USA Swimming Coaches Safety Curriculum:
Requirements & Equivalents
Updated January 2010
Effective since 1988, all coach members are required to fulfill safety training requirements as established by the USA Swimming Board of Directors. USA Swimming currently requires coach members
to hold current certification cards for the following: Safety Training for Swim Coaches, CPR, and First Aid.
Note: ARC/USOC Sport Safety Training is recommended by USA Swimming because of its coaching specific content and materials. This course includes Adult CPR, fulfilling both the first aid and CPR requirements for coach membership.
Any one of the following courses will satisfy this requirement. All American Red Cross LGT certifications are valid for three years. No ARC instructor certifications are acceptable.
American Red Cross
- Safety Training for Swim Coaches (full course, fast track option, review or challenge)
(Information about STSC course options can be found at www.usaswimming.org/coaches - Education/Safety Requirements - Safety Training for Swim Coaches Test.)
Lifeguard certifications listed below will be accepted WITH proof of successful completion of the online Safety Training for Swim Coaches written test. For additional
information, and to take the test, go to www.usaswimming.org/coaches, click on Education/Safety Requirements, then on Safety Training for Swim Coaches Test. Print the confirmation email when
you pass the test. Submit to the MVS Membership Chair WITH the required lifeguard card. The expiration date, for coach membership purposes, will be the earliest date on either the STSC email
(valid for three years) or the lifeguard certification.
- Lifeguarding (includes CPR & first aid components) WITH STSC online written test
- Waterfront Lifeguarding (includes CPR & first aid components) WITH STSC online online test
- Waterpark Lifeguarding (includes CPR & first aid components) WITH STSC online written test
- Not Acceptable: ARC Sport Safety Training, WSI, or any ARC instructor certifications.
American Lifeguard Association
- Lifeguarding (includes CPR-PR & First Aid) WITH STSC online written test
Three options: First Time Lifeguard, Professional Lifeguard Challenge, Lifeguard Recertification
Ellis & Associates
- International Lifeguard Training (one-year certification; includes first aid & CPR component) WITH STSC online written test
- International Lifeguard Training Instructor License (12-18 month certification) WITH STSC online written test
YMCA Lifeguarding WITH STSC online written test
StarGuard WITH STSC online written test
From Article 502.4.3 of the 2009 USA Swimming Rulebook:
“Anyone who coaches athletes at a USA Swimming practice or competition must be a coach member of USA Swimming and must have satisfactorily completed safety training and background screening
required by USA Swimming.”
Any one of the following courses will satisfy this requirement.
American Red Cross (All American Red Cross CPR certifications are valid for one year unless otherwise noted)
- CPR - Adult
- CPR - Adult and Child (recommended if you coach 12 & Unders. Infant CPR is optional component)
- CPR/AED - Adult
- CPR/AED - Adult and Child (recommended if you coach 12 & Unders. Infant CPR is optional component)
- CPR/AED for Lifeguards (one-year certification)
- CPR/AED for the Healthcare Provider (two-year certification)
- CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer (two-year certification)
- CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and Healthcare Provider (two-year certification)
- Not Acceptable: ARC instructor certification, WSI or certifications from foreign Red Cross societies.
American Heart Association (All American Heart Association CPR certifications are valid for two years)
- Heartsaver First Aid w/CPR & AED (Coach must submit a scored written test signed by instructor)
- ACLS Provider
- Healthcare Provider
- Any AHA Basic Life Support Instructor or Instructor Trainee for the courses listed above
- No Other Courses are Acceptable
American Lifeguard Association
- Professional CPR (CPR for the Professional Rescuer)
- Community CPR
American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI)
- CPR Pro
- CPR/AED for the Community and Workplace (two-year certification)
National Safety Council (National Safety Council CPR certifications are valid for one or two years, depending on the training agency)
- Adult CPR & AED
- Standard First Aid, CPR & AED
Ellis & Associates
- Water Safety+ (includes First Aid component)
- International Lifeguard Training (one-year certification; includes first aid component)
- International Lifeguard Training Instructor License (12-18 month certification)
Emergency First Response (PADI)
- Emergency Responder - CPR/AED/First Aid (two-year certification)
- Emergency Responder - CPR/AED (two-year certification)
- Emergency Responder - CPR/First Aid (two-year certification)
Courses Offered by Other Organizations
- AAOS (Amer Acad of Orthopaedic Surgeons) Emergency Care & Safety Institute CPR (two-year certification)
- California State Lifeguard
- Medic First Aid (includes First Aid component).
Note: Coach must submit a scored written test signed by the instructor.
- EMS Safety Services CPR
- EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) Basic (includes First Aid component)
- Paramedic
- ProCPR Adult/Child/Infant CPR & AED for Health Care Provider (BLS) (valid for two years)
Note: Coach must have signature of Skills Evaluator on back of card.
- ProFirstAid (valid for two years; includes first aid component)
Note: Coach must have signature of Skills Evaluator on back of card.
- Save-A-Life Educators CPR
- StarGuard
- Tacoma Fire Department First Aid & CPR (includes First Aid component)
- University Training Centers, Inc. - Healthcare Provider BLS(C)
Any one of the following courses will satisfy this requirement:
American Red Cross (All American Red Cross first aid certifications are valid for three years. When the course includes a CPR component, a separate CPR card
will be issued. No ARC instructor certifications are acceptable.)
- ARC/USOC Sport Safety Training (may include a CPR component)
- ARC/USOC Sports Injury Prevention and First Aid
- First Aid - Responding to Emergencies
- Emergency Response
- Lifeguarding/First Aid (Waterfront/Waterpark optional; includes CPR component)
- Standard First Aid
- Not Acceptable: ARC instructor certification, WSI, First Aid for Coaches, or certifications from foreign Red Cross societies.
American Heart Association
- Heartsaver First Aid (Coach must submit a scored written test signed by instructor)
- Heartsaver First Aid w/CPR and AED (Coach must submit a scored written test signed by instructor)
- No Other AHA Courses are Acceptable
National Safety Council (National Safety Council first aid certifications are valid for 2-3 years, depending on the training agency)
- First Aid
- Standard First Aid, CPR & AED (includes CPR component)
Ellis & Associates
- Water Safety+ (4 hours; includes CPR component)
- International Lifeguard Training (one-year certification; includes CPR component)
- International Lifeguard Training Instructor License (12-18 month certification)
First Aid Courses Offered by Other Organizations
- AAOS (Amer Acad of Orthopaedic Surgeons) Emergency Care & Safety Institute First Aid
- American Lifeguard Association First Aid
- ASHI (American Safety & Health Institute) Basic First Aid (4 hours)
- California State Lifeguard
- Medic First Aid (includes CPR component)
Note: Coach must also submit a scored written Medic First Aid test signed by the instructor.
- EMS Safety Services First Aid
- EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) Basic (includes CPR component)
- Paramedic
- ProFirstAid (valid for two years; includes CPR component)
Note: Coach must have signature of Skills Evaluator on back of card.
- Save-A-Life Educators First Aid
- StarGuard
- Tacoma Fire Department First Aid & CPR (includes CPR component)
- University Training Centers, Inc. - Standard First Aid
- Life Education of Florida - First Aid for All Ages: A Common Sense Approach
- Not Acceptable: American Heart Association Heartsaver First Aid
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