• Candidates must be at least 16 years of age on or before the final scheduled session of the course.
• Be able to demonstrate the ability to perform the following swimming skills consistently within the guidelines for the Stroke Performance Charts, Level 4: Front Crawl - 25 yards, Back Crawl - 25 yards, Breastroke - 25 yards, Elementary Backstroke - 25 yards, Sidestroke - 25 yards, Butterfly - 15 yards, Maintain position on back for 1 minute in deep water (floating or sculling), Tread water for 1 minute.

Most of our certification classes are taught using a Blended Learning format. This format requires and online portion to be completed prior to attending the in-person portion of the class.

This class will be taught using the blended learning format. The blended learning version of this course is designed to be taught in approximately 30 hours 15 minutes.

• 6 hours 45 minutes online.
  • Links to complete the online portion will be sent out one week prior to the start of the class.
• 23 hours and 30 minutes in person.

• Be at least 17 years old on or before the final scheduled session of the Lifeguarding Instructor course.
• Possess a current basic-level certification in American Red Cross Lifeguarding (Including Deep Water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid. (Note: r.17 Lifeguarding certification accepted)
• Obtain instructor and participant course materials before starting the course.
• Successfully complete the online session of the Lifeguarding Instructor course prior to the pre-course session.
• Successfully complete the prerequisite skill assessment scenario to continue in the course. The prerequisite skill assessment scenario evaluates the following skills:
  1. Entry
  2. Swimming approach
  3. Surface dive in deep water (7 to 10 feet)
  4. Passive submerged rescue
  5. Rapid extrication (with an assisting rescuer)
  6. Rapid assessment
  7. Single-rescuer CPR (3 minutes)

The Lifeguarding Instructor course is delivered in a blended learning format, consisting of an online session (completed independently by the candidate) and in-person sessions (led by an American Red Cross–certified instructor trainer).

• The online session for the instructor course takes approximately 2 hours to complete.
• The instruction time for the in-person sessions, including the pre-course session, is 20 hours. The instruction time does not include time for breaks or transitions. When scheduling the in-person sessions, additional time must be added to accommodate breaks and transitions.

To successfully complete the Lifeguarding Instructor course and receive a Lifeguarding Instructor certification, candidates must:

• Successfully complete the Lifeguarding Instructor Course online session.
• Successfully complete the prerequisite skill assessment scenario.
• Successfully complete the Lifeguarding Instructor skill practice and polish session, demonstrating the following skills to instructor-level competency:
  1. Entries and approaches
  2. Active rescues at the surface
  3. Passive rescues at the surface
  4. Passive submerged rescues in shallow, moderate-depth and deep water
  5. Feet-first and head-first surface dives in deep water
  6. Rapid extrication using a backboard
  7. Putting on gloves with wet hands
  8. Two-rescuer CPR with AED for an adult
  9. Surveillance and rotation procedures
  10. Spinal motion restriction and extrication in shallow water
  11. Multiple-Rescuer Team Response Scenarios
• Attend the entire course and participate in all class sessions.
• Actively participate in all course activities.
• Successfully complete teaching assignments.
  1. Small group teaching activities
  2. Practice Teaching Assignment I
  3. Practice Teaching Assignment II
• Demonstrate instructor-level skill competency in all skills. This means being able to demonstrate all of the skill steps as they are written, in the correct order, and in accordance with the proficiency criteria to meet the objectives of the skill.
• Successfully pass the final written exam with a minimum grade of 80 percent.

Candidates who successfully complete the Lifeguarding Instructor course will be issued the following American Red Cross certificate: Lifeguarding Instructor, valid for 2 years.

To maintain the Lifeguarding Instructor certification, the instructor must successfully complete the Lifeguarding Instructor Recertification blended learning course within the 2-year certification period. If the instructor certification is expired, the instructor is eligible to participate in the Lifeguarding Instructor Recertification course for up to, but no longer than, 1 year past the Lifeguarding instructor certification expiration date. This 1-year grace period applies only to achieving recertification. It does not extend the instructor certification and the instructor may not teach courses during this time.

• Possess a current, or expired by no more than 1-year, American Red Cross Lifeguarding Instructor certification.
• Successfully complete the online session of the Lifeguarding Instructor Recertification course prior to the in-person session.

(Instructors or instructor trainers whose certification was withdrawn for any reason are not eligible to participate in the instructor review course.)

