Lifeguarding and leadership

On this page:

1. Pre-Lifeguarding courses
2. Register for a lifeguarding course
3. Apply for a job
4. Lifesaving Society

Pre-Lifeguarding courses

Young swimmers who have completed Kitchener Swims and want to work towards lifesaving can build skills by registering for Rookie Patrol as young as 8-years-old. 

Courses you need to become an aquatic assistant

• Bronze Medallion & Emergency First Aid: 20-hour course (prerequisite: age 13 or bronze star)
• Bronze Cross and Standard First Aid with CPR-C: 30-hour course (prerequisite: Bronze Medallion)
• Standard First Aid & CPR-C: 16-hour course
• Assistant instructor: 16-hour course 
  * If you are 15 years of age, please proceed to Lifesaving Society Swim Instructor in place of the Assistant Instructor course.

Once these courses are completed, you can apply for early employment as an aquatic assistant! (14 years of age to apply)

Courses you need to become an instructor guard

• The courses mentioned above. *See note about Assistant Instructor course.
• Swim instructor: 20-hour course (prerequisite: age 15)
• National lifeguard: 40-hour course (prerequisite: age 15, Bronze Cross and Standard First Aid with CPR-C)

Once you have completed all seven courses and are at least 15 years old, you can apply for employment as an instructor guard.

These are the requirements for lifeguarding with the City of Kitchener. Other organizations may require different prerequisites.

Register for a lifeguarding course

You can sign up for a lifeguarding course online with ActiveNet or at your local pool.

Step 2: Screening

Step 3: You’re hired!

Lifesaving Society

The Lifesaving Society works to prevent drowning and water-related injury. They set the standards for lifeguards in Ontario.