Thank you for applying to the United States Lifesaving Association - Personal Rescue Watercraft Agency Certification.
Agencies applying for certification must first be certified under the USLA Lifeguard Agency Certification Program. Steps to Certification for Personal Rescue Watercraft Agency Certification:
- Read the personnel standards and ensure that your agency is in compliance
- Read the Minimum Equipment Standards and ensure that your agency is in compliance
- Read the Required Course Curriculum and ensure that your agency's basic training course includes all elements listed
- Ensure that your agency has departmental policies, procedures, and standard operating guidelines for rescue craft operations. Be prepared to upload them during the application process.
- A current copy of the most recent edition of Open Water Lifesaving – The United States Lifesaving Association Manual must be available to each trainee
- Complete the following application along with appropriate payment
Red Asterisk * - All fields marked with a red asterisk are required information. If you skip any required fields, an error message will show in red and must be corrected before proceeding.
Browser Back Button - Don't use your browser back button while completing the application - use the Back option at the bottom of each webpage.
Save Data - Each time you click "Next" to move to the next page, the data on that page will be saved.
Printing - You may choose to print a copy of your application for your records. Note you must print before clicking the submit button at the end of the application.
Fee - Application fee is $500. Note that the USLA is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization recognized by the IRS (Federal Tax ID #23-7067234). Approved agencies are certified for a three-year period as long as they maintain or exceed the standards documented in the application.
The Personal Rescue Watercraft Agency Certification program is under continual review by the USLA Board of Directors. Requirements are modified from time to time to reflect what are considered appropriate standards for professional open water lifeguard agencies.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact the USLA Executive Director at ed@usla.org or the Chair of the National Certification Committee at certification@usla.org or (866) 367-8752.