We are an Authorized Provider for American Red Cross health and safety courses. For questions regarding any of our safety classes, please contact Eric Becker, Assistant Director, Aquatics & Risk Management, at etbecker@uncg.edu.
Course Descriptions
(All courses are American Red Cross affiliated)
Lifeguard Blended Learning Course: Deep Water Lifeguard Certification. This course is a blended learning format, with online modules being completed before the start of the course. There are a total of 16 modules to complete for the online portion. This course is for individuals who have never been lifeguard certified before, or have a fully expired certification.
Lifeguard Recertification Course: This course is a blended learning format, with an online assessment being completed before the start of the course. This course if for individuals who are currently lifeguard certified, or expired by no more than 30 days. If the certification is expired by more than 30 days, individuals will need to retake a full lifeguard course.
Waterfront Module: This module is only an add-on to a current lifeguarding course. This can either be taken along with the Lifeguard Full Course, or can be taken separately if you are already certified.
Lifeguard Instructor Course (LGI): This course is for individuals who are currently lifeguard certified and interested in becoming a lifeguard course instructor. A certified lifeguard instructor can teach safety courses, including Lifeguarding and CPR.
lifeguard course requirements
Participants must be 15 years of age on or before the last scheduled session of the course.
Participants must pass the in-water prerequisite tests before the first day of the course.
It is stronglyencouraged to have all blended learning material completed by the first day of the course for an optimal learning experience. However, all blended learning material must be completed by the final day of the course.
Participants must attend and participate in all class sessions.
Participants must demonstrate competency in all required skills and activities.
Participants must pass both final written exams for Section 1-CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid and Section 2-Lifeguarding Skills with a minimum of 80 percent.
Waterfront Only: Swim 5 yards, submerge and retrieve three dive rings placed 5 yards apart in 4 to 7 feet of water, resurface and continue to swim another 5 yards to complete the skill sequence.
The prerequisite swimming skills evaluation is completed prior to the first day of the course. Participants will be evaluated on the overall demonstration of swimming strength, endurance, breath control, and comfort in the water. There are two (2) tests during the prerequisite evaluation, found below.
Test 1: Swim-Tread-Swim Sequence (swim goggles allowed)
Participants will enter the water from the side, completely submerge, recover to the surface, and swim 150 yards.
You must swim continuously, keeping your face in the water and demonstrating good breath control.
You may use the front crawl, freestyle, breaststroke, or a combination of all. Swimming on the back or side is prohibited.
After swimming 150 yards, maintain position at the surface of the water without support for 2 minutes by treading.
Treading requirements: Participants will place hands under armpits, and tread using only legs. Head must remain above the surface of the water during the tread.
After maintaining position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes, swim 50 more yards.
You must swim continuously, keeping your face in the water and demonstrating good breath control.
You may use the front crawl, freestyle, breaststroke, or a combination of all. Swimming on the back or side is prohibited.
Test 2: Timed Event (must be completed in under 1 minute, 40 seconds)
A dive brick (10 pounds) will be placed at a depth of 7 feet, 20 yards away.
Starting in the water, participants will swim 20 yards to the object. Your face may be in or out of the water.
Surface dive (feet first or head first) to a depth of 7 feet to retrieve the 10 pound object.
Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on your back to return to the starting point, holding the object at the surface with both hands and keeping your face at or near the surface. Swimming the distance underwater is prohibited.
Exit the water without using a ladder or the steps.
Possess a current Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED certification.
Attend and participate in all class sessions.
Complete the online learning course prior to the first day of class.
Demonstrate competency in all required skills and activities.
Successfully complete an evaluation of their lifeguarding skill level.
spring 2026 Course Schedule
Course Type
Dates
Times
Full Lifeguard Course
January 30 – February 1
Friday, January 30
5:00pm – 9:00pm
Saturday, January 31
9:00am – 6:00pm (1 hour lunch break)
Sunday, February 1
9:00am – 6:00pm (1 hour lunch break)
Lifeguard Recertification Course
January 24
Saturday, January 24
9:00am – 6:00pm (1 hour lunch break)
Lifeguard Instructor Course
April 17 – 19
Friday, April 17
5:00pm – 9:00pm
Saturday, April 18
9:00am – 6:00pm (1 hour lunch break)
Sunday, April 19
9:00am – 6:00pm (1 hour lunch break)
Pricing
Course Type
UNCG Students
Kaplan Center Members
Community Members
Full Course
$50**
$150
$200
Recertification
$50
$100
$125
Lifeguard Instructor
$150**
$200
$250
**Contact Eric Becker about student employment and available certification discounts at etbecker@uncg.edu.
UNCG Students: Currently enrolled students with an active Kaplan Center membership Kaplan Center Members: All other current members Community Members: Any non-member of the Kaplan Center
RELATED LINKS
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Registration closes three (3) days before the class. To register, please visit the Welcome Desk during operating hours.