Frequently Asked Questions

First, we love that you're asking that question. It's the first step into an extremely rewarding profession that will not only provide you with invaluable skills, but will also carry over into many other areas of your life.

Are you a strong swimmer? Are you at least 15 yrs old? Can you focus and keep a cool head during emergencies? Do you have a passion for keeping people safe? Do you love working in a team environment?

Then yes!!

These are the basic swimming requirements for an American Red Cross lifeguard certification:

Tread water for 2 minutes, using only your legs;

Swim 150 yards continuously;

Retrieve a 10lb brick from 7-10ft deep 20 yards away within 1 min 40 seconds

Both in-person Classroom and Blended Learning courses cover exactly the same information and take the same amount of time to complete. With blended learning, the lecture material that would be covered in a classroom session are presented in an online classroom before the skills sessions. Students can complete the online classroom at their own pace and takes approximately 7 hours to complete.

Once you submit payment, we will submit your information to the American Red Cross.  They will email you a link to create an account with them and complete your online modules approximately 7 days before the course begins.  The emails sent from the Red Cross, come from an account called " Sales Force" and will almost always go to your junk mail.  Be on the lookout!  Please note, we cannot troubleshoot any Red Cross account issues.  The Red Cross must be contacted with any issues.  All pre-work must be completed before the start of class.  The student must provide proof of module completion prior to the start of class.  Failure to complete the modules will mean the student is not prepared for the course and cannot proceed.

No.  You can download a free pdf from the American Red cross, or from the Class Instructions/ Files tab. Some students learn better with a physical copy, so North  Star carries some copies for purchase. A physical copy of the manual will be leant to you during the course. We also have a free PDF copy of the manual available. 

You will need to be prepared for a wide variety of activities. Every course has classroom and pool time. Bring:

1) A well fitting modest swim suit (one piece).

2) At least 2 towels (we move back and forth from pool to classroom several times).

3) Change of clothes for the classroom (will include CPR training involving kneeling, laying down).

4) Goggles for pre-course swim test (if you prefer, goggles not required)

5) Bagged lunch or lunch money

The American Red Cross Lifeguarding certification is recognized across the country. Many facilities accept the ARC certification. However, there are some facilities that use a private Lifeguard Certification Company and therefore will not accept the ARC certification. Check with the facility where you want to work on what certifications they require their employees to have. Once you pass the class, employers may ask you to demonstrate your skills before hiring you.

The pre-course is designed to verify that participants have the swimming skills and endurance to participate safely in the lifeguarding activities. Lifeguarding is a physically demanding activity that requires the ability to save lives. If you do not pass the pre-course, you will be given the option to re-enroll in one of our upcoming classes at a discounted rate. See our Transfer & Cancelation Policy below for more information.

Swim, swim, and swim more. The requirements for the pre-courses are listed on every class's information sheet. We encourage you to find pool time and practice your swimming and treading prior to class. 

The Red Cross charges $40 for every instructor certification. The advertised cost of the Instructor level classes includes this fee. We reduced our cost by $40 to allow you to pay the Red Cross directly. Please review your login instructions for further information. Refunds for Red Cross Fees will not be given.

The Waterfront Module is a course that allows currently certified lifeguards to add to their skills by learning how to guard live water environments such as lake and riverfronts. The course covers handling currents, dealing with wild-life and poor visibility.  This class is typically a requirement for guards wanting to work at summer camps but not needed for those working at traditional pools.

Once you've completed the course and the Red Cross approves your class' roster, you are sent an email with the link to your certification directly from the Red Cross. If you need to reprint your certificate, go to www.Redcross.org/GetCertificate. 

You will need the class end date and the facility's zip code.

Key Events:

• Failure to show up for a scheduled class automatically forfeits your class fee.   You will be allowed to transfer to a new class for a $75 fee.
• Medical issues will be examined on a case-by-case basis.  
• Failure to pass the pre-course swim, brick or tread automatically forfeits your class fee.  You will be allowed to transfer to a new class for a $75 fee.
• Should you procrastinate on the pre-course online work and need to move to a later course, a $75 transfer fee will be issued.