The Lifeguarding Instructor recertification course is delivered in a blended learning format, consisting of an online session (completed independently by the candidate) and in-person sessions (led by an American Red Cross–certified instructor trainer).

• The online sessions for the instructor recertification course takes approximately 6-8 hours to complete. Note: the online sessions include two courses:
  • Basic-level Lifeguarding blended learning online content
  • Lifeguarding Instructor Recertification blended learning online content.
• The instruction time for the in-person session is 6 hours, 30 minutes. The instruction time does not include time for breaks or transitions. When scheduling the in-person session, additional time must be added to accommodate breaks and transitions.

• To successfully complete the Lifeguarding Instructor Recertification course, the candidate must successfully:
• Complete the basic-level Lifeguarding Blended Learning course online session.
• Complete the Lifeguarding Instructor Recertification course online session.
• Attend the entire course and participate in the in-person session.
• Complete the skill practice and polish session, demonstrating skills to the standard.
  • Entries and approaches
  • Active rescues at the surface
  • Passive rescues at the surface
  • Passive submerged rescues in shallow, moderate-depth and deep water
  • Feet-first and head-first surface dives in deep water
  • Rapid extrication using a backboard
  • Putting on gloves with wet hands
  • Two-rescuer CPR with AED for an adult
  • Surveillance and rotation procedures
  • Spinal motion restriction and extrication in shallow water
  • Multiple-Rescuer Team Response Scenarios
• Conduct one teaching assignment as part of the skill practice and polish session.
• Pass the Lifeguarding Instructor Recertification Course written exam with a minimum score of 80 percent

Candidates who successfully complete the Lifeguarding Instructor Recertification course will be issued the following American Red Cross certificate: Lifeguarding Instructor, valid for 2 years.

To maintain the Lifeguarding Instructor certification, the instructor must successfully complete the Lifeguarding Instructor Recertification blended learning course within the 2-year certification period.

If the instructor certification is expired, the instructor is eligible to participate in the Lifeguarding Instructor Recertification course for up to, but no longer than, 1 year past the Lifeguarding instructor certification expiration date. This 1-year grace period applies only to achieving recertification. It does not extend the instructor certification and the instructor may not teach courses during this time.

• Be at least 17 years old on or before the final scheduled session of the CPR/AED for Professional
• Rescuers Instructor course.
• Possess a current basic-level certification in American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers,
• Lifeguarding, Basic Life Support or Emergency Medical Response.
• Obtain instructor and participant course materials before starting the course.
• Successfully complete the online session of the CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers Instructor course
• prior to the pre-course session.
• Successfully complete the prerequisite skill assessment scenario to continue in the course.

The CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers Instructor course is delivered in a blended learning format, consisting of an online session (completed independently by the candidate) and in-person sessions (led by an American Red Cross–certified instructor trainer).

• The online session for the instructor course takes approximately 2 hours to complete.
• The instruction time for the in-person sessions, including the pre-course session, is 16 hours. The instruction time does not include time for breaks or transitions. When scheduling the in person sessions, additional time must be added to accommodate breaks and transitions.

To successfully complete the instructor course and earn certification, candidates must:

• Complete the American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers Instructor course online
• session content in advance of the in-person sessions.
• Attend the entire course and participate in all class sessions.
• Successfully complete the CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers Instructor skill practice and polish.
• Successfully complete all course activities, including the small group assignments and practice
• teaching assignments.
• Demonstrate instructor-level skill competency in all skills.
• Pass the final written exam with a minimum grade of 80 percent

Participants who successfully complete the CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers Instructor course will be issued the following American Red Cross certificate: CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers Instructor that is valid for 2 years.

To maintain the CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers Instructor certification, a currently certified CPR/AED for Professional Rescuer Instructor must do all the following:

• Teach or co-teach and report at least one CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers course during the 2-year certification period.
• Successfully complete the American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers Instructor Recertification Assessment online course prior to certificate expiration. A 30-day grace period may apply but it does not extend the certification beyond the 2 years. The reassessment course can be launched on the ‘My Certifications’ tab in the Red Cross Learning Center within 90 days of expiration.
• Complete all applicable course updates prior to the update deadline. Once the CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers Instructor certification is expired, a participant must successfully complete the American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers Instructor course or the CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers Instructor Crossover/Re-entry course (if expired by no more than 2 years) to earn certification again. If qualified, the candidate may take the CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers Instructor online bridge course. See ‘Bridging to Become an Instructor’ on the Learning Center.