Mon - Sat: 8:30-18:00
Lifeguard Class in Pennington County South Dakota
Last updated
Lifeguard Class in Pennington County South Dakota runs as a blended course, with online coursework followed by in-person water skills sessions.
Lifeguard certification in Pennington County, South Dakota at a glance
Lifeguard certification in Pennington County, South Dakota 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
- Age 15 or over on the last day of the course.
- 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
- It covers Lifeguarding, CPR/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
- Online study at your own pace, then practical skills sessions in Pennington County, South Dakota.
Everything needed to book a Lifeguard Class in Pennington County South Dakota is set out below. With roughly 115,903 people in Pennington County, the number of guarding posts is set by how many facilities open each season. The fee is $195 for the full course and the certification that follows it.
No prior certification is needed to take it, and none is assumed. Skills taught include CPR, AED operation, First Aid, surveillance, emergency response and in water rescues. In Pennington County those sites include Sheridan Lake North and Sheridan Lake South.
Dates are held often enough that most candidates in Pennington County are certified within a few weeks of enquiring. You register online and turn up with a swimsuit and a towel.
Locations for Lifeguard classes in South Dakota
- Lifeguard classes in Aurora County
- Lifeguard classes in Campbell County
- Lifeguard classes in Deuel County
- Lifeguard classes in Hamlin County
- Lifeguard classes in Jones County
- Lifeguard classes in Miner County
- Lifeguard classes in Minnehaha County
- Lifeguard classes in Moody County
- Lifeguard classes in Perkins County
- Lifeguard classes in Potter County
- Lifeguard classes in Stanley County
- See all 66 counties in South Dakota
Training Photo Gallery
How to register for your Pennington 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 Pennington County, South Dakota.
Applications can begin as soon as the digital card is issued.
Where do lifeguards work in Pennington County?
Public mapping records 8 named aquatic facilities in Pennington County. Among the sites listed there are 6 public pools and swim clubs and 2 beaches and open-water sites. That is a genuine mix of pool and open-water sites in Pennington County.
Aquatic facilities in Pennington County
- Sheridan Lake North
- Sheridan Lake South
- Jimmie Hilton Pool;Jimmy Hilton Pool
- WaTiki Indoor Waterpark Resort
- Roosevelt 50 m Pool
- Horace Mann Pool
- Wall City Pool
- Parkview 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 Pennington 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 Pennington County South Dakota: common questions
Where can I take lifeguard training in Pennington County, South Dakota?
American Aquatics and Safety Training runs blended lifeguard certification for candidates across Pennington County. The county's largest communities are Rapid City, Box Elder and Hill City, 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 Pennington 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 Pennington County?
Both. The recorded venues in Pennington County split between pools and open water. Named sites in Pennington County include Sheridan Lake North, Sheridan Lake South and Jimmie Hilton Pool;Jimmy Hilton 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 South Dakota?
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 Pennington County can ask for more, so check the listing first.
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 Pennington County does training cover?
Candidates commonly travel from Rapid City (79,404 residents), Box Elder (8,847 residents) and Hill City (953 residents). Rapid City 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 Pennington County?
Pennington County has a population of about 115,903. That makes it the 2nd most populated of the 66 counties in South Dakota. At 42 people per square mile it is a rural county, where a small number of public pools and open water sites carry the whole season.
Pennington County holds 7.7 square miles of water, about 0.3% of the county. That ranks it 36th of 66 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.
Work tends to concentrate in Rapid City (79,404), Box Elder (8,847), Hill City (953), Wall (688). Facilities in the larger of these usually recruit earliest, often before the season starts.
Aquatic sites recorded in Pennington County
- Beaches and waterfront: Sheridan Lake North, Sheridan Lake South
- Pools: Jimmie Hilton Pool;Jimmy Hilton Pool, WaTiki Indoor Waterpark Resort, Roosevelt 50 m Pool, Horace Mann Pool, Wall City Pool, Parkview Pool
Candidates in Pennington County often travel for a class date that fits. The nearest county pages are Custer County, Haakon County, Jackson County, Lawrence 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.
What students say
4.8 out of 5 ★★★★½ from 336 verified students who completed a course with us.
- ★★★★★
Great course and very concise which is great!
Esther Noa N., May 2021 - ★★★★★
Quick and informative. Very useful review.
Edwin Z., May 2021 - ★★★★★
I would not be 100% if it wasn’t for her.
Joseph V., May 2021 - ★★★★★
Great experience,
Claire K., March 2021 - ★★★★★
Very helpful
Casey K., March 2021 - ★★★★★
Very informative and engaging
Jacqueline P., March 2021
What pools, beaches and aquatic facilities are in Pennington County South Dakota?
8 aquatic facilities are on record in Pennington County South Dakota:
- Sheridan Lake North (beach)
- Sheridan Lake South (beach)
- Jimmie Hilton Pool;Jimmy Hilton Pool (pool)
- WaTiki Indoor Waterpark Resort (pool)
- Roosevelt 50 m Pool (pool)
- Horace Mann Pool (pool)
- Wall City Pool (pool)
- Parkview 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