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Lifeguard & Swim Instructor Courses

Bismarck Parks and Recreation District offers lifeguard and swim instructor courses at BSC Aquatic & Wellness Center throughout the year.

FREE Training

Submit a job application to work as a BPRD lifeguard or swim instructor, and we will enroll you in one of our training courses for FREE. Plus, enjoy a benefits pass that provides rounds of golf, driving range balls, pool passes, fitness passes, and a picnic shelter reservation.

Questions: If you are interested in joining the BPRD team, contact Jahna at 701-751-4270 or by email.

Course Options

Choose one:

American Red Cross Lifeguard Course

The primary purpose of American Red Cross Lifeguarding program courses is to provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed to:

  • Prevent, recognize, and respond to aquatic emergencies.
  • Provide professional-level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries, and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services professionals take over.

Lifeguarding (including Deep Water) training is conducted and evaluated in water depths ranging from 0 to 7 feet plus (ranging from 8-12 feet maximum). This is a blended learning course combining online sessions with in-person sessions.

Course Prerequisites

  • Be age 15+ on or before the final session of the course.
  • Complete online learning portion of the course BEFORE class begins (proof of completion required). See details below.
  • Successfully complete swimming skills evaluation. See details below.

Online Learning

The Lifeguarding course online session has 16 modules and takes approximately 6 hours to complete. Online material is emailed to participants after course registration or about 3 weeks in advance.

Swimming Skills Evaluation

Prerequisite 1: Complete a swim-tread-swim sequence without stopping to rest.

  1. 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.)
  2. Maintain position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes by treading water using only the legs.
  3. Swim 50 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both.

Prerequisite 2: Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds.

  1. Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. (The face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed).
  2. Submerge to a depth of 7-10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.
  3. 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.
  4. Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.

If the candidate cannot pass the prerequisite swimming skills, they will be issued a full refund. No refunds will be given after the skills session.

Need to Know

  • Males must wear boxer-style swimming suits, and females must wear one-piece swimming suits.
  • Any person with long hair will be required to put it up or wear a swim cap.
  • All class times and dates are MANDATORY.
  • Successful course completion results in a 2-year certification in American Red Cross  Lifeguarding (including Deep Water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid.

Fees and Registration

  • $250 per participant
  • Fee includes fanny pack, adult and infant CPR masks, and Red Cross fee for online learning materials.
  • Register online or in person at BSC AWC. Contact Jahna to join the BPRD team and get FREE training.

Dates and Times

  • January 2-4, 2026, from 9:00am-6:00pm (3 sessions)
  • March 13-15 from 9:00am-6:00pm (3 sessions)
  • April 9-10 from 5:00-9:00pm and April 11-12 from 9:00am-5:00pm (4 sessions)
Register for Lifeguard course

Lifeguard Recertification Course

Need to be recertified for American Red Cross lifeguarding? See course description and requirements for lifeguard course above, as requirements are the same for recertification. Questions? Call Jahna at 701-751-4270.

Need to Know

  • Must have current American Red Cross lifeguard certification or certification expired by no more than 30 days to participate. The course does not recertify for other lifeguard agencies.
  • If you were not originally certified by BPRD, proof of certification will be required before class begins.
  • All class times and dates are MANDATORY.

Fees and Registration

  • $150 per participant
  • Register online or in person at BSC Aquatic & Wellness Center. Contact Jahna to join the BPRD team and get FREE training.

Dates and Times

  • January 5, 2026, from 8:00am-7:00pm
  • March 16 from 8:00am-7:00pm
  • April 19 from 8:00am-7:00pm
Register for Lifeguard Recertification

Lifeguard Instructor Course

This course trains instructor candidates how to teach American Red Cross lifeguarding, shallow water lifeguarding, aquatic attraction lifeguarding, waterfront skills, waterpark skills, first aid, CPR/AED for professional rescuers, administering emergency oxygen, and bloodborne pathogens.

Course Prerequisites

  • Be age 17+
  • Possess a current Red Cross certification in lifeguarding/first aid/CPR/AED.
  • Complete online learning before the first day of class. An email will be sent with instructions after registration.
  • Pass two rescue skill scenarios that test lifeguarding and CPR on the first day of class.

Need to Know

  • All class times and dates are MANDATORY.
  • Passing the course earns participants a 2-year certification.

Fees and Registration

  • $300 per participant
  • Register online or in person at BSC Aquatic & Wellness Center. Contact Jahna to join the BPRD team and get FREE training.

Dates and Times

  • March 14-15, 2026, from 8:00am-6:00pm (2 sessions)
Register for Lifeguard Instructor Course

Lifeguard Instructor Review Course

This in-person skills orientation is for CURRENT Red Cross Lifeguard Instructors and Instructor Trainers who must complete the in-person skills to update their Red Cross LGI/LGIT certification(s). 

Course Prerequisites

  • All instructors participating must have successfully completed the Red Cross instructor online update PRIOR to participating in the LGI/LGIT update.

Need to Know

  • All class times and dates are MANDATORY.
  • Participants must bring to class:
    • Proof of online update completion
    • Proof of blended learning online completion (lifeguard renewal)
    • Lifeguard Instructors manual
    • Infant and adult CPR mask
    • Swimming suit and towel

Fees and Registration

  • $60 per participant
  • Register online or in person at BSC Aquatic & Wellness Center. 

Dates and Times

  • March 13, 2026, from 8:00am-3:00pm
  • April 6 from 8:00am-3:00pm
Register for Lifeguard Instructor Review Course

Water Safety Instructor Class

This course trains WSI candidates how to teach courses and presentations in the American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program by developing their understanding of how to use the course materials, how to conduct training sessions. and how to evaluate participants’ progress.

Course Prerequisites

  • Be age 15+
  • Complete online learning portion of the course BEFORE class begins (proof of completion required). An email will be sent no earlier than about 3 weeks before the class begins with online learning instructions.
  • Demonstrate ability to perform these swimming skills on the first day of class:
    • Swim the following strokes consistent with Level 4: front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, elementary backstroke, and sidestroke for 25 yards, and butterfly for 15 yards
    • Back float for one minute (floating or sculling)
    • Tread water for one minute

Need to Know

  • All class times and dates are MANDATORY.

Fees and Registration

  • $250 per participant
  • Register online or in person at BSC Aquatic & Wellness Center. Contact Jahna to join the BPRD team and get FREE training.

Dates and Times

  • TBA
Register for WSI Course

BSC Aquatic & Wellness Center Info

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