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Lifeguard Class in King County Washington
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Lifeguard Class in King County Washington runs as a blended course, with online coursework followed by in-person water skills sessions.
Lifeguard certification in King County, Washington at a glance
Lifeguard certification in King County, Washington 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
- $195.00 per participant is the starting price, with discounts for groups.
- Course length
- 7.5 online hours are followed by 2 days of in-person training.
- Minimum age
- Candidates need to be 15 by the closing 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
- The card runs two years from the date of issue, and recertifying is a 10 hour in-person course.
- Format
- Blended delivery: self-paced online coursework followed by in-person skills sessions held in King County, Washington.
Booking a Lifeguard Class in King County Washington takes a few minutes once you know what the course asks of you. King County is home to around 2,271,380 people, and seasonal hiring tracks that closely. The course costs $195 and finishes with a lifeguard certification card.
Summer hires, full year staff and returning guards all take the same course. Training covers CPR, AED use, First Aid, surveillance, emergency response and in water rescue. King County holds 192 square miles of water, so waterfront postings sit alongside pool work here.
King County candidates can normally find a date without pushing their start at work back. Reserve a place online, then bring a swimsuit and a towel.
Locations for Lifeguard classes in Washington
- Lifeguard classes in Chelan County
- Lifeguard classes in Douglas County
- Lifeguard classes in Grays Harbor County
- Lifeguard classes in Island County
- Lifeguard classes in Jefferson County
- Lifeguard classes in Kitsap County
- Lifeguard classes in Kittitas County
- Lifeguard classes in Okanogan County
- Lifeguard classes in Whitman County
- See all 39 counties in Washington
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How to register for your King County class
Choose your approved provider:
- American Aquatics and Safety Training
You can register now. Seasonal demand clears places fast, so secure yours early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Two years.
No. In-person skills evaluation is required.
Yes. Employers across King County, Washington accept these certifications.
Once your digital certification card arrives you can start applying.
Where lifeguards work in King County
Public mapping records 114 named aquatic facilities in King 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 King County. Waterfront postings normally require a minimum age of 16.
Aquatic facilities in King County
- Lake Union Park Kayak Launch and Beach
- Fairmount Avenue Southwest Street End
- Juanita Beach Park Swimming Beach
- Mercer Island Beach Club Beach
- Gilman Avenue West Street End
- Madison Park Beach Swim Area
- Pioneer Square Habitat Beach
- Dash Point State Park Beach
- Mercerwood Shore Club beach
- Southwest 98th Street End
- East Harrison Street End
- West Sheridan Street End
- South Holgate Street End
- Pine Lake Swimming 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 King County
These adjacent counties fall inside our coverage as well, and since the certification is approved in almost every state in the US and CMAHC approved, it stays valid across all of them.
Lifeguard class in King County Washington: common questions
Where can I take lifeguard training in King County, Washington?
American Aquatics and Safety Training runs blended lifeguard certification for candidates across King County. The county's largest communities are Seattle, Bellevue and Kent, 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 King 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 King County?
Mostly open water. Beaches and waterfront sites outnumber pools among the recorded venues in King County. Waterfront postings usually set the minimum age at 16. Named sites in King County include Lake Union Park Kayak Launch and Beach, Fairmount Avenue Southwest Street End and Juanita Beach Park Swimming 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 Washington?
Age 15 on the last day of class covers most pool jobs, and waterfront or beach positions usually need 16. Employers in King 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 King County does training cover?
Candidates commonly travel from Seattle (755,078 residents), Bellevue (151,574 residents) and Kent (133,378 residents). Seattle 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 King County: the local picture
About 2,271,380 people live in King County. That makes it the 1st most populated of the 39 counties in Washington. At 1,074 people per square mile it is an urban county, where most guarding work sits at municipal and apartment pools.
Water covers 192 square miles of King County, 8.3% of its area. That ranks it 8th of 39 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.
The largest communities here are Seattle (755,078), Bellevue (151,574), Kent (133,378), Renton (104,491). Facilities in the larger of these usually recruit earliest, often before the season starts.
Aquatic sites recorded in King County
- Beaches and waterfront: Lake Union Park Kayak Launch and Beach, Fairmount Avenue Southwest Street End, Juanita Beach Park Swimming Beach, Mercer Island Beach Club Beach, Gilman Avenue West Street End, Madison Park Beach Swim Area
Candidates in King County often travel for a class date that fits. The nearest county pages are Chelan County, Kitsap County, Kittitas County, Pierce 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.
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What pools, beaches and aquatic facilities are in King County Washington?
There are 114 aquatic facilities on record in King County Washington. These 14 are named:
- Lake Union Park Kayak Launch and Beach (beach)
- Fairmount Avenue Southwest Street End (beach)
- Juanita Beach Park Swimming Beach (beach)
- Mercer Island Beach Club Beach (beach)
- Gilman Avenue West Street End (beach)
- Madison Park Beach Swim Area (beach)
- Pioneer Square Habitat Beach (beach)
- Dash Point State Park Beach (beach)
- Mercerwood Shore Club beach (beach)
- Southwest 98th Street End (beach)
- East Harrison Street End (beach)
- West Sheridan Street End (beach)
- South Holgate Street End (beach)
- Pine Lake Swimming 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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