Being a lifeguard takes strong swimming skills and confidence in the water

We strongly encourage all students to practice the prerequisites prior to registering for a Lifeguard training course. Below is a partial list of local aquatic facilities that have open swim times. Swimming prerequisites are listed below.

​Please check out our prerequisite video here to see exactly what you'll need to do pass to prerequisites.

Please visit the facility website for dates, times and costs:

City of Ann Arbor- Mack Pool

Lincoln Consolidated Schools 

Milan Community Education

Whitmore Lake High School

Dexter Community Pool

American Red Cross Swimming Prerequisites:

• Be 15 years of age by the last day of the course.
• Swim Prerequisite 1:
  • 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.
• Swim Prerequisite 2:
  • Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. (The face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed).
  • Surface dive (feet-first or head-first) 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.

Note: There are no refunds for failure to complete the prerequisites. 

​Please check out our prerequisite video here to see exactly what you'll need to do pass to prerequisites.