How to Become a Life Guard in Manitoba
Do you need a licence?
Licence required
You must be registered with the Lifesaving Society Manitoba to work as a life guard in Manitoba or to use a protected title.
- Protected titles
- Life Guard
Show the source
“NL is the nationally recognized lifeguard certification and is the final step to becoming a lifeguard.”
From lifesaving.mb.ca/course/national-lifeguard-certification-sundays-130pm, checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Licence required See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 5 steps, listed one-time fees $67 (1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total)
- Licensed in another province: no separate route
- Trained outside Canada: no separate route
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with Lifesaving Society Manitoba
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 5 done
- Listed one-time fees: $67
- 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total
- 4 steps without a listed fee
- Listed time: 1.4 months (only 1 of 5 steps state a time)
-
Email your prerequisites, including Standard First Aid/CPR C, Bronze Cross, and proof of being 15 years or older, to the provided email address.
Source
“step 1: email your prerequisites to [email protected] (Standard First Aid/CPR C, Bronze Cross, and proof of age – 15 years or older)”
lifesaving.mb.ca/course/national-lifeguard-pool-17 -
Once your documents are received, call or come in person to pay with a valid credit card or other payment options.
Source
“Step 2: once the documents have been received, please call the Sportsplex at 204.729.2471 with a valid credit card or come in person to the Sportsplex facility located at 30 Knowlton Drive for all payment options.”
lifesaving.mb.ca/course/national-lifeguard-pool-17 -
After payment, a receipt confirmation is issued and the instructor contacts you with information on required course materials and class details.
Source
“Step 3: Receipt confirmation will be issued, and the instructor will reach out with more information on course materials required and class information.”
lifesaving.mb.ca/course/national-lifeguard-pool-17 -
Attend all classes, bringing the required materials such as the Canadian Lifesaving Manual, a whistle, bathing suit and towels.
- Alert textbook: $43
Source
“Required materials: Alert textbook ($43), National Lifeguard Award Guide ($24).”
lifesaving.mb.ca/course/national-lifeguard-certification-sundays-130pm - National Lifeguard Award Guide: $24
Source
“Required materials: Alert textbook ($43), National Lifeguard Award Guide ($24).”
lifesaving.mb.ca/course/national-lifeguard-certification-sundays-130pm - Whistle: $7.25 (May be purchased at the ALC Customer Service Desk)
Source
“Participants are also required to bring a whistle. May be purchased at the ALC Customer Service Desk ($7.25)”
lifesaving.mb.ca/course/national-lifeguard-certification-sundays-130pm
Time: 44 daysTime source
“Length: Approx 44 hours total”
lifesaving.mb.ca/course/national-lifeguard-certification-sundays-130pmSource
“Please bring with you each class: Canadian Lifesaving Manual, whistle, Bathing suit, towels, (Alert*, National Lifeguard Award guide*)”
lifesaving.mb.ca/course/national-lifeguard-pool-17 - Alert textbook: $43
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Write the final exam, which is held on the final day of the course.
Source
“The final exam will be held on the final day of the course, accommodations for an alternate exam time/date will not be accommodated.”
lifesaving.mb.ca/course/national-lifeguard-certification-sundays-130pm
Listed fees for this route
One-time total listed: $67
| Fee type | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Application | $67 | 100% |
| One-time total | $67 | 100% |
1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.
4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Licensed in another province
No separate route for this group. Source
“If you have obtained National Lifeguard Pool or National Lifeguard Waterfront you may obtain the other stream by going through a cross over course.”
lifesaving.mb.ca/programs-services/national-lifeguard
Trained outside Canada
No separate route for this group. Source
“If you have obtained National Lifeguard Pool or National Lifeguard Waterfront you may obtain the other stream by going through a cross over course.”
lifesaving.mb.ca/programs-services/national-lifeguard
Other listed fees
The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.
- Price: $350.30
Requirements
Education
Applicants must hold Bronze Cross, which need not be current.
Applicants must hold Standard First Aid from one of the recognized agencies in the MB Public Health Act, which need not be current.
