Lifeguarding

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The purpose of the Lifeguarding course is to teach the knowledge and skills needed to help prevent and respond to aquatic emergencies in both shallow water (less than 7 feet) and deeper water (7 feet or more). These include land and water rescue skills as well as first aid and resuscitation skills.

Classes with fewer than five participants will be canceled on the "Registration Deadline" date. Participants can still register after the cancelation date has passed if the class has not been canceled. If the class is canceled, the participant will receive a full refund.

Participants are expected to come to the first session with the online portion completed and must be able to pass the physical prerequisites as outlined below. No absences or tardiness will be allowed. Please bring a swimsuit, towel, lunch/dinner, and a device that allows you to view the Lifeguarding Manual. A training CPR Mask is included in your registration cost.

BLENDED LEARNING INFORMATION

This is a  BLENDED LEARNING course, which requires the online portion to be completed before coming to class. Upon registering, you will immediately receive access to the blended learning portion of this course.  Please find the PDF in your program confirmation email for more information.

PREREQUISITES 

• Completed Blended Learning
  • Please check your email and locate your program confirmation PDF, which will be sent to you immediately upon successful registration. This will contain the link and further information about how to access the blended learning content. 
    
    
• Swim-Tread-Swim
  • Candidates will swim a continuous 150-yard swim while showing rhythmic breathing. Only freestyle or breaststroke is permitted. They will then complete a two-minute tread without using their hands. Then, they will swim the final 50 yards, totaling 200 yards.
  • View an example of this prerequisite here.
    
    
• Timed Brick Event
  • A 10-pound rubber brick will be placed at the bottom of the pool, approximately 20 yards away from the starting point. The candidate will be required to swim to the brick, dive down to retrieve it, resurface, and return to the starting point while holding the brick with both hands. The use of hands or feet to touch the bottom of the pool is not allowed. Upon reaching the starting point, the candidate must stand up, throw the brick out of the water, and fully exit the pool. The candidate will have 1 minute and 40 seconds to complete this task.
  • View an example of this prerequisite here.

Unsure if you are able to complete the physical requirements? We offer a program called the Lifeguard Prerequisite Try-Out that serves as a preparatory step for aspiring lifeguards. This program provides participants a chance to acquaint themselves with the demanding tasks in the lifeguarding course. Designed to familiarize participants with essential requirements, this session provides access to the Aquatic Center's facilities and equipment. This is NOT a requirement to take the Lifeguarding course, and participants will still be required to demonstrate the above prerequisites on the first day of the course. 

Upcoming Dates and Times

Register 

Summer 2025

Fall 2025

REFUND POLICY

UTSA Campus Recreation - Aquatics strives to provide all participants with the best learning experience possible. To ensure smooth operations and fair treatment for everyone involved, we have established the following policy regarding refunds and transfers:

Cancellation Deadlines

• For most courses, refunds or transfers to other classes are not permitted when the cancellation occurs less than 48 business hours before the scheduled start time.
• For instructor-level courses or those with online prerequisites, a week's notice is required for refunds or transfers.

Commencement of Courses

• We cannot offer refunds once a course has commenced, whether online or in person. This includes cases where participants fail to meet online or in-person prerequisite requirements.

Administrative Fees

• Cancellations or transfers that don't meet the cancellation deadlines listed above may be subject to a $20 administrative fee.

Prerequisite Testing

• Refunds will not be issued if participants fail prerequisite testing or have already started prerequisite courses.

We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, and we endeavor to accommodate our participants to the best of our abilities within the framework of this policy. If you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us for assistance.

PARKING

All vehicles must register with Parking Services and correctly display the permit while parked on campus. If you do not have a permit, the closest pay-to-park spots are located in front of the Recreation and Wellness Center, or you may use the Ximenes Garage. For more information about parking, please visit Campus Services or call (210) 458-7275.