The California Code of Regulations specifically sets standards for lifeguards acting in the state of California. Lifeguards are considered to be public safety personnel and are held to a standard of training that is more strict than most states. A Red Cross lifeguard certification is not enough to certify you as a lifeguard in California. This is known as Title 22. Read More >>

For an individual to become a certified lifeguard in the state of California, they must complete a state approved public safety training program that is designed for lifeguards, firefighters and peace officers. This course structure is more strict than most states, but it not to the level of an EMT or other first responder. If the lifeguard is actively working, they must be trained to administer first aid and CPR. New lifeguards must complete a state approved training course within one year from the effective date of employment, and before they start regular duty as a lifeguard.

Class prerequisites:

• The class has a prerequisite of a current (within one year) CPRFPR certification.
• Must be at least 15 Years old
• Must be able to Swim 300 Yards (12 lengths of a 25 yard pool) without stopping (front crawl and breaststroke)
• Must be able to retrieve a 10-lb weight from 7 feet deep and swim 20 yards with the weight, using legs only

If you are employed by an agency offering you a position as a lifeguard, you must complete the proper training classes within one year of your initial employment. There is also a time limit of one year for completion of the retraining. Meaning you must re-certify your training each year to keep your certification up to date. Click here for more information on retraining requirements.

California Lifeguards who are looking for retraining certification will have to complete either a 12 hour refresher course or a written and skills pre-test to maintain their certification in the state of California.

California lifeguards are required to keep their certification up to date, and re-training is a requirement to keep working as a lifeguard in their state. To complete retraining requirements, a lifeguard in California must complete either an approved re-training course or a written and skills pre-test. The retraining course will consist of a minimum of 12 hours of review, following a demonstration of skills. The review will consist of necessary retraining topics, as well as a study of new developments in first aid and CPR. This is a great time to learn the new techniques and breakthroughs in the first aid field. The state pre-test will be focused on required topics and skills listed under the California lifeguard training standards. The pre-test may determine that some demonstrative retraining be provided, but this is situational. Failing the pre-test will lead to a final test covering topics included in the retraining.

Initial California lifeguard training classes will last at least 21 hours, with 15 focusing on first aid and 6 focusing on CPR. Courses are broken into two topics, the first being recognizing injury or illness, and the second being skill oriented. Recognition topics discussed in the class must include:

• Emergency action principles which outline first aid decision making
• Medical emergency and sudden illness
• Cardiac emergency in individuals of all age classes
• Traumatic injury
• Life threatening bleeding
• Injuries to specific parts of the body requiring greater knowledge and detail
• Bandaging
• Injuries to bone, muscle, joints
• Environmental injuries including burns, chemical burns, electrocution and response to climatic changes
• Victim rescue techniques and transfer

Skill related topics discussed and practiced in the class must include:

• Victim assessment
• Identifying cardiopulmonary issues such as heart attack or stroke
• Response to fainting siezure or convulsions
• Identifying and responding to drug abuse
• Climatic responses such as hypothermia, frost bite and heat stroke
• Dealing with victims in shock.
• Identifying and responding to injuries at risk of infection or infected
• Bandaging techniques
• Bites and stings
• Identifying burn severity
• Securing fractures, sprains and dislocations
• CPR

Some classes will offer an optional section focusing on the use of an AED.  In order to be authorized to utilize an external defibrillator, a public safety individual shall pass a written and skills examination, which tests the ability to assess and manage the specified conditions requiring the devices use.