Source
“Standard First Aid (Must be from one of the recognized agencies in the MB Public Health Act) *need not be current*”
lifesaving.mb.ca/programs-services/national-lifeguard
Other
Applicants must be 15 years old by the last day of the course.
Participants must be 15 years old by the final day of the program.
Source
“Participants MUST be 15 years by the final day of the program.”
lifesaving.mb.ca/course/national-lifeguard-certification-sundays-130pmApplicants must have successfully completed Bronze Cross and Standard First Aid with CPR C certification or Aquatic Emergency Care & CPR – C, with proof presented on the first day.
Source
“Prerequisites: Successful completion of Bronze Cross and Standard First Aid with CPR C certification or Aquatic Emergency Care & CPR – C. Proof of each must be presented on the first day of the program.”
lifesaving.mb.ca/course/national-lifeguard-certification-sundays-130pmApplicants must attend 100% of the course.
Source
“100% attendance and participation are required.”
lifesaving.mb.ca/course/national-lifeguard-certification-sundays-130pm
Already licensed in another province?
Not stated
The pages do not state how someone already licensed in another Canadian province or territory registers as a lifeguard in Manitoba. Source
“If you have obtained National Lifeguard Pool or National Lifeguard Waterfront you may obtain the other stream by going through a cross over course.”
lifesaving.mb.ca/programs-services/national-lifeguard
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Lifesaving Society Manitoba
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with Lifesaving Society Manitoba
Exams
-
National Lifeguard recertification exam
Source
“National Lifeguard certification is current for 2 years and is recertified by completing a National Lifeguard recertification exam in the appropriate stream (Pool, Waterpark, Waterfront or Surf).”
lifesaving.mb.ca/programs-services/national-lifeguard -
final exam
Source
“The final exam will be held on the final day of the course, accommodations for an alternate exam time/date will not be accommodated.”
lifesaving.mb.ca/course/national-lifeguard-certification-sundays-130pm
Language tests
No minimum test score stated by the regulator Check with Lifesaving Society Manitoba
Exemptions: The pages do not state any language test requirements or exemptions for lifeguards in Manitoba. Source
“If you have obtained National Lifeguard Pool or National Lifeguard Waterfront you may obtain the other stream by going through a cross over course.”
lifesaving.mb.ca/programs-services/national-lifeguard
Canadian experience
The pages do not state any Canadian experience requirement for lifeguards in Manitoba. Source
“If you have obtained National Lifeguard Pool or National Lifeguard Waterfront you may obtain the other stream by going through a cross over course.”
lifesaving.mb.ca/programs-services/national-lifeguard
Supervised practice
Not required
The pages do not state any supervised practice requirement for lifeguards in Manitoba. Source
“If you have obtained National Lifeguard Pool or National Lifeguard Waterfront you may obtain the other stream by going through a cross over course.”
lifesaving.mb.ca/programs-services/national-lifeguard
Demand and pay
No Job Bank wage or outlook data for this occupation yet.
Life guards in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Not confirmed yet
- Alberta Not confirmed yet
- Saskatchewan Not confirmed yet
- Ontario Not confirmed yet
- Quebec Not confirmed yet
- New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
- Nova Scotia Not confirmed yet
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- National Lifeguard Certification – Sundays 1:30PM – Lifesaving Society Manitoba lifesaving.mb.ca/course/national-lifeguard-certification-sundays-130pm · fetched October 10, 2026
- National Lifeguard – Pool – Lifesaving Society Manitoba lifesaving.mb.ca/course/national-lifeguard-pool-17 · fetched October 10, 2026
- National Lifeguard – Lifesaving Society ManitobaAccessibility ToolsIncrease TextDecrease TextGrayscaleHigh ContrastNegative ContrastLight BackgroundLinks UnderlineReadable FontReset lifesaving.mb.ca/programs-services/national-lifeguard · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a life guard in Manitoba?
Yes. Registration with the Lifesaving Society Manitoba is required to practise in Manitoba, and to use the title Life Guard.
Which exams are required?
National Lifeguard recertification exam, final exam.
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