaw County, Lexington 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
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What pools, beaches and aquatic facilities are in Richland County South Carolina?
8 aquatic facilities are on record in Richland County South Carolina:
- Palmetto Falls Water Park (water park)
- Maxcy Gregg Swimming Pool (pool)
- Maxcy Gregg Pool Building (pool)
- children's wading pool (pool)
- Legion Pool (pool)
- Myrtle Pool (pool)
- Kid Pool (pool)
- Magnolia Park 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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