Aquatic Certifications for NYS Bathing Facilities
Fact Sheet - February 2009
- Aquatic Certifications for NYS Bathing Facilities is available in Portable Document Format (PDF, 34KB, 2pp).
When the State Sanitary Code (SSC) requires "lifeguard supervision" or a "qualified lifeguard" at a bathing facility, an approved lifeguard certification SPECIFIC to the type of bathing facility is required.
Note:
- All lifeguards are required to possess American Red Cross (ARC) Basic Life Support for the Professional Rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or a CPR equivalent noted on the CPR fact sheet unless otherwise indicated. All cardiopulmonary resuscitation certificates must be renewed within 1 year of completion of the course, regardless of the expiration date noted on the card.
- Children's camp lifeguards must be at least 17 years of age, except;
- A maximum of 20% of the required lifeguards on duty may be 16 years of age;
- Lifeguards for wilderness swimming must be at least 18 years of age.
- Lifeguard certifications shall be valid for the time period specified by the certifying agency, but may not exceed a consecutive three-year period from course completion.
- Supervising lifeguards must possess at least Supervision Level IIb certification, be at least 18 years old, and have at least 2 seasons of lifeguarding experience.
- Shallow water certifications are acceptable for Supervision Level IIa at pools with water depths of four feet or less.
| STANDARD | |
|---|---|
| New York State Sanitary Code |
|
| ACCEPTED COURSES | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUPERVISION LEVEL Marked boses indicate acceptability | ||||
| PROVIDER | CERTIFICATION TITLE | Level 1 Surf | Level IIb Pool & Beach | Level IIa Pool Only |
| American Red Cross (ARC) A CERTIFICATION IN THE OLD ARC CURRICULUM REMAINS VALID UNTIL EXPIRATION. THE "WATERFRONT LIFEGUARD" MODULE CERTIFICATE IS VALID THROUGH 6/30/2010. * TO QUALIFY FOR LEVEL IIb, A CANDIDATE MUST BE CO-CERTIFIED IN AN ARC COURSE ACCEPTED FOR LEVEL IIA AND THE ARC "WATERFRONT LIFEGUARD MODULE OR BE CERTIFIED IN THE NEW "WATERFRONT LIFEGUARDING" CURRICULUM. |
Lifeguard Training | X | ||
| Waterfront Lifeguard* (Requires 2 certificates) |
X | X | ||
| Lifeguarding (New 2007) | X | |||
| Waterpark Lifeguarding (New 2007) | X | |||
| Waterfront Lifeguarding* (New 2007) (Requires 1 certificate only) |
X | X | ||
| American Lifeguard Association (ALA) CERTIFICATE MUST STATE THE WORDS "INSTRUCTOR-LED COURSE" |
Lifeguarding Instructor-Led Course | X | ||
| Waterpark Lifeguarding Instructor-Led Course | X | |||
| Waterfront Lifeguarding Instructor-Led Course | X | X | ||
| Boy Scouts of America (BSA) ALL CERTIFICATIONS ARE VALID FOR 3 YEARS FROM DATE OF ISSUANCE AND CARD HOLDER MUST BE AT LEAST 15 YEARS OF AGE (17 YEARS OF AGE FOR CHILDREN'S CAMPS). |
Lifeguard, BSA | X | X | |
| Aquatics Instructor, BSA | X | X | ||
| Breezy Point Cooperative, Inc. | Breezy Point Surf Lifeguard | X | ||
| Cattaraugus County EMS | Cattaraugus County EMS Lifeguard Training Program | X | X | |
| Hamptons Consortium | Hamptons Consortium Surf Lifeguard | X | X | X |
| Ellis & Associates International Pool & Waterpark Lifeguard Training Separate certificate for CPR is NOT required. |
Pool Lifeguard Training | X | ||
| Special Facilities Lifeguard Training | X | |||
| Incorporated Village of Saltaire | Ocean Lifeguard Certificate | X | ||
| Bay Front Lifeguard Certificate | X | |||
| Lindenhurst School District | Lindenhurst School District Surf Lifeguard | X | X | X |
| Nassau County Department of Health | "Day Camp Only" | X | ||
| Grade 1A | X | |||
| Grade 1B | X | |||
| Grade II | X | X | ||
| Grade III | X | X | X | |
| New York City Department of Parks | Municipal Lifeguard | X | X | X |
| Municipal Lifeguard "pool only" | X | |||
| Royal Life Saving Society, Canada ALL CERTIFICATIONS ARE VALID FOR 2 YEARS FROM DATE OF ISSUANCE. |
National Lifeguard Service (NLS) Pool | X | ||
| National Lifeguard Service (NLS) Waterfront | X | |||
| National Lifeguard Service (NLS) Surf | X | |||
| National Lifeguard Service (NLS) Waterpark | X | |||
| Starfish Aquatics Institute, Inc. CERTIFICATION IS VALID FOR 1 YEAR FROM DATE OF ISSUANCE AND CERTIFICATE MUST SPECIFY "MEETS NY STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REGULATIONS." Separate certificate for CPR is NOT required. |
StarGuard Best Practices for Lifeguards | X | ||
| Suffolk County Department of Parks | Ocean Lifeguard Training | X | ||
| Stillwater Lifeguard Training Course | X | |||
| Town of Babylon | Ocean Lifeguard | X | X | X |
| Stillwater Lifeguard Training Course | X | X | ||
| Town of Brookhaven | Ocean Theory Course | X | X | X |
| Town of East Hampton | Surf Lifeguard | X | X | X |
| Pool and Beach Lifeguard | X | X | ||
| Town of Islip | Surf Lifeguard | X | X | X |
| Pool and Beach Lifeguard | X | X | ||
| Town of Southampton | Ocean Lifeguard | X | X | X |
| Stillwater Lifeguard | X | X | ||
| Village of Ocean Beach | Ocean Beach Atlantic Ocean Lifeguard Course | X | X | X |
| YMCA | YMCA Lifeguard | X | X | |
| Lifeguard | X | X | ||
| Provider | Certification Title |
|---|---|
| American Red Cross (ARC) | Shallow Water Attendant (New 2007) |
| American Lifeguard Association (ALA) CERTIFICATE MUST STATE THE WORDS "INSTRUCTOR-LED COURSE" |
Shallow Water Lifeguard Instructor-Led Course |
| Ellis & Associates International Pool & Waterpark Lifeguard Training Separate certificate for CPR is NOT required. |
Shallow Water Lifeguard |