Aquatic Certifications
Our certified instructors help you achieve your goals and take your aquatic skills to the next level through our aquatic certification programs.
Whether you’re goals include becoming a lifeguard, swim instructor, or CPR-certified individual, we have a course for you. As a participant, you will receive:
- Hands-on training in a safe and supportive environment.
- Certification through nationally recognized programs.
- Instruction from experienced and qualified aquatic professionals.
- Skills that prepare you for real-life aquatic situations.
Call the Welcome Desk at 319-352-8311 with questions about certification courses.
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Certification Options
The American Red Cross Lifeguarding provides participants with the knowledge and skills needed to:
- Prevent, recognize, and respond to aquatic emergencies.
- Provide professional-level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries, and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services (EMS) professionals take over.
This class includes training in lifeguarding, first aid, and CPR/AED for the professional rescuer and is valid for two years. Participants must be at least 15 years of age before the end of the course to enroll. This training is a blended learning course. Blended learning combines online sessions with in-person sessions conducted by a Red Cross-certified lifeguarding instructor. Total course instruction time is 27 hours, 30 minutes. The total instruction time for the in-person sessions, including the precourse session, is 21 hours, 30 minutes. The online session for the Lifeguarding course has 16 modules and takes approximately 6 hours to complete all modules of the online session. Each individual module takes approximately 15-30 minutes to complete.
Course Requirements
Participants must complete the online sessions prior to the start of in-person sessions and provide proof of completion. Participants must also attend and participate in all in-person sessions, including classroom discussions and skills practice. To receive the associated certification, participants must also satisfactorily demonstrate all Lifeguarding, First Aid, and CPR skills, and pass the course’s written exam with at least a score of 80%.
Date/Time: None scheduled at this time
Max Enrollment: 10
Min Enrollment: 4
Location: The W indoor pool and classroom
Fee: $200
Resources: American Red Cross Lifeguarding Manual version R.24 (print or ebook)
Lifeguarding course participants must have access to their own manual throughout the course. The ebook is included with your registration and the instructor of the course will provide access to obtain the ebook prior to the start of class. When using an ebook, the file should be downloaded prior to class and a tablet or laptop should be used during class to ensure proper viewing, as it is not compatible with mobile devices. Print materials are not provided and can be purchased on the Red Cross website.
Register online or at the Welcome Desk. The deadline to register is two weeks prior to the first day of each class.
The lifeguard recertification course gives certified American Red Cross lifeguards (including deep water) the opportunity to review the course knowledge and skills within a formal course setting to maintain their American Red Cross lifeguarding (including deep water) certification. This lifeguard recertification course is taught in-person; no online prerequisites are required.
Course Requirements
Participants must hold a current certification, or one that is expired by no more than 30 days, in American Red Cross Lifeguarding that includes training in deep water 7 feet or deeper. Proof of current valid American Red Cross issued lifeguard certification is required to participate in the course. Participants also must successfully complete the two prerequisite swimming skills evaluations.
Participants must attend and participate in all subsequent sessions. To receive the associated certification, participants must satisfactorily demonstrate all lifeguarding, first aid, and CPR skills, and pass the written exam with at least a score of 80%.
Date/Time:
Nov. 9, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Location: The W indoor pool and classroom
Fee: $125
Resources: American Red Cross Lifeguarding Manual version R.24 (print or ebook)
Lifeguarding course participants must have access to their own manual throughout the course. The ebook is included with your registration and the instructor of the course will provide access to obtain the ebook prior to the start of class. When using an ebook, the file should be downloaded prior to class and a tablet or laptop should be used during class to ensure proper viewing, as it is not compatible with mobile devices. Print materials are not provided and can be purchased on the Red Cross website.
Register online or at the Welcome Desk. The deadline to register is two weeks prior to the first day of each class.
The Lifeguard Crossover course provides participants with a current lifeguarding certification from an approved equivalent training organization the opportunity to participate in an abbreviated course to obtain an American Red Cross Lifeguarding or Shallow Water Lifeguarding certification.
