Do You Have What it Takes to Become a Huntington Beach Ocean Lifeguard?

Each spring, over 100 people tryout for the opportunity to become a Huntington Beach Ocean Lifeguard. The Huntington Beach Fire Department Marine Safety Division holds Ocean Lifeguard tryouts with the intention of hiring aquatically skilled athletes who will spend their summer protecting our beach-going public.

Being a Huntington Beach Ocean Lifeguard is no easy task! Our Lifeguards not only respond to rescues in the water, but they are also American Red Cross Emergency Medical Responders trained to respond to a variety of medical calls on the beach and in the water. Ocean Lifeguards also assist with lost and found children on the beach and a variety of enforcement calls based on the City’s Municipal Codes.

To become an HB Ocean Lifeguard there are a variety of steps an applicant must pass, the first being the performance exam. The performance exam is made up of three timed physical events:

  1. 800-yard ocean pier swim
  2. 500-yard ocean swim (surf sprint