(Revised April 2017)
Below are certifications that meet specified ACA standards, based on a review of the curricula from the certifying bodies. This list will be updated several times each year. To determine if courses or certifications not listed meet standards requirements, e-mail the standards department at the ACA national office. ACA does not endorse any specific course.
It is important to remember, that in addition to having the appropriate and current certification, lifeguards and aquatics staff must also verify their skills in rescue and emergency procedures specific to the camp's aquatic area(s) and activities.
If additional training and skills verification is noted, this training may be done by qualified waterfront personel (camp staff included).
At this time, the American Camp Association requires that any aquatic, first aid, and CPR/AED certification must include, at minimum, 50% of course time to include in-person instruction, hands-on practice, and skills assessment under the direct supervision of a certified instructor from one of the organizations listed below. It is acceptable to have a portion of the course be completed online (course readings, etc.).
| *PA.3 Swim Lifeguard Qualifications MANDATORY (also *PA.30, *PT.14) | |
|---|---|
Organization |
Certification |
| American Red Cross | Lifeguarding |
| Boy Scouts of America | Lifeguard |
| Ellis and Associates | Special Facilities Lifeguard, Pool Lifeguard |
| Highfield ABC (UK) | Level 2 Award in Pool Lifeguarding with caveat: Additional training and skills verification in use of rescue tube and spinal injury management is required. |
| H20 Pro | Lifeguard |
| Lifeguard-Pro | Must complete both online and in person certification and receive actual certification; Deep pool, Youth Camp, and Waterfront certifications acceptable. |
| Lifesaving Society (Canada) | National Lifeguard Pool, National Lifeguard Waterpark, National Lifeguard Waterfront, National Lifeguard Surf |
| Lifesaving Victoria |
Pool Lifeguard |
| National Lifesaving and Aquatics | Lifeguard Training (LGT) |
| RLSS-Royal Life Saving Society(UK, Australia) | National Lifeguard Service Award, National Beach Lifeguard, National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (must have additional training for lake guarding), National Open Water Lifeguard |
| RLSS - Royal Life Saving, New Zealand | Bronze Medallion with verification of current CPR/AED |
| Royal Lifesaving Society Australia | Bronze Medallion with Caveat: Additional Training and skills verification in use of rescue tube, and backboard for spinal injury management is REQUIRED |
| Skills Active/New Zealand Recreation Association | Pool Lifeguard Skills Award if working under a Competent Supervisor and Pool Lifeguard Practising Certificate or higher |
| Starguard Elite | Starguard |
| Surf Life Saving Australia | Surf Rescue, Bronze Medallion |
| Surf Lifesaving New Zealand | Surf Lifeguard Award |
| Safety Training Awards, STA (Scotland) |
Level 2 Award for Pool Lifeguard QCF Must also complete the Additional Units: First Aid, Emergency First Aid, Backboard, CPR and AED |
| Safety Training Awards, STA (UK) |
Professional Award for Pool Lifeguard SCQF Level 7 Must also compete the Additional Units: First Aid, Emergency First Aid, Backboard, CPR and AED |
| UK/Irish WSA National Pool Lifeguard Qualification | Lifeguard |
| URSUS Aquatics | Lifeguard |
| US Coast Guard | Rescue Swimmer |
| YMCA | Lifeguard |
| *PA.18 SCUBA Diving MANDATORY | |
|---|---|
Organization |
Certification |
| NAUI | Instructor |
| PADI | Instructor |
| SSI | Instructor |
| PA.19 Swimming Lessons | |
|---|---|
Organization |
Certification |
| Active Training, World Aquatics | Swimming Instructor |
| Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) of Great Britain | Level 1 or Level 2 Aquatic Instructor |
| American Red Cross | Water Safety Instructor (WSI) |
| AUSTSWIM, Inc. | AUSTSWIM Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety |
| Boy Scouts of America | Aquatic Instructor |
| Canadian Red Cross | Water Safety Instructor (WSI) |
