Lifeguard Instruction Course

Nassau County Aquatic Center is planning on offering Red Cross courses for certification and Nassau preparation courses for lifeguards to get ready to take the Nassau Lifeguard Exam.

Notes and Disclaimers:

  1. You must pass the pre-test, pre-course and/or have relevant certifications to be let into a course.
  2. If the course requires a pre-test, you must pay after the pre-test and before the first meeting. If there is no pre-test, you must pay upon registration.
  3. Class size varies based on the course and instructor availability; if the number of candidates exceeds the number of spots available, candidates will be waitlisted.
  4. You must attend all sessions to receive a certification, absences are not allowed.
  5. No make up classes are available. For all Red Cross course, any absence will result in not becoming certified.
  6. Candidates must meet age requirements by last scheduled meeting.
  7. Class Schedule is subject to change.

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Red Cross Lifeguarding Courses

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Click here to register


Upcoming Courses

Course Number
Pretest DateCourse End DateCourse Details
1
3/4/24 - 5:00 pm
3/22/2024
Flyer
2
3/11/24 - 5:15 pm
4/5/2024
Flyer
3
3/28/24 - 5:15 pm
4/20/2024
Flyer
4
4/6/24 - 12:00 pm
4/25/2024
Flyer
5
5/4/24 - 12:00 pm
5/27/24
Flyer



Click here to register!

Cost: $250
Age: 15+
Minimal Class Size: 4

Description:

This program’s purpose is to train lifeguards to act with speed and confidence in emergency situations both in and out of the water.

  • Instructor Led Courses have lecture and video watched while in-person. These courses are usually 40 hours but varies based on number of candidates and instructors.
  • Blended Lifeguarding Courses cover the same material, but most of the videos and some lecture that candidates engage with is online. About 7 hours of online work is required, and about 30 hours in-person, again varying based on number of candidates and instructors.

Pretest:

  1. Swim 300 yards continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing in front crawl and/or breaststroke. Goggles may be used.
  2. Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs.
  3. Complete a timed event within 1 minute 40 seconds, without goggles:
    • Starting in the water, swim 20 yards.
    • Surface dive, feet-first or head-first, to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.
    • Surface and swim 20 yards on back with both hands holding object.
    • Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.
    • Then times stops


Red Cross Lifeguard Reviews

2023 Courses Coming Soon 

Cost: TBD
Age: 18+
Minimal Class Size: 4

Description:

This program's purpose is to recertify American Red Cross Lifeguards to act with speed and confidence in emergency situations both in and out of the water.

  • Instructor Led Courses have lecture and video watched while in-person. This course is approximately 10 hours but varies based on number of candidates and instructors.

Pretest:

  1. Swim 300 yards continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing in front crawl and/or breaststroke. Goggles may be used.
  2. Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs.
  3. Complete a timed event within 1 minute 40 seconds, without goggles:
    • Starting in the water, swim 20 yards.
    • Surface dive, feet-first or head-first, to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.
    • Surface and swim 20 yards on back with both hands holding object.
    • Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.
    • Then times stops


Nassau County Lifeguard Preparation Courses

Lifeguarding Preparation Courses Opens in new window

Swim Preparation

Cost: $40
Age: 16+
Class Size: 8 Swimmers Max

Description:

The Purpose of these courses is to prepare those with lifeguard certification to take the Nassau County Grade Exam.

In Swim Prep we focus on the timed swims; 50 and 200. We will go over stroke mechanics for front crawl, shallow angle diving, and turns. Also work on building endurance and give ideas on how to practice on your own.

The Swim Prep meets 4 days, for one hour each day.

Test Preparation

Cost: $20
Age: 16+
Class Size: 8 Swimmers Max

Description:

The Purpose of these courses is to prepare those with lifeguard certification to take the Nassau County Grade Exam.

In Test Prep we run a mock test. We will give feedback onto what the candidate would have passed and what will need practice on topics that they didn’t.

The Test Prep meets once for about 2 hours.


Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Course


(Select "Lifeguard Training" and then "WSI Pre-Test") 

Cost: $325
Age: 16+
Class Size: 4-6 Candidates

Description:

The purpose of the Water Safety Instructor course is to train instructor candidates to teach Parent and Child Aquatics, Preschool Aquatics, Learn-to-Swim, Adult Swim and water safety courses and presentations.

  • As a Blended Water Safety Instructor Course there is about 7 hours of online work and 24 hours of in-person activities. The in-person time may vary with number of students.

Pretest:

  1. Swim 25 yards of each stroke at Level 4 Proficiency
    • Front Crawl
    • Back Crawl
    • Breaststroke
    • Butterfly* (15 yards)
    • Side Stroke
    • Elementary Backstroke
  2. Maintain Position on back for 1 minute in deep water (floating or sculling)
  3. Tread Water for 1 minute


Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor Course

New Course Dates Coming Soon
Cost: TBD
Class Size: TBD

Description:

The Lifeguarding Instructor course trains instructor candidates to teach American Red Cross Lifeguarding, Shallow Water Lifeguarding, Aquatic Attraction Lifeguarding, Waterfront Skills, Waterpark Skills, First Aid, CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers, Administering Emergency Oxygen and Bloodborne Pathogens. Lifeguarding Instructors with a current Red Cross basic-level certification in Administering Emergency Oxygen may also teach Administering Emergency Oxygen. This course prepares instructor candidates to use course and presentation materials, conduct training sessions and evaluate the progress of candidates in a professional-level course.

This course is only offered as a Blended Learning; meaning some portions are online and others in-person. Estimated 2 hours of online work and 23 hours in-person.

Prerequisites:

  1. Certifications: Candidates must have a current American Red Cross Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED
  2. Pass the Pretest, it will cover skills from the American Red Cross Lifeguarding Course.


Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor Review Courses

2023 Courses Coming Soon 

Cost: $200 ($250 with optional test-out)
Age: 19+
Class Size: 4-6 Candidates

Description:

The Lifeguarding Instructor/Instructor Trainer review course is an abbreviated recertification course for currently certified instructors and instructor trainers. The purpose of the course is to allow participants to review the course content and practice skills in a formal class setting and complete the final written exam.

This course is considered Blended, it has some online components. The in-person components are over two days, totaling 7.5 hours. If desired, candidates can “test out” and renew their base level too. Additional time is required on each day to administer the “test out”.

Prerequisites:

  1. Certifications: Have a current Lifeguard Instructor and/or Lifeguard Instructor Trainer certification from the American Red Cross.

Information for Winter Lifeguard Instruction Course is as follows: 

LIFEGUARD INSTRUCTION COURSE

Cost: $250.00 (includes class/book/materials) $6.00 class registration fee (due when signing up for pre-test) DETAILS: 

  • Participants must be at least 16 years old before the last date of the class.
  • Registrants must pass a pre-test in order to participate in the class. Pre-test requirements are listed below.
  • Registration is first come, first serve. Class size is limited to 10 spots. A Nassau Cty. Leisure Pass is required at time of registration.
  • After 10 spots are filled, a waitlist will be formed to fill in any pre-test failures. There is no fee to be placed on the waitlist.
  • The $250 fee to be paid before the first class starts but only after passing the pre-test.
  • No absences are permitted. Registration fees are non-refundable.

Pretest requirements: 

  • Swim 300 yards continuously using these strokes in the following order: 100 yards front crawl using rhythmic breathing and a stabilizing propellant kick; 100 yards of breaststroke using a pull, breathe, kick and glide sequence; and 100 yards of either front crawl using rhythmic breathing or breaststroke. These 100 yards may be a mixture of front crawl and breaststroke. (Note: There is no time requirement for this skill. The participant must show only that he or she can swim 300 yards using the above strokes without stopping.)
  • Starting in the water, swim 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke; surface dive to a depth of 7-10 feet of water, retrieve a 10-pound object, return to surface, and swim 20 yards back to the starting point with the object and exit the water without using a ladder or steps, within 1 minute, 40 seconds. The time is complete once the participant has exited the water and is standing up on the pool deck.
  • Tread water for 2 minutes using only your legs. Candidates should place their hands under their arm pits.

ALL SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE