Philadelphia Parks & Recreation lifeguards make summer safe and fun for thousands of Philadelphia children and families. Pay starts at $16 per hour.
Lifeguards typically work 35 hours per week from June through August. Free training takes place throughout the year. Here is how to get started.
Who
You must be 15 years or older to attend a lifeguard screening at one of our indoor training facilities. However, you must be 16 years or older to work as a lifeguard for the City of Philadelphia.
Requirements
To become a City lifeguard, you must:
- Be 16 years old.
- Pass the lifeguard screening test (see below).
- Complete a Red Cross Lifeguard Certification Course (free for those 24 and under).
Lifeguard screening test
To pass the Parks & Rec lifeguard screening, you must:
- Swim 300 yards non-stop.
- 12 laps of freestyle or breaststroke in a 25-yard pool.
- This is not a timed swim.
- If you stop, you will need to start over.
- Tread water for two minutes without using your arms.
- Retrieve a 10-pound brick from a 12-foot-deep well. Return to the surface and swim 20 yards back to the starting point with the brick, using only your legs.
- The brick must be held out of the water with both hands.
- You must complete this task within one minute and 40 seconds.
Free training is available year-round to prepare candidates to pass the screening.
Training and screening
Free training and screening are available at:
- Abraham Lincoln High School, 3201 Ryan Ave., 19136.
- Mondays through Fridays from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Friends Select School, 17th & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 19103.
- Saturdays and Sundays from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
- Roxborough YMCA, 7201 Ridge Ave, 19128.
- Fridays from 5 to 7 p.m.
- St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, 1733 W. Girard Ave., 19130.
- Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Samuel Recreation Center, 3539 Gaul St., 19134.
- Mondays through Fridays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Reserve a time slot for Lifeguard Swim Skills Training.
Candidates who pass the screening will be enrolled in lifeguard certification or recertification courses through Parks & Rec.
Certification
Certification and recertification are free for lifeguards ages 16–24 who work at a Parks & Rec pool.
Costs for candidates aged 25 and over are:
- Certification: $110.
- Recertification: $65.