Certifications & Trainings

Babysitting Certification

This training will help participants develop leadership skills, learn how to: provide care for infants and children, stay safe; what to do in an emergency; choose age-appropriate activities; recognize and handle a variety of behaviors, pick up and handle an infant and toddler, bottle-feed an infant and spoon-feed an infant or toddler, diaper an infant or toddler, give care to an unconscious child or infant. This class includes Pediatric CPR/AED and First Aid, and/or Adult and Pediatric CPR/AED and First Aid. CPR/1st certifications are valid for 2 years.

Click HERE for information on locations, ages, days, time, and cost.

CPR/AED and 1st Aid 
The American Red Cross Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED course provides participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to sustain life and minimize the consequences of injury or sudden illness until advanced medical help arrives. Upon successful completion of this course, participants will hold an Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED certification valid for two years.

Skills acquired in this course cannot be applied to a lifeguarding certification, as this course certifies participants in rescue skills for lay responders, not professional rescuers.

First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor
This course will train instructor candidates to teach basic-level American Red Cross First Aid, CPR, and AED courses. To participate in this course, you must possess a current basic-level American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED (or higher level) certification or equivalent and be at least 16 years of age on the last day of the instructor course.

Join Our Team: Lifeguard Certification at the YMCA. 

Celebrating a Milestone in Water Safety

Since launching our community-wide initiative to combat the regional lifeguard shortage, we have reached an incredible milestone: 1,607 lifeguards trained by our YMCA. Through the dedication of our instructors, funders, and staff, we have successfully stabilized the local aquatics landscape. For the first time in years, our pools are fully staffed and our communities are safer. We are now carrying this momentum forward by focusing on our Red to Green (RTG) initiative—integrating life-saving swim lessons directly into our day camp curriculum to build the next generation of confident swimmers.

Our Updated Certification Policy

As we shift our focus toward long-term sustainability and internal growth, we have updated our certification pricing. Starting in 2026, the YMCA is proud to offer free lifeguard certification for those who join our team.

• Work at the Y: Complete your certification free of charge when you choose to work at one of our YMCA of Greater Birmingham branches.
• General Certification: For those seeking certification to work at external facilities, a registration fee will now apply.

How to Get Started

Ready to start your career as a lifesaver? We are looking for dedicated individuals to join our mission-driven team.

To apply and secure your free training: 

1. Contact your local YMCA branch directly to express interest in a lifeguard position.
2. Our Aquatics Directors will guide you through the hiring process and enrollment in an upcoming certification course.

Course Purpose: provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed to:

• Prevent, recognize, and respond to aquatic emergencies
• Provide professional-level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries, and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services (EMS) professionals take over.

Details: 

• Successful participants will be certified in Lifeguarding, CPR for the Professional Rescuer, First Aid, and AED (valid for two years).
• A $50 deposit is required to secure a class spot, which is refundable after the participant attends the class.
• Starting March 1, 2024, all classes will be taught using the r.24 American Red Cross lifeguarding program.
• All classes will be in a Blended Learning format.
• Participants must:
  • Be at least 15 years old on or before the final scheduled session of the Lifeguarding course
  • Successfully complete the two prerequisite swimming skills evaluations
  • Complete all online learning modules before the first in-person class session (6 hours)
  • Attend and participate in all in-person class sessions (21 hours, 30 minutes)
  • Complete 3 final skills assessments
  • Pass a final written exam of 50 questions with a minimum grade of 80%
• A minimum of 5 participants is required. Classes may be canceled due to low enrollment. If the Y cancels classes, participants will have the option to transfer to another class if one is available.

This class fulfills the requirements for those going through the Foster/Adoption process in the state of Alabama and can be offered in conjunction with the CPR/First Aid classes. This course also covers the differences of swimming in a natural body of water and gives you the skills to be prepared in case of an emergency. This course does not certify you to become a Lifeguard.

Pricing:

$28 Members | $56 Non-Members

Water Safety classes are available by appointment only and must be scheduled directly with the Aquatics Director.  Please contact your local branch to schedule or click below.