Updates on Lifeguard and CPO Certifications

Hi everyone,

We have new information to share with you concerning lifeguarding this year. Below are some updates from the Red Cross and OSHA concerning certifications, extensions, and COVID-19 policies:

1. Training & COVID – all of the latest info on COVID-19 Guidance & training protocols can be found here . A few things I would like to point out:
   1. Extensions for base level certifications were discontinued on December 31, 2020. No new extensions can be entered (extensions that were issued before December 31 are still valid).  
   2. Lifeguarding Review classes have two options:
      1. Grace Period – Grace Period for guards to take the review class has been extended to 120 days. This allows guards 120 days after their cert expires to take a review class. This allows them to take the shorter class (the review class, and not the full class), but they CANNOT guard during the grace period.
      1. Lifeguarding Provisional Certification –  Guards that are expiring or expired during COVID (March 15, 2020-June 30, 2021) are eligible for this program. It allows guards to take the online, cognitive portion of the class. After the online portion of the class is closed out by the instructor on RCLC, a 120-day provisional certification is issued. Guards can guard on the provisional certification which is valid for 120 days or until June 30, 2021 (whichever comes first). During the guards’ provisional period, they would need to take the lifeguard review course (in person skills), and after successful completion of that, a 2-year certification will be issued.
2. First Aid/CPR/AED Provisional Certification – Following OSHA’s good faith guidance, we still have the option for provisional certifications for First Aid/CPR/AED (lay/community/workplace level of CPR). Students are issued a 1-year provisional certification after taking the online class (must be set up in RCLC). Within 1 year of the provisional certification being issued, students attend the skill session and after successful completion, a 2-year certification is issued.

If you have any questions regarding this information or about lifeguarding certs in general, please feel free to contact our office.

ALSO, we would like to remind you that our next CPO class will take place a month from now, on MARCH 27th and 28th! If you are interested in attending, please email cjannarone@cmspools.com! Certifications for CPOs cost $350 and are good for five years upon completion of the course.