Post job

Life guard education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, life guards don't need a college education. The most common degree for life guards is bachelor's degree with 50% graduates, with only 29% life guard graduates earning high school diploma. Life guards who decided to graduate from college often finish Texas A&M; University or University of Phoenix. Some good skills to have in this position include cpr, first-aid and emergency situations.

Popular life guard certifications include First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor, Lifeguard Certification, or First Aid Certification. To improve life guard qualification and skills, we prepared some online courses to help in life guard education paths.

What education do you need to become a life guard?

What degree do you need to be a life guard?

The most common degree for life guards is bachelor's degree, with 50% of life guards earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 29% and high school diploma degree at 15%.
  • Bachelor's, 50%
  • High School Diploma, 29%
  • Associate, 15%
  • Diploma, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become a life guard?

You should major in business to become a life guard. 17% of life guards major in business. Other common majors for a life guard include criminal justice and psychology.

Best majors for life guards

RankMajorPercentages
1Business17.4%
2Criminal Justice10.2%
3Psychology8.5%
4Kinesiology6.5%
5General Studies6.4%

20 best online courses for life guards

Advertising disclosure

1. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System

udemy
4.4
(976)

Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...

2. Fire Safety: Become A Fire Safety Expert

udemy
4.3
(484)

Become an expert in Fire Safety, Fire Hazards Control, Fire Evacuation Plans, and Fire Risk Assessment...

3. Functional Safety for Safety Instrumented Systems

udemy
4.1
(263)

The most complete course available on Functional Safety. 2+ hours of videos, case studies, assignments, & more...

4. Occupational Health & Safety Training

udemy
4.4
(1,198)

Workplace Health and Safety Course For Employees & Managers...

5. OSHA Workplace Safety (General Industry 6 Hr Class)

udemy
4.5
(2,583)

Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...

6. Fun food safety and sanitation course

udemy
4.6
(539)

The food safety course will help prepare you for safely working in a kitchen and food handler tests like Servesafe...

7. OSHA Safety Training: Conducting Safety Meetings

udemy
4.5
(958)

A Brief Safety Management Course for Current and Aspiring Safety Professionals...

8. NEBOSH health and safety Management System

udemy
4.3
(448)

It Shows the Start point to Build your Health & safety Career and how to Join the field and becoming HSE Specialist...

9. Basic Fire Safety Awareness

udemy
4.3
(776)

Basic Fire Safety Awareness - Your Gateway towards Career in Fire Safety...

10. Basic Certificate in Health Safety & Environment-HSE Level 2

udemy
4.4
(355)

A comprehensive course for Safety Officers, Supervisors, Managers and Aspiring Safety Professionals...

11. Fire Safety and Prevention Planning

udemy
4.4
(1,467)

Become an expert in understanding Fire Safety and Prevention Planning for your workplaces and organizations...

12. NEBOSH FIRE SAFETY

udemy
4.4
(252)

Managing Fire Safety in Workplace...

13. Food Safety for Managers and Supervisors

udemy
4.3
(489)

The Highfield Food Safety Level 3 syllabus presented in two hours of video tutorials. Boost your food safety knowledge...

14. OSHA Safety Pro: Deadly Concrete Dust. Crystalline Silica.

udemy
4.4
(478)

OSHA's General, Construction, and Maritime Industries Hazard Prevention and Safety Standard...

15. Complete Health and Safety Auditor Course. OHSAS 18001.

udemy
4.5
(2,235)

How to implement and audit a health & safety management system and obtain certification to OHSAS 18001 Standard...

16. Dog CPR, First Aid + Safety for pet pros + dedicated owners

udemy
4.8
(4,958)

Essential training to keep your dogs safe, attract clients & gain skills & confidence to take action in an emergency...

17. ISO 45001. Occupational health & safety management system

udemy
4.6
(4,258)

Upgrate your health and safety career by understanding the requriements for an OH & S management system from ISO 45001...

18. OSHA Safety Pro: Personal Protective Equipment

udemy
4.5
(1,881)

Impress management or get that job with you your ability to display life and dollar saving work place safety practices...

19. Inventory Management: Safety Stock Calculation and Control

udemy
4.6
(434)

Optimize your Supply Chain Safety Stock. Simple to Advanced Methods. Reduce Costs and Risk in your Business Operations...

20. OSHA Safety Pro: Trenching Excavation & Soil Mechanics

udemy
4.3
(727)

A quick yet detailed certification in OSHA safety with a focus on Trenching, Excavation, & Soil Mechanics...

Average life guard salary by education level

According to our data, life guards with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $29,756 annually. Life guards with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $28,535.
Life guard education levelLife guard salary
High School Diploma or Less$28,043
Bachelor's Degree$29,756
Some College/ Associate Degree$28,535

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse protective service jobs