About Us

American Lifeguard Association Overview

The American Lifeguard Association (ALA) is one of the world’s oldest and largest lifeguard training organizations. The ALA is dedicated to providing quality aquatic safety programs for everyone. We utilize public education, research and development, industry outreach, professional guidance, and accreditation services to achieve our goals.

Established in 1991, the ALA has grown into an international leader in aquatic safety, helping millions of people stay safe around water every day. With headquarters located outside Washington DC, the ALA’s mission is simple: to provide first responders with the knowledge to save lives. We seek to promote health and safety through training, certification, and continued education in aquatics. Over the past 30 years, ALA has trained over 250,000 individuals and currently has over 25,000 active members.

The ALA offers a variety of lifeguard training programs to meet the needs of our communities. Our certification program is accomplished through an instructor-led video training program, offering online materials and a final online exam that lets you get certified as an individual or small group right away. The training can be accomplished on your own and at your own pace. Upon completing the online portion of the program, you will be issued a two-year national certification in lifeguarding, CPR/AED, and First Aid. All the training materials, including the videos, will remain available to you throughout your two years of certification so that you can refresh your skills at any time. With this blended program, employers assess your skills and encourage you to continue practicing the skills through in-service training.