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Pool lifeguard education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, pool lifeguards don't need a college education. The most common degree for pool lifeguards is bachelor's degree with 65% graduates, with only 17% pool lifeguard graduates earning high school diploma. Pool lifeguards who decided to graduate from college often finish Old Dominion University or Texas A&M; University. Some good skills to have in this position include cpr, first-aid and water safety.

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

What education do you need to become a pool lifeguard?

What degree do you need to be a pool lifeguard?

The most common degree for pool lifeguards is bachelor's degree, with 65% of pool lifeguards earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 17% and high school diploma degree at 10%.
  • Bachelor's, 65%
  • High School Diploma, 17%
  • Associate, 10%
  • Master's, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a pool lifeguard?

You should major in business to become a pool lifeguard. 19% of pool lifeguards major in business. Other common majors for a pool lifeguard include psychology and kinesiology.

Best majors for pool lifeguards

RankMajorPercentages
1Business19.1%
2Psychology8.9%
3Kinesiology8.0%
4Criminal Justice7.4%
5Biology7.1%

20 best online courses for pool lifeguards

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1. Operations Management: Facilities Planning and Management

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2. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System

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

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

5. Occupational Health & Safety Training

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6. NEBOSH health and safety Management System

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

7. The Operations Management Training Program

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Learn how to design, plan, direct, and improve all the activities that transform resources into goods or services...

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

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

9. Fun food safety and sanitation course

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

10. OSHA Safety Training: Conducting Safety Meetings

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11. Operations Management in small businesses: key techniques

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13. Design of Water Treatment Systems for Beginners

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14. Basic Fire Safety Awareness

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15. Fire Safety: Become A Fire Safety Expert

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

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17. Unit Operations in Chemical Engineering

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Learn the most important Unit Operations in Chemical Plants...

18. Food Safety for Managers and Supervisors

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

19. Fire Safety and Prevention Planning

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

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

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

Average pool lifeguard salary by education level

According to our data, pool lifeguards with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $29,201 annually. Pool lifeguards with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $27,963.
Pool lifeguard education levelPool lifeguard salary
High School Diploma or Less$27,464
Bachelor's Degree$29,201
Some College/ Associate Degree$27,963

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.

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