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AQUATIC CERTIFICATIONS
for NYS Bathing Facilities
Fact Sheet – March 2016
(Go to www.health.ny.gov to view most current certification list)
Standards for aquatic/lifeguard certifications are contained in New York State Sanitary Codes (SSC) Subpart 6-1, Section 6-1.31,
Swimming Pools; Subpart 6-2, Section 6-2.20, Bathing Beaches; and Subpart 7-2, Section 7-2.5(g), Children’s Camps. When the
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 must possess separate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification in an approved course
listed on the NYS CPR fact sheet unless otherwise indicated in the below table. All CPR certificates are valid for 1
year from course completion, regardless of the expiration date noted on the card.
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. Multiyear lifeguard certifications that include CPR require a CPR certification each
year.
Children's camp lifeguards must be at least 17 years of age, except;
A maximum of 50% of the required lifeguards on duty may be 16 years of age;
Lifeguards for wilderness swimming must be at least 18 years of age.
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.
Marked boxes indicate acceptability
LIFEGUARDING AND FIRST AID CERTIFICATIONS ARE
VALID FOR 2 YEARS FROM DATE OF ISSUANCE.
A SEPARATE CERTIFICATE FOR CPR IS NOT
REQUIRED IN FIRST YEAR OF CERTIFICATION.
*WATERPARK SKILLS or WATERFRONT SKILLS MAY BE
A SEPARATE CERTIFICATE.
Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED
Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED with
Waterpark Skills Certificate*
Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED with
Waterfront Skills Certificate*
American Lifeguard Association (ALA)
CERTIFICATE MUST STATE THE WORDS
“INSTRUCTOR LED”.
Professional Lifeguarding - Instructor Led
Waterpark Lifeguarding - Instructor Led
Waterfront Lifeguarding - Instructor Led
Boy Scouts of America (BSA)
ALL CERTIFICATIONS ARE VALID FOR 2 YEARS FROM
DATE OF ISSUANCE AND CARD HOLDER MUST BE AT
LEAST 15 YEARS OF AGE (17 YEARS OF AGE FOR
CHILDREN’S CAMPS).
Breezy Point Cooperative, Inc.
Breezy Point Surf Lifeguard
Cattaraugus County EMS Lifeguard Training
Program
International Lifeguard Training Program
SEPARATE CERTIFICATE FOR CPR IS NOT REQUIRED
IN THE FIRST YEAR OF CERTIFICATION.
*CERTIFICATE MUST INDICATE COMPLETION OF
OPEN WATER TRAINING.
Special Facilities Lifeguard Training
Special Facilities Lifeguard Training with Open
Water Training*
Hamptons Consortium Surf Lifeguard
Incorporated Village of Saltaire
Ocean Lifeguard Certificate
Bay Front Lifeguard Certificate