Ocean Lifeguard Education Requirements And Courses

Ocean lifeguard education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Usually, ocean lifeguards don't need a college education. The most common degree for ocean lifeguards is bachelor's degree with 79% graduates, with only 8% ocean lifeguard graduates earning associate degree. Ocean lifeguards who decided to graduate from college often finish University of California, Santa Barbara or University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Some good skills to have in this position include public safety, emt and emergency situations.

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

What education do you need to become an ocean lifeguard?

What degree do you need to be an ocean lifeguard?

The most common degree for ocean lifeguards is bachelor's degree, with 79% of ocean lifeguards earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 8% and associate degree degree at 8%.

Bachelor's, 79%

Associate, 8%

Master's, 8%

High School Diploma, 3%

Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become an ocean lifeguard?

You should major in business to become an ocean lifeguard. 14% of ocean lifeguards major in business. Other common majors for an ocean lifeguard include kinesiology and communication.

Business, 14%

Kinesiology, 9%

Communication, 9%

Psychology, 7%

Other Majors, 61%

Best majors for ocean lifeguards

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Business	14.2%
2	Kinesiology	9.5%
3	Communication	9.1%
4	Psychology	7.3%
5	Biology	6.9%

Show more common ocean lifeguard majors

20 best online courses for ocean lifeguards

Advertising disclosure

1. Health in Complex Humanitarian Emergencies

The Center for Humanitarian Emergencies is a partnership between CDC's Emergency Response and Recovery Branch and the Rollins School of Public Health that drives global collaboration, research and evidence based training to improve the lives and well-being of populations impacted by humanitarian emergencies. - Center for Humanitarian Emergencies: http://www.che.emory.edu/ - CDC's Emergency Response and Recovery Branch: http://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/healthprotection/errb/index.html This course...

2. OSHA Safety Training: Conducting Safety Meetings

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

3. Public Speaking Training & Facilitator Certification

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World-class public speaking training: Learn presentation skills, engage your audience, develop confidence, facilitate...

4. Emergency Life Support First Aid Training

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Learn important life saving first aid. Treatment of major illness and injuries...

5. OSHA Safety Training: Heat Stress Management

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A Workplace Safety Management Course for Current and Future Safety Professionals...

6. NEBOSH FIRE SAFETY

4.4

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Managing Fire Safety in Workplace...

7. Occupational Health & Safety Training

4.4

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

8. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System

4.4

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

9. Functional Safety for Safety Instrumented Systems

4.1

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

10. Fire Safety and Prevention Planning

4.4

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

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

4.5

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

12. Public Speaking for People Who Hate Public Speaking

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Public Speaking for People Who Hate Public Speaking - Presentation Skills - Communication Skills and Storytelling...

13. Fire Safety: Become A Fire Safety Expert

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

14. Press Coverage, Publicity & Public Relations For Branding

4.3

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Public relations to reach 100,000+ people with influencer marketing, publicity, and press coverage for personal branding...

15. Public Speaking: A tactical approach

4.5

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This course will teach public speaking, communication skills and storytelling in an entirely new way...

16. Fun food safety and sanitation course

4.6

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

17. Basic Fire Safety Awareness

4.3

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

18. NEBOSH health and safety Management System

4.3

(448)

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

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

4.5

(2,235)

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

20. Food Safety for Managers and Supervisors

4.3

(489)

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

Average ocean lifeguard salary by education level

According to our data, ocean lifeguards with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $30,931 annually. Ocean lifeguards with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $29,567.

Ocean lifeguard education level	Ocean lifeguard salary
High School Diploma or Less	$29,018
Bachelor's Degree	$30,931
Some College/ Associate Degree	$29,567