Press Releases

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue was joined today by City Councilmember Shekar Krishnan, City Councilmember Carlina Rivera, leaders of the NYC Citywide Lifeguard & Aquatics Task Force, representatives of the NYC Department of Education, and members of the summer lifeguard corps at a rally in Union Square to call on New Yorkers to take the challenge and sign up for a qualifying test to become a lifeguard at the City’s beaches and pools next summer. Becoming a lifeguard has never been easier or more rewarding: this year, the City reached an agreement to permanently raise the wages for seasonal lifeguards to $22.00 per hour and offer a new modified certification exam for shallow water pools – making the test more accessible for new guards. Additionally, Parks will host a free Swim Prep program, where interested candidates can get personalized training to improve speed, endurance, and stroke technique on their journey to becoming a lifeguard.

Lifeguard Qualifying Tests begin on Sunday, December 8, and will be held at indoor pools around the city, including recreation centers and schools. Test dates will be added on a rolling basis, running until early March 2025.

"As our summers become hotter, safe access to free public pools and beaches has never been more important. At NYC Parks, we've made incredible progress in rebuilding our lifeguard corps since the pandemic, and we’ve done the work to modernize the certification process and improve wages — now we need your help to fill those lifeguard chairs," said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. "Recruitment for next summer season is now underway, and we’re asking all New Yorkers — from parents, teachers, elected officials, and community leaders — to spread the word about this incredible opportunity to become a Parks lifeguard, serve your city, and have your best summer ever."

“As the summers get longer and hotter, our city desperately needs more lifeguards. With higher wages, exciting bonuses and easier pathways to become a lifeguard, the Parks Department is literally challenging New Yorkers to join! A fully staffed lifeguard corps is vital to the safety of our communities,” said NYC Council Member Shekar Krishnan, Chair of the Committee on Parks and Recreation. “I applaud Commissioner Donoghue and her team for their hard work to make this effort possible, and I encourage eligible New Yorkers to prep, test, train and guard our beaches and pools next summer.”

“Expanding access to swimming and swim instruction is a matter of equity, public health, and safety,” said Sharon Greenberger, President & CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York, and Co-Chair of the NYC Citywide Lifeguard & Aquatics Task Force. “We applaud the City’s efforts to strengthen the pipeline of qualified lifeguards and swim instructors and improve water safety for all New Yorkers. We are also grateful for NYC Parks’ leadership on this issue, as well as its partnership with the Y and other nonprofits through the NYC Lifeguard & Aquatics Taskforce, which seeks to identify common-sense solutions to address the lifeguard shortage and expand access to swim instruction and safe swimming opportunities citywide.”

“Our partnership with the Parks Department is a great example of the results we can achieve for New Yorkers when we work together to address challenging issues,” said Citywide Lifeguard & Aquatics Task Force Co-Chair and Queens Public Library President Dennis M. Walcott. “Through our work over the past two years to provide access to swim safety and instruction and to hire additional lifeguards, more kids are learning how to swim, are staying safe when they go near water and are developing a vital skill and a potential passion that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.”

“As we continue bringing more pools in schools back online, New York City Public Schools is proud to be supporting Parks as they call for interested New Yorkers to step up and do their part to keep our communities safe as lifeguards next summer,” said Chief School Operations Officer for the NYC Department of Education Kevin Moran.

Steps to Becoming a Lifeguard

1. Prep

Find out if you meet the age, vision, and physical requirements to become an NYC Lifeguard and brush up on your swimming skills at one of our upcoming Swim Prep sessions.

2. Test

Sign up for a qualifying test. These tryouts take place in our indoor pools over the winter before the upcoming summer season. All potential lifeguards must pass the Lifeguard Qualifying Test, a vision and swim exam.

3. Train

Once you pass the qualifying test, your training to become an NYC Parks Lifeguard begins. You’ll strengthen your swimming, learn crucial lifesaving techniques, and receive your certification to become an NYC Parks Lifeguard. Lifeguard Training is a 16-session program that consists of 40 hours of training, a CPR course, and final swimming tests.

4. Guard

If you successfully complete the training program, you may be offered a full-time position at a beach or pool! Work locations include the beautiful oceanfront in the Rockaways, historic Coney Island, and more than 50 outdoor pools! Our beaches open on Memorial Day Weekend and outdoor pools open in late June. Beaches and pools close the Sunday After Labor Day. Put your skills into action and keep New Yorkers safe!

Facing the effects of a nation-wide lifeguard shortage since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, NYC Parks has been aggressively focused on recruitment to rebuild lifeguard ranks. In summer 2024, Parks’ lifeguard corps grew significantly, with a total of 930 lifeguards at the season’s peak — including a 46% increase in new recruits.

In May 2024, the City announced that an arbitration panel issued an award in the city’s negotiations with the bargaining unit representing city lifeguards. The award functionally paved the way for the city to be able to hire more lifeguards, allow more swimming capacity at beaches and pools over the coming summers, and improve operations of the city lifeguard program. Among other things, the award allowed the city to modify the qualification for lifeguards assigned to shallow water pools, no longer requiring the timed component of the now-300-yard swim for shallow water pools. All other components of the training program, including the in-water and dry-land skill sets, CPR, first aid, backboarding, and other rescue skills were maintained.

For more information, visit the Become an NYC Parks Lifeguard page.