Lifeguard Qualification Information
For all areas except Long Island Region
- Evaluations for practical Lifesaving and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation skills
- Evaluated on a pass/fail basis
- May take as many tests as necessary at sanctioned test sites
- Sites located around the state
- Each candidate must bring their own pocket mask to the exam
- All candidates will be required to present valid identification to participate in the qualifying exam process. Please check with your regional representative regarding acceptable identification.
Qualifier Events: goggles are allowed for the 200 yard, 50 yard and 20 yard underwater swim event
200 Yard Swim in 4 minutes or less using crawl or breast strokes
20 Yard underwater swim, surface dive and recovery simulating an underwater search and recovery for a victim. Swim underwater for 20 yards, surface, swim away from wall and surface dive to recover a 10-pound brick. Candidate must swim either on their side with the brick on their hip or swim on their back with the brick on their torso simulating a victim carry and place the brick on the shallow end deck without walking. Not timed.
50 yard sprint in 45 seconds or less using a crawl or breast stroke.
Rescue tube tow for 20 yards towing an examiner on a rescue tube.
Adult CPR performance (Professional Level) for two minutes with adequate one person skills using a pocket mask for a suspected drowning victim.
Bring your own pocket mask.
Additional information may be obtained by contacting the regional representative of your choice:
- 6105 E. Seneca Turnpike
- Jamesville, NY 13078
- Olivia Smith
- (315) 479-3258
- (315) 492-1756 Reg. Office
- Olivia.Smith@parks.ny.gov
- 2221 Taughannock Park Rd.
- Trumansburg, NY 14886
- Kaitlin Crane
- (607) 766-1425 cell
- (607) 387-7041, ext. 106
- Kaitlin.Crane@parks.ny.gov
- Denny Ferrell Riverbank State Park
- 679 Riverside Drive
- New York, New York 10031
- Darren Green
- (212) 694-3640
- Darren.Green@parks.ny.gov
- Bear Mountain State Park
- Administration Building
- Bear Mountain, NY 10911
- Andrew Nielsen
- (845) 786-2701, ext. 270
- (845) 925-1480 cell
- Andrew.Nielsen@parks.ny.gov
- Saratoga Spa State Park
- 19 Roosevelt Drive
- Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
- Mike Trunkes
- (518) 584-2000, ext. 252
- fax (518) 396-0543 cell
- Michael.Trunkes@parks.ny.gov
- P.O.Box 308
- Staatsburg, NY 12580
- Anthony Porto
- (845) 889-3802
- Anthony.Porto@parks.ny.gov
- Keewaydin State Park
- P.O. Box 247
- Alexandria Bay, NY 13607
- Shirley Denesha
- (315) 955-2132
- Shirley.Denesha@parks.ny.gov
WESTERN DISTRICT
- 2373 ASP Rte 1, Suite 3
- Salamanca, NY 14779
- Latisha White
- (716) 379-6208
- Latisha.White@parks.ny.gov
- 1 Letchworth State Park
- Castile, NY 14427
- Hillary Acomb
- (585) 493-3625
- Hillary.Acomb@parks.ny.gov
- 3160 DeVeaux Woods Dr.
- Niagara Falls, NY 14305
- Jennifer Ricciuti
- (716) 475-1029
- Jennifer.Ricciuti@parks.ny.gov
- or
- Ben Paquette
- (716) 475-6419
- Benjamin.Paquette@parks.ny.gov
- P.O. Box 247
- Babylon, NY 11702
- Long Island Water Safety Office
- (631) 321-3568
- LIWaterSafety@parks.ny.gov
- 625 Broadway, 3rd Floor
- Albany, NY 12207
- Generic Lifeguard Mailbox
- Rich Alden
- (518) 486-1598
- Richard.Alden@parks.ny.gov
- Lifeguard@parks.ny.gov
- Lifeguard Qualifying
- NYS DEC
- 625 Broadway, Third Floor
- Albany, NY 12233
- Mike Buzzelli
- (518) 402-9057
- Info.Lifeguard@dec.ny.gov