| Ellis & Associates | Learn to Swim Program Instructor |
| Professional Swimming Teachers and Coaches Association (PSTCA) (South Africa) | Level 1 or 2 Instructor Certificate |
| Scottish Swimming | UKCC Level 1: Coaching Swimming |
| Skills Active/New Zealand Swimming | SNZ Swim Teacher Award (previously ASTA) National Certificate in Recreation and Sports – Aquatics (Swim Education) Level 3 |
| Starfish Aquatics Institute | Starfish Swimming Instructor |
| Swim Lessons University (Pool use only) | Certified Swim Instructor |
| Swimming South Africa | Preliminary Swimming Teachers Certificate, National Swimming Teachers Certificate |
| YMCA | YMCA Youth and Adult Instructor I or II |
| *PA.20 Watercraft Guard Certification-MANDATORY (also *PA.22,, *PT.14) | |
|---|---|
Organization |
Certification |
|
American Canoe Association: Canoeing |
Flatwater Canoe Safety and Rescue, Level 1 Introduction to Canoeing Canoe Touring: Level 2 Essentials of Canoe Touring, Level 3 Freestyle canoeing, Canoe Camping-Touring Canoe |
|
American Canoe Association: River Canoeing |
Level 2: Essentials of River Canoeing, Level 3: River canoeing, Level 4: White Water Canoeing, Level 5: Advanced White Water Canoeing, River Canoe Day Trip Leading |
|
American Canoe Association: Kayaking |
Flatwater Kayak Safety & Rescue Level 1: Introduction to Kayaking |
|
American Canoe Association: Coastal Kayaking |
Level 2: Essentials of Kayak Touring, Essentials of Sit On Top Kayaking Level 3: Coastal Kayak: Basic Strokes & Rescues, Sit on Top Coastal Kayaking, Essentials of Surf Kayaking, Level 4: Open Water Coastal Kayaking: Open Water Skills, Surf Zone, Tidal Currents, Surf Kayaking Level 5: Advanced Open Water Coastal Kayaking: Rough Water Maneuvering & Towing; Advanced Surf Zone Coastal Kayking day Trip Leading |
|
American Canoe Association: River Kayaking |
Level 2: Essentials of River Kayaking, Level 3: river Kayaking, Level 4: Whitewater Kayaking, Leverl 5: Advanded White Water Kayaking, Kayak Camping-River Kayak |
|
American Canoe Association: Stand Up Paddleboard |
Level 1: Instroduction to Stand Up Paddleboarding Level 2: Essential Stand Up Paddleboarding Level 3: Whitewater Stand Up Paddleboarding |
| American Canoe Association: Open Surf/Coastal SUP |
Level 3: Surf Stand Up Paddleboarding Level 3: Coastal Stand Up Paddleboarding |
|
American Canoe Association: Safety & Rescue |
Paddlesports Safety Course (Completion of online portion only along w/ verification of skills will meet * PA.20) Level 2: Essentials of River Safety & Rescue Level 3: River Safety & Rescue Level 4: Swiftwater Rescue Level 5: Advanced Swiftwater Rescue |
| American Red Cross | Small Craft Safety w/designated craft (completion of online portion only along w/ verification of skills will meet * PA.20) , Basic Sailing Instructor, Canoe Instructor (Flat Water or Moving Water), Kayak Instructor (Flat Water or Moving Water) |
| American Sailing Association | Basic Small Boat Instructor |
| British Canoe Union | Level 2 Coach Training (Flat Water Canoe and Kayak) |
| Royal Yacht Association | Dingy Instructor |
| Sierra Rescue | Swift Water Rescue for appropriate craft. |
| US Sailing | Small Boat Sailor Instructor, Sailing Counselor Course |
| Ohio Department of Natural Resources | Small Craft specific to each craft |
| Lifeguard Certification listed in PA.3 | Along with additional craft specifice rescue skills and experience |
| PA.27 Watercraft Instruction (also *PT.14) | |
|---|---|
Organization |
Certfication |
|
American Canoe Association |
Instructor Certification for designated craft and environment from courses listed above (*PA.20). |
| American Red Cross | Basic Sailing Instructor, Canoe Instructor (Flat Water or Moving Water), Kayak Instructor (Flat Water or Moving Water) |
| American Sailing Association | Basic Small Boat Instructor |
| British Canoe Union | Level 2 Coach (Flat Water Canoe and Kayak) |
| US Sailing | Small Boat Sailor Instructor, Sailing Counselor Course |
| USA Water Ski Association | Instructor |