American Red Cross Lifeguard and Waterfront Skills Certification - February 2026

Instructor: Martin Soto

Friday, February 13, 2026 PRE-Test from 7:00pm-9:00pm

Saturday, February 14, 2026, 2:00pm-6:00pm 
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 & Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 12:00pm-8:00pm 
Thursday, February 19, 2026, 1:00pm-8:00pm 

COST: $525.00
*Maritime Faculty, Staff & Students receive a discount*

Earn your American Red Cross Lifeguarding and Waterfront Skills Certification.

A combination online and in-person class to earn American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding (including deep water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers & First Aid with Waterfront Skills components. Participants must complete the online portion before attending the in-person class. A link to the online portion will be provided after registration.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This blended learning (online and classroom) Lifeguarding course provides participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize, and respond to aquatic emergencies in both shallow water (less than 7 feet) and deeper water (7 feet or more) and to provide prefessional-level care for cardiac and breathing emergencies, injuries and sudden illnesses until EMS personnel take over including in aquatic faciliities in non-surf open water areas found at public parks resorts, summer camps, and campgrounds. Blended learning combines online sessions with in-person sessions conducted by a Red Cross-certified Lifeguarding instructor. Total course instruction time is 31 hours, 50 minutes.

The online portion must be completed prior to 2:00pm on Saturday, February 14, 2026.

The online section for the Lifeguarding course has 16 modules; it takes approximately 6 hours to complete all modules of the online section. Each individual module takes approximately 15-30 minutes to complete.

CERTIFICATION GRANTED: American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding (including deep water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers & First Aid and Waterfront Skills. Certification is granted upon completion of BOTH the online and classroom (31.50 hours) components.

PREREQUISITES:

• Participants must first complete the online portion of this course (which may take up to 6 hours) before attending the in-person class. Proof of completion is required. Participants must attend the full 31 hours and 50 minutes in-person course hours and pass all tests. 
  • Makeup classes are NOT offered (unless a class cancellation is required by the college). The college does not issue a refund if a participant fails the written/swim test or fails due to missing any of the 31.50 ARC required hours.
     
• All lifeguarding participants must complete the required swimming skills prerequisite prior to taking the course. The prerequisite skills assignments are as follows:
  • Complete a swim-tread-swim sequence:
    • Jump into the water, submerge, resurface, swim 150 yards (using the front crawl, breaststroke or combination of both).
    • Maintain position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes by treading water using only the legs.
    • Then swim 50 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or combination of both.
  • Complete a timed event within 1 minute 40 seconds:
    • Starting in the water, swim 20 yards.
    • Surface dive (feet-first or head-first) to a depth of 7 to 12 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.
    • Return to the surface, and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point holding the object at the surface with both hands.
    • Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.

AGES: 15 and over

SCHEDULE:

• Online Course Modules
  Self-paced, completed prior to first class session
   
• Swimming Skills Pre-Test
  Friday, February 13, 2026 from 7:00pm-9:00pm (LG and WF skills)
  *If February 13th, pre-test is not passed, a full refund will be granted*
   
• In-Person Sessions (if successful pre-test)
  Saturday, February 14, 2026, 2:00pm-6:00pm
• Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 12:00pm-8:00pm 
  • (30-minute lunch & addtl breaks will be given)
  • Discretion will be given by instructor assigned
• Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 12:00pm-8:00pm
  • (30-minute lunch & addtl breaks will be given
  • Discretion will be given by instructor assigned
• Thursday, February 19, 2026, 1:00pm-8:00pm
  • (30-minute lunch & addtl breaks will be given
  • Discretion will be given by instructor assigned

COURSE MATERIALS PROVIDED: First Aid/CPR training kit, with resuscitation mask

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Wednesday, February 4, 2026 by 3:00pm

LOCATION: SUNY Maritime College, 6 Pennyfield Avenue, Bronx, NY 10465. Class will take place at the Riesenberg Gymnasium Building: Pool, and Athletics Confernece Room for class time. Mass transit and parking are available.