Lifeguard certification classes offered for Allegheny County pools

Lifeguard certification classes begin Feb. 25, and will continue throughout the next few months for those interested in working as a lifeguard at one of Allegheny County’s four swimming pools, including North Park.

The first set of classes will be Feb. 25-27 at Upper St. Clair Recreation Center, followed by March 25-27 and April 8-10 at Wilmerding Recreation Center, then on April 22-24 and April 19-May 1 at North Hills High School in Ross Township.

Applicants must be 15 or older to take the American Red Cross certification classes and become a lifeguard for Allegheny County. Those who pass the certification class will receive a two-year certification from the American Red Cross, said Andrew Grobe, assistant deputy director of Recreation for Allegheny County Parks.

Each course is three sessions each and can be registered through the Allegheny County website https://www.alleghenycounty.us under the Parks section. The courses may be tailored for those who are just going for their recertification, he said.

The pay for lifeguards is $16 per hour, an increase from $14 last year. Grobe said the county had some staff shortages last season, so the pay increase will help with recruitment.

“It’s a great paying job, especially for kids going to college,” Grobe said.

Cost for the certification is $250 for resident and $312 for nonresident, and a full reimbursement is available to those who are hired by the Allegheny County parks and work at a county pool from opening day to Labor Day.

To be hired and get the reimbursement, applicants must complete and pass an Allegheny County lifeguard certification course, pass the Allegheny County aquatics test, complete paperwork and be employed at one of Allegheny County pools, which includes North Park Swimming Pool, Boyce Park Wave Pool, South Park Wave Pool and Settler’s Cabin Park Wave Pool, according to the county website.

The aquatics test has seven water tests, including distance swim; treading water; “approaches” where candidates demonstrate use of a rescue tube; assists and rescues, and 10-question review of first aid and CPR/AED, according to the website.

In addition to lifeguarding, there are a number of other positions for the pools, ranging from cashiers to management. These can pay between $12 and $22 an hour, Grobe said.

Mercedes McCarthy, aquatics director for the county and instructor for all of the lifeguard certification courses, said lifeguard certification and training provides lifesaving skills and can open interest into the medical field.

“This isn’t just a job. It’s a strong resume builder,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy said Allegheny County provides the best and ongoing training opportunities for the lifeguards during the whole summer season. Before the pools open for daily swimming, she said, the lifeguards undergo training, such as active safe practices or CPR skills on mannequins.

The training is conducted during job hours, so lifeguards get paid, and is offered at each county pool so lifeguards do not have to travel, she said. The Settler’s Cabin pool, which has a diving well, enables lifeguards to work on their diving skills.

“The more you practice, the better you’re going to get,” she said.

North Park Pool, which is large enough to fit three Olympic-sized swimming pools, offers a water slide, a baby pool and an interactive floating obstacle course, Grobe said.

The sheer size of the pool and the additional features offer a lot of lifeguarding opportunities. Grobe said the county likes at least 20 to 25 lifeguards on duty per day.

Positions don’t carry over from the previous year, so all must re-apply.

Shifts include weekends and holidays. The county tries to open the pool the first weekend of June and will stay open until Labor Day, Grobe said.

Also, lifeguarding is a great position for all ages, not just students, Grobe said.

The pools were closed in 2020 because of the pandemic and reopened for the 2021 season, McCarthy said.

“We really amped up the number of classes post-covid. We saw the need. Covid really put a dent in everything,” said McCarthy, referring to certification classes.

Many students on school swim teams work at the pools, including North Allegheny, North Hills, Hampton, and Pine-Richland, she said.

“We will be recruiting from all local high schools,” she said.

For more information, visit www.alleghenycounty.us/parks. Or call contact the Parks Recreation Office at 412-350-2468. A seasonal job online application is available there.