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.

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:

• Prerequisite 1: Complete a swim-tread-swim sequence without stopping to rest:
  • 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.
• Prerequisite 2: Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds:
  • Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. (The face may be in or out the water. Swim goggles are 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.

Free training is available to help you pass the screening test. Once you pass the screening, we will enroll you in a Red Cross Lifeguard certification course.

Wear a bathing suit and bring a towel to your screening test. You may also wear swim goggles.

Candidates who pass the screening test will be enrolled in lifeguard certification or recertification courses through Parks & Rec.

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: $175.