Crossover courses are delivered as a blended learning course only. Blended learning combines online sessions with in-person sessions conducted by a Red Cross-certified lifeguarding instructor. Completion of the online sessions is required prior to starting the in-person sessions.
Course Requirements
Participants must be at least 15 years old on or before the final scheduled session of the lifeguarding course, and possess a basic-level Lifeguarding (including deep water) certification or shallow water lifeguarding certification from one of the following organizations:
- Lifesaving Society National Lifeguard
- YMCA
- Ellis & Associates International Lifeguard Training Program™
- Boy Scouts of America (BSA)
- StarGuard ELITE
- United States Lifesaving Association (USLA)
Participants must successfully complete the online course content in the lifeguarding blended learning course in advance of the crossover course and the two prerequisite swimming skills evaluations.
Participants must also attend and participate in all in-person sessions, including classroom discussions and skills practice. To receive the associated certification, participants must also satisfactorily demonstrate all Lifeguarding, First Aid, and CPR skills, and pass the course’s written exam with at least a score of 80%.
Date/Time:
Sept. 13, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Location: The W indoor pool and classroom
Fee: $135
Resources: American Red Cross Lifeguarding Manual version R.24 (print or ebook)
Lifeguarding course participants must have access to their own manual throughout the course. The ebook is included with your registration and the instructor of the course will provide access to obtain the ebook prior to the start of class. When using an ebook, the file should be downloaded prior to class and a tablet or laptop should be used during class to ensure proper viewing, as it is not compatible with mobile devices. Print materials are not provided and can be purchased on the Red Cross website.
Register online or at the Welcome Desk. The deadline to register is two weeks prior to the first day of each class.
The Water Safety Instructor class provides the knowledge and skills necessary to teach swimming lessons and other water safety classes through understanding how to use course materials, how to conduct training sessions, and how to evaluate participant progress.
Course Requirements
Participants must be at least 16 years of age before the end of the course and attend all classes to receive certification. All participants must complete and pass a quiz, which is an additional $35 payable to the Red Cross. Candidates then must complete the full WSI course and pass the WSI exam to obtain certification.
Date/Time: None scheduled at this time
Max Enrollment: 12
Min Enrollment: 3
Location: The W indoor pool and classroom
Fee: $265
Register online or at the Welcome Desk. The deadline to register is two weeks prior to the first day of each class.
The LGI class trains instructor candidates to teach basic-level Lifeguarding, Shallow Water Attendant, Lifeguard Management, and CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer.
Course Requirements
Candidates must be at least 17 years of age before the end of the course and attend all classes to receive certification. At the completion of the course, LGI candidates will need to pass the LGI exam to obtain certification.
Dates/Times:
- May 16, 3:30-10 p.m.
- May 17, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
- May 18, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Max Enrollment: 9
Min Enrollment: 5
Location: The W indoor pool. Class schedules will be handed out of the first day.
Fee: $300
Register online or at the Welcome Desk. The deadline to register is Friday, April 18.
The American Red Cross Community CPR class teaches the skills necessary to prevent, recognize, and provide basic care for breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, children, and infants until advanced medical personnel arrive. The American Red Cross First Aid course gives individuals the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize and provide basic first aid care for injuries and sudden illness until advanced medical personnel arrive. Certifications are valid for two years.
Community businesses and organizations can request training with one of our certified instructors. Call the Welcome desk for more information. There is a minimum charge for this training.
Session 1 (CPR12)
Tuesday, Aug. 12, 4-9:30 p.m.
Session 2 (CPR13)
Friday, Sept. 12, 4-9:30 p.m.
Location: The W indoor pool. Class schedules will be handed out of the first day.
Fee: $75
Register online or at the Welcome Desk.
No refunds will be given after deadline. In fairness to all participants, each withdrawal from a program will be assessed a $5 processing fee. If a medical problem arises during the activity/class, a physician’s written excuse must be presented stating that participation is restricted. In the case of a medical excuse, a percentage of whatever class time remains will be refunded. If the program/activity is canceled by The W, you will get the choice of having a full refund issued to your account or a refund check issued to the person who paid for the enrollment. No refunds will be given to persons who fail any part of these courses or fail to show proof of previous certification.