Lifeguarding Courses
Junior Lifeguard Courses
A junior lifeguard course is also available for youth between 11 to 14 years old. Offered during the summer months at select pools.
Learn more about the Junior Lifeguard Course.
The City of Albuquerque offers the American Red Cross Lifeguard Training Program. The American Red Cross Lifeguarding course teaches a preventive approach to lifeguarding as well as rescue and lifesaving techniques endorsed by the American Red Cross. This course includes Certifications in CPR for the Professional Rescuer and Standard First-Aid. These additional courses are taught in conjunction with the lifeguarding course.
Listed below are the course prerequisites and completion requirements necessary to help you prepare for the American Red Cross Lifeguard Training Course. As an applicant for a lifeguard certificate, you must fulfill each of the following requirements. Exceptions will not be made. Your instructor will elaborate on these during the first day of class or you may call the pool manager prior to the class. Please note that practice during this course requires strenuous activity. If you have a medical condition or disability that might prevent you from taking part in practice sessions, you should discuss it with your physician and your instructor.
Entry into the American Red Cross Lifeguarding course is strictly limited to those who meet the minimum age requirement and have successfully completed the prerequisite skills evaluation. Failure to have attained the appropriate skill level could pose a safety threat to themselves and to others in the class.
Participants in the Lifeguarding program must be 15 years of age on or before the last scheduled session of the course. Individuals who do not meet the age requirements for this course should be directed to another course that is appropriate for their age range (for example, Junior Lifeguarding). Please visit redcross.org for additional course information.
If a candidate is not successful on the first attempt at the prerequisite skills, they only have one more opportunity to meet the prerequisites after sufficient rest, prior to the first scheduled class session.
If the candidate does not successfully perform any of the prerequisite skills, suggest appropriate developmental training opportunities and explain the specific skills that the individual needs to improve to be eligible to participate in the Lifeguarding course in the future.
Program Prerequisite Skills
| Prerequisite 1 | Prerequisite 2 |
|---|---|
| • Jump into the water and totally submerge, resurface then swim 150 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both. (Swimming on the back or side is not permitted. Swim goggles are allowed) • Maintain position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes by treading water using only the legs • Swim 50 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both |
• Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. (The face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed). • Submerge to a depth of 7 - 10 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 and keeping the face out at or near the surface. • Exit the water without using a ladder or steps |
Class Schedule and Registration Info.
All prospective City of Albuquerque lifeguards will get a waiver for a free class. Please call the pool to set up an interview. If selected, you can sign up for the blended learning lifeguard class for free! To set up an interview and receive a free coupon for the class please email [email protected]. If we don't have enough participants before the first day of class the class may be canceled, so get in early!
All of these are blended learning courses, which means you must sign up early and complete online training before the first day of class. The online portion takes approximately 7 hours to complete and includes 1 test that must be passed! You will receive the link to the course after you register.
| In-person Dates - 2025 | In-person Times |
|---|---|
| January 4 - 6 | Saturday through Monday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| February 15 - 17 | Saturday through Monday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| March 17 - 21 | Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| April 18 - 20 | Friday through Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| April 28 - May 2 | Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| May 12 - 16 | Monday through Friday 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
| May 19 - 23 | Monday through Friday 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
| In-person Dates - 2024/2025 | In-person Times |
|---|---|
| November 29 - December 1 |
Friday: 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
| December 20 - 22 |
Friday: 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
| December 27 - 29 |
Friday: 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
| Jan 31 - Feb 2 |
Friday: 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
| Feb 28 - Mar 2 |
Friday: 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
|
Mar 17 - 20 |
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
|
Mar 21 - 23 |
Friday: 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
|
April 7 - 17 |
Monday - Thursday: 4:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m. |
|
April 25 - 27 |
Friday: 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
| In-person Dates - 2025 | In-person Times |
|---|---|
| Feb 15 - 17 | Saturday - Monday: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
|
Mar 17 - 19 |
Monday - Wednesday: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
|
April 4 - 6 |
Friday: 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
|
April 17 - 19 |
Thursday: 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
|
May 9 - 11 |
Friday: 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
| In-person Dates - 2024/2025 | In-person Times |
|---|---|
| December 14 - 15 | 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| January 10 -12 |
Friday: 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
|
February 14 - 16 |
Friday: 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
| March 28 - 30 |
Friday: 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
| April 4 - 6 |
Friday: 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
| April 18 - 20 |
Friday: 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
| May 9- 11 |
Friday: 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
| May 16 - 18 |
Friday: 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
| May 23 - 25 |
Friday: 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
| In-person Dates - 2024/2025 | In-person Times |
|---|---|
| December 20 - 22 | 12 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| December 27 - 30 | 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Jan 18 - 20 | Saturday - Monday: 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m. |
| Feb 15 - 17 | Saturday - Monday: 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m. |
|
March 15 - 17 |
Saturday - Monday: 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m. |
|
April 18 - 20 |
Saturday - Monday: 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m. |
- Successful completion of the courses as Los Altos Pool will convey a Shallow Water Lifeguard certification in up to 6 feet of water.
- You must register for the course prior to the first day of class. The fee is $150.00 (Major additional discount for City of Albuquerque new hires, for discount please contact your pool of interest).
- You must download the American Red Cross Lifeguarding manual and purchase a resuscitation mask. The book can be found here: Red Cross Lifeguard Manual. The mask is $15 and available at the facility where the course is being held.
- You must be at least 15 years old by the last scheduled date of the class in order to enroll.
First Day of Class
- Bring a swimsuit and a towel.
- Swim 300 yards continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing. Candidates may swim using the front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both but swimming on the back or side is not allowed. Goggles may be used.
- Starting in the water, swim 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke, surface dive 7 – 10 feet, retrieve a 10–pound object, return to the surface, swim 20 yards back to the starting point with the object, and exit the water without using a ladder or steps, within 1 minute, 40 seconds.
- Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs.
To Successfully Complete the Class
- You must attend and be on time for every session. The total course time is approximately 24 hours. At the instructor’s discretion, additional hours may be scheduled for practice and review or to make up canceled classes due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.
- You must pass all in-water lifeguard skills and activities.
- You must demonstrate competency in all First Aid, CPR, AED, and lifeguard skills and activities.
- You must pass the written test with at least 80% on each section. There are 2 sections to test.
Upon Completion
You will receive:
- An American Red Cross Universal Certificate for Lifeguarding / First Aid / CPR / AED valid for 2 years.