Lifeguard Recertification

The American Red Cross Lifeguarding Program delivers excellent training to prepare lifeguards to prevent, protect and respond around aquatic emergencies. Our training course content reflects the latest science and best practices, validated by the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council.

The Lifeguarding Recertification course is designed to refresh your knowledge and skills. Upon successful completion, you will renew your certification for another two years. There are 2 options for recertification – instructor-led (classroom only) or blended learning (online + classroom).

The latest blended learning course, r.24 that includes online + in-person skill demonstration, features adaptive learning, where participants can test out of the online content they already know, allowing participants to ensure they are prepared. The result is a custom learning path for each student in the online portion of the blended learning recertification course.

To participate in the Lifeguarding Recertification class you must have a current American Red Cross Lifeguarding certification, and certification expired by no more than 30 days.

During the course, individuals will have the opportunity to review and practice their skills. Participants must pass the final written test and the three (3) final skill assessments which include:

• Assessment 1 - Timed Response • Participants must complete a passive submerged rescue, extricate with the assistance of an assisting rescuer, and rapid assessment (including the delivery of 2 initial ventilations by either rescuer) within 1 minute, 30 seconds, and then provide 3 minutes of single-rescuer CPR.
• Assessment 2 - Rotation and Scanning • Participants must rotate into the lifeguard station, conduct surveillance from the station for 1 minute, and rotate out of the station.
• Assessment 3 - Final Team Response Testing Scenario • Participants must perform a passive submerged rescue, extrication and rapid assessment, followed by multiple-rescuer CPR and use of AED and BVM resuscitator.

Participants who successfully complete the Lifeguarding recertification course will be issued one of the following American Red Cross certificates depending on the recertification course taken:

• Lifeguarding (Including Deep Water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid
• Shallow Water Lifeguarding (Up to 5, 6 or 7’)
• Aquatic Attraction Lifeguarding (Up to 3’)
• Waterfront Skills
• Waterpark Skills

Certifications are valid up to 2 years.

For information on the American Red Cross Lifeguarding Recertification courses in your area, please use the Lifeguarding Find a Class Tool found on this page.

If you are new to Lifeguarding (or expired by more than 30 days) and are interested in obtaining your lifeguarding certification, select a Lifeguarding course near you. For more information, click here.

Digital Certification - Access Your Certification with Ease

The American Red Cross makes accessing your Lifeguarding and First Aid/CPR/AED certification a simple and easy process. We offer digital certificates that can be easily viewed from anywhere via your Red Cross account with simple access to print or share online. Allowing employers access to your certificate information has never been easier.

Visit https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/digital-certificate to access a copy of the valid certificate with your participant training information.

This course content reflects the latest science and best practices, based on the results of scientific evidence evaluations and guideline reviews overseen by the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council.