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Lifeguard Class in Dane County Wisconsin
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Lifeguard Class in Dane County Wisconsin runs as a blended course, with online coursework followed by in-person water skills sessions.
Lifeguard certification in Dane County, Wisconsin at a glance
Lifeguard certification in Dane County, Wisconsin 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
- Per participant the price starts at $195.00, with group discounts offered.
- Course length
- 7.5 hours online, then 2 in-person days.
- 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
- Lifeguarding, CPR and AED for the Professional Rescuer, and First Aid.
- Valid for
- Two years from issue, after which recertification requires 10 hours in person.
- Format
- A blended format, with online modules on your schedule and in-person skills work in Dane County, Wisconsin.
If you want to guard in Dane County this year, the Lifeguard Class in Dane County Wisconsin is where it starts. With roughly 575,347 people in Dane County, the number of guarding posts is set by how many facilities open each season. Tuition is $195, and you leave with a lifeguard certification card in hand.
No prior certification is needed to take it, and none is assumed. Candidates learn CPR, AED, First Aid, surveillance, emergency response and in water rescue. In Dane County those sites include Riverview Adventure Company Shoreline and Spring Harbor Beach.
Classes run regularly, so the wait in Dane County is usually weeks rather than months. Reserve a place online, then bring a swimsuit and a towel.
Locations for Lifeguard classes in Wisconsin
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- Lifeguard classes in Columbia County
- Lifeguard classes in Crawford County
- Lifeguard classes in Dodge County
- Lifeguard classes in Door County
- Lifeguard classes in Forest County
- Lifeguard classes in Kewaunee County
- Lifeguard classes in Richland County
- Lifeguard classes in Vernon County
- See all 72 counties in Wisconsin
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How to register for your Dane 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.
It is accepted. Employers around Dane County in Wisconsin take these certifications.
Applications can begin as soon as the digital card is issued.
Where lifeguards work in Dane County
Public mapping records 41 named aquatic facilities in Dane 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 Dane County. Waterfront postings normally require a minimum age of 16.
Aquatic facilities in Dane County
- Riverview Adventure Company Shoreline
- Spring Harbor Beach
- James Madison Beach
- B.B. Clarke Beach
- Warner Park Beach
- La Follette Beach
- Frost Woods Beach
- Brittingham Beach
- Vilas Park Beach
- Fireman's Beach
- Indianola Beach
- Bernie's Beach
- Schluter Beach
- Olbrich 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 Dane County
Listed below are the closest counties we also cover. The certification is approved in almost every state in the US and CMAHC approved, so a job in any of them is still covered.
Lifeguard class in Dane County Wisconsin: common questions
Where can I take lifeguard training in Dane County, Wisconsin?
American Aquatics and Safety Training runs blended lifeguard certification for candidates across Dane County. The county's largest communities are Madison, Sun Prairie and Fitchburg, 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 Dane County?
Expect $195.00 for the complete course, covering water rescue, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid. Standalone options exist for single renewals: CPR/AED at $25.00, First Aid at $19.99.
Will I be guarding a pool or open water in Dane County?
Mostly open water. Beaches and waterfront sites outnumber pools among the recorded venues in Dane County. Waterfront postings usually set the minimum age at 16. Named sites in Dane County include Riverview Adventure Company Shoreline, Spring Harbor Beach and James Madison 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 Wisconsin?
Age 15 on the last day of class covers most pool jobs, and waterfront or beach positions usually need 16. Employers in Dane County can impose a higher floor, so look at the posting before you register.
What swim test do I have to pass?
The test is 300 yards unbroken, a 2 minute legs-only tread, and a 10-pound brick retrieved from 7 to 10 feet and returned. It runs first thing in the in-person session, so arrive changed and ready.
Which communities in Dane County does training cover?
Candidates commonly travel from Madison (280,305 residents), Sun Prairie (37,890 residents) and Fitchburg (32,284 residents). Madison 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 Dane County: the local picture
The county is home to roughly 575,347 residents. That makes it the 2nd most populated of the 72 counties in Wisconsin. At 481 people per square mile it is a mixed suburban county, where school, club and municipal pools carry most of the season.
Dane County holds 41 square miles of water, about 3.3% of the county. That ranks it 26th of 72 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.
The largest communities here are Madison (280,305), Sun Prairie (37,890), Fitchburg (32,284), Middleton (22,967). Facilities in the larger of these usually recruit earliest, often before the season starts.
Aquatic sites recorded in Dane County
- Beaches and waterfront: Riverview Adventure Company Shoreline, Spring Harbor Beach, James Madison Beach, B.B. Clarke Beach, Warner Park Beach, La Follette Beach
Candidates in Dane County often travel for a class date that fits. The nearest county pages are Columbia County, Dodge County, Green County, Iowa County.
The course itself does not vary by county: 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 Dane County Wisconsin?
There are 41 aquatic facilities on record in Dane County Wisconsin. These 14 are named:
- Riverview Adventure Company Shoreline (beach)
- Spring Harbor Beach (beach)
- James Madison Beach (beach)
- B.B. Clarke Beach (beach)
- Warner Park Beach (beach)
- La Follette Beach (beach)
- Frost Woods Beach (beach)
- Brittingham Beach (beach)
- Vilas Park Beach (beach)
- Fireman's Beach (beach)
- Indianola Beach (beach)
- Bernie's Beach (beach)
- Schluter Beach (beach)
- Olbrich 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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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.
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