The department of Recreational Services offers a variety of certification courses throughout the year.  More information about the courses can be found in the description below. 

All certification courses will take place in the CRWC Natatorium unless otherwise noted. 

Certification Courses

Upon successful completion of the Lifeguarding course, the participant will receive an American Red Cross Universal Certificate indicating certification in Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED, which is valid for two years. 

Pre-requisites:

  • Must be at least 15 years of age before the last scheduled class session
  • Must demonstrate the following skills:
    • Swim 300 yards continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing
    • Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs starting in the water
    • Swim 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke, surface dive 7-10 feet, retrieve a 10-pound object, return to the surface, swim 20 yards back to the starting point with the object and exit the water without using a ladder or steps. 

If participants apply to work for Recreational Services within two weeks of completion of the course and maintain employment through one full semester (depending on start date), $100.00 of the course fee will be refunded back to the participant. If high school students apply within two weeks of completion of the course and work the following university academic breaks: Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring break, $100.00 of the course fee will be refunded back to the participant. For questions regarding this incentive, please contact David Francis.

Session Dates:

  • TBD.

Location:

  • CRWC
    • Meeting room 1A & 1B

Fee: $200

Adult Registration

Minor Registration

Registration closes the Wednesday prior to the first day of class at 5:00 p.m.

Upon successful completion of the Lifeguarding Recertification course, the participant will receive an American Red Cross Universal Certificate indicating certification in Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED, which is valid for two years. 

Pre-requisites:

  • Must be at least 15 years of age before the last scheduled class session
  • Must present a valid American Red Cross Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED certification at the time of the class in order to be eligible for recertification
  • Must demonstrate the following skills:
    • Swim 300 yards continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing
    • Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs starting in the water
    • Swim 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke, surface dive 7-10 feet, retrieve a 10-pound object, return to the surface, swim 20 yards back to the starting point with the object and exit the water without using a ladder or steps. 

If participants apply to work for Recreational Services within two weeks of completion of the course and maintain employment through one full semester (depending on start date), $100.00 of the course fee will be refunded back to the participant. If high school students apply within two weeks of completion of the course and work the following university academic breaks: Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring break, $100.00 of the course fee will be refunded back to the participant. For questions regarding this incentive, please contact David Francis

Session Dates:

  • Saturday, October 19, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  • Saturday, December 7, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Location:

  • CRWC
    • Wet Classroom

Fee: $160

Adult Registration

Minor Registration

Registration closes the Wednesday prior to the first day of class at 5:00 p.m.

This course trains instructor candidates to teach American Red Cross Lifeguarding, Lifeguard Management, CPR/AED for Lifeguards, Administering Emergency Oxygen, Bloodborne Pathogens Training: Preventing Disease Transmission and Basic Water Rescue courses. 

Pre-requisites:

  • Must be 17 years of age by the last day of class and attend ALL class dates.
  • Must hold current American Red Cross Lifeguarding / First Aid and CPR/AED for Lifeguards certifications. Pre-requisite Swimming skills, Rescue skills, CPR and First Aid skills will be tested on the first day of class. 
  • Skills must be completed in order to continue. 

No exceptions and no refunds due to failure to complete pre-requisites.  Cancellation requests for class withdraws must be received by the Recreational Services Membership Coordinator by the Registration/Cancellation deadline in order to receive a refund. To cancel, please call 319-335-6218.

Session Dates:

  • TBD

Location:

  • CRWC
    • Meeting room 1A & 1B

Fee: $235

Adult Registration

Minor Registration

Registration closes the Wednesday prior to the first day of class at 5:00 p.m.

This in-person Instructor review course is the required course for all Lifeguarding Instructors to re-certify. During this course, Lifeguarding Instructors and Instructor Trainers will participate in an in-water practice and polish skills session in addition to a classroom-based review of Red Cross administrative policies and procedures. Lifeguarding Instructors and Instructor Trainers may also choose to attend a brief "test out" session following this course to gain a basic-level Lifeguarding certification. 

Pre-requisites: 

  • Participants must possess a current American Red Cross Lifeguarding Instructor certification and/or possess a current American Red Cross Lifeguarding Instructor Trainer certification.

Course information:

Dates: TBD

Spots10

Instructor: TBD

Fee: $90.00

  • Optional Add-On: Participants can complete an optional lifeguard certification test out at the end of the course to earn a basic-level lifeguard certification. This add on is an additional $40. If interested in completing, please select this option when prompted during registration.

Registration closes the Wednesday prior to the first day of class at 5:00 p.m.

The American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers course trains professional rescuers to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, children and infants until more advanced medical personnel take over.

What is Blended Learning?

Students complete online training prior to participation in the hands-on skills demonstration.  Documentation of completing the online training must be provided at the beginning of the skills demonstration.  Both the online training and skills demonstration must be completed to obtain you certification.

Course information:

Dates: TBD

Spots10

Instructor: TBD

Fee: $90.00

Registration closes the Wednesday prior to the first day of class at 5:00 p.m.

The purpose of the American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor course is to train instructor candidates to teach water safety, including the Basic Water Rescue and Personal Water Safety courses, six levels of Learn-to-Swim, three levels of Preschool Aquatics and two levels of Parent and Child Aquatics. Upon successful completion of the Water Safety Instructor course, the participant will receive an American Red Cross Universal Certificate indicating certification in Water Safety. Authorization is for 2 calendar years.

Swimming skills will be tested on the first day of class. Skills must be completed in order to continue. No exceptions and no refunds due to failure to complete prerequisites. Cancellation requests for class withdrawals must be received by the Recreational Services Membership Coordinator by the Registration/Cancellation deadline in order to receive a refund. To cancel, please call 319-335-6218.

Pre-requisites:

  • Must be at least 16 years of age before the last scheduled class session
  • Must be able to demonstrate the following skills in good form:
    • Front crawl - 25 yards
    • Back crawl - 25 yards
    • Breaststroke - 25 yards
    • Elementary backstroke - 25 yards
    • Sidestroke - 25 yards
    • Butterfly - 15 yards.
    • Maintain position on back 1 minute in deep water (floating or sculling) 
    • Tread water for 1 minute

No exceptions and no refunds due to failure to complete pre-requisites.

If participants apply to work for Recreational Services within 2 weeks of completion of the course and maintain employment through one full semester (dependent on start date), $135.00 of the course fee will be refunded back to the participant. For questions regarding this incentive, please contact David Francis.

Session Dates:

  • November 15 - 17
    • Friday from 6 - 10 p.m.
    • Saturday from 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
    • Sunday from 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Location:

  • CRWC
    • Wet Classroom

Fee: $235

Adult Registration

Minor Registration

Registration closes the Wednesday prior to the first day of class at 5:00 p.m.​​​

Contact us

David Francis headshot

David Francis

Title/Position
Assistant Director of Aquatics