The USLA Lifeguard Agency Certification Program was developed to certify the standards and training programs of open water (beach) lifeguard providers. Unlike other lifeguard training systems, this program allows the lifeguard employer to conduct in-house training of lifeguards, using its own trainers. USLA does not conduct the training, but simply requires that it be conducted in a manner consistent with USLA standards.

This system is used by some of the most respected lifeguard agencies in the US. It is highly recommended for beach lifeguard agencies which prefer to conduct their own lifeguard training and to tailor it to local conditions, while demonstrating that they meet national standards. The cost is $300 for a three year certification period, regardless of the number of lifeguards trained.

To qualify under this system, a beach lifeguard provider should first review the USLA Guidelines for Open Water Lifeguard Agency Certification and ensure compliance with all required elements. The next step is to complete a Certification Application and submit it to the USLA. You may download a copy of each of these documents by clicking the appropriate link (below). If you have questions about certification that are not answered by these documents, you may contact the Chair of the USLA Certification Committee at certification@usla.org. If you are having difficulty filing the application, are unsure if it has been received or need an invoice, you may contact the administrator of the Certification Program at: certadmin@usla.org.

Download the USLA Guidelines for Open Water Lifeguard Agency Certification

Download a Certification Application form


Note: The above forms are in Adobe Acrobat. To open, left click with your mouse. To download, right click with your mouse and choose "Save As."

The lifeguard provider should also acquire a copy of our training and reference text, Open Water Lifesaving - The United States Lifesaving Association Manual to be issued to students in a certified course.