Certification Courses

The American Red Cross Blended LIFEGUARD course will prepare participants to make appropriate decisions about the care to provide in an aquatic emergency and a medical emergency. Will provide the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies and to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services arrive.

HOW TO REGISTER

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Course Offerings
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Spring 2025 (to find these dates on our registration page, change the semester you are looking at in the online store)

Friday, March 21 - Sunday, March 23

Friday, April 4 - Sunday, April 6

Friday, April 25 - Sunday, April 27

Friday, May 16 - Sunday, May 18

Friday, May 30 - Sunday, June 1

Registration for all spring courses will open Sunday, January 5.
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Prerequisites
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All participants must complete the following prerequisites prior to the course:

Swim Requirements:
- Jump into the water, totally submerge, recover to the surface and swim 150 yards, then maintain position at the surface of the water without support for 2 minutes by treading, and then swim 50 more yards. While swimming it must be continuous, keeping your face in the water demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing. You can swim front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of these two, but swimming on your back or side is not permitted. Goggles can be used for this. While treading you cannot use your arms and they must be placed in your armpits. Your head must also stay above the water.
- Swim 20 yards, surface dive, retrieve a 10-pound brick from 7-10 feet deep water, and swim back 20 yards on your back with both hands on the brick keeping your head at or near the surface. Swim goggles may not be used. If you wear contacts please be aware that you are not allowed to wear goggles for this portion of the prerequisite swim.
Online Course:
All participants must complete the entire online course before the first day of class and bring their completion print out to class. Instructions on how to access the online material will be emailed to you one week prior to the start of your course.

The American Red Cross Blended WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTOR (WSI) course must be successfully completed to teach swim lessons. The course covers skills and trains candidates to successfully teach the American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program.

HOW TO REGISTER

Course Cost
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Course Offerings
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Course Schedule
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Prerequisites
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All participants must complete the following prerequisites prior to the course:

Swim Requirements:
- 25 yards each of the following: front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, elementary backstroke, sidestroke
- 15 yards of butterfly
- 1 minute each of the following: back float, tread
Online Course:
All participants must complete the entire online course before the first day of class and bring their completion print out to class. Instructions on how to access the online material will be emailed to you one week prior to the start of your course.

The Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED Blended course incorporates the latest science and teaches students to recognize and care for a variety of first aid emergencies such as burns, cuts, scrapes, sudden illnesses, head, neck, back injuries, heat and cold emergencies and how to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies to help victims of any age - adults (about 12 years and older) and pediatric (infants and children up to 12 years of age). Students who successfully complete this course will receive a certificate for Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED valid for two years.

Course Cost
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Course Offerings
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Course Schedule
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Prerequisites
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Online Course: All participants must complete the entire online course before the first day of class and bring their completion print out to class. Instructions on how to access the online material will be EMAILED to you one week prior to the start of your course.

CERTIFICATION COURSE FAQs

When can I register?
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Registrations are open at the online store for credit-card payments. Access the online store through the link above. Registration must be complete the Friday (one week) before the class is scheduled to start. Depending on availability, late registrations may be accepted. However, an additional fee of $10 will be required for late registration to any program. Please contact Emma Reeners at ereeners@fgcu.edu or 239-590-7701 if you are interested in late registration.
Do I register online, over the phone or in person?
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If I have registered for a course but can no longer attend can I receive a refund?
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A full refund will be provided if registration is canceled a week before the course begins. If canceling less than a week before the class starts, a $75 processing fee will be assessed. No refunds will be permitted after the course has started. If the course was canceled by FGCU due to not meeting the 4-participant minimum you can roll over your registration to another course or receive a full refund.
If I do not meet the prerequisites for the lifeguarding course as outlined by the American Red Cross am I eligible for a refund?
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If I already hold a certification in CPR or Lifeguarding can I skip that portion of the class?
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What is the difference between blended learning and the regular course?
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Blended learning has the learning split between at-home learning on your computer and skill sessions in a classroom. You must complete the entirety of the online portion of the course before coming to your first skill session. Once registered, a week before the course is scheduled you will receive a detailed email with instructions on how to successfully access and complete the online program.

You will not receive a refund if you fail to complete the online sessions of the course before coming to the first day of the skill sessions.
Is there a minimum number of participants needed?
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Yes, we must meet the minimum number of participants needed for each class outlined by the American Red Cross. Each course must have 4 participants in order to run. If the course does not meet the minimum by the end of the registration period full refunds will be given.

NAME	POSITION	EMAIL	PHONE
Emma Reeners	Associate Director, Aquatics & Adventure	ereeners@fgcu.edu	(239) 590-7701

CERTIFICATION COURSE FAQs

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