Since 1990, the American Lifeguard Association® (ALA) has been a national leader in lifeguard training, lifeguard certification, CPR/AED, First Aid, and aquatic safety education. Our mission is to reduce drownings, promote water safety, and prepare professional lifeguards with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to protect lives in and around the water.
For more than three decades, ALA has worked with swimming pools, waterparks, beaches, schools, universities, municipalities, military organizations, employers, and government agencies throughout the United States and internationally. Our programs are designed to meet nationally recognized standards while providing students with a convenient, high-quality training experience.
The American Lifeguard Association is a national educational organization dedicated to improving aquatic safety through professional training, public education, and advocacy. We believe that effective lifeguarding is built upon prevention first, followed by rapid recognition and professional emergency response. Every course we develop is intended to prepare candidates to help prevent aquatic emergencies while providing effective care should an emergency occur.
ALA assists with the development of testing protocols and the administration of health and safety programs for swimming pools, waterparks, waterfronts, and beaches. Beyond training lifeguards, we have long promoted environmental stewardship by encouraging responsible use of aquatic environments and supporting initiatives that help keep beaches, lakes, rivers, and waterways clean for future generations.
Our lifeguard certification program reflects the latest Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) science and incorporates findings from the United States Lifeguard Standards Coalition Report. Students receive comprehensive instruction in patron surveillance, drowning prevention, rescue techniques, spinal injury management, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, First Aid, emergency oxygen, and the management of breathing and cardiac emergencies until Emergency Medical Services arrive.
Unlike traditional programs that require participants to wait for scheduled group classes, the American Lifeguard Association offers a video instructor-led blended learning program that allows participants to begin training immediately. Students review instructor-led videos, study the accompanying course materials, practice the required skills, complete the written examination, and earn certification in Lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid. Upon successful completion, certification records are uploaded to the National Verification System, allowing employers and health departments to quickly verify credentials.
Practical competency is addressed within the aquatics environment through employer-based pre-service evaluations and ongoing in-service procedures established to meet CDC Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) requirements. These nationally recognized standards emphasize that certification is only one component of professional preparation and that employers are responsible for conducting documented pre-service evaluations and continuous in-service training to maintain lifeguard proficiency throughout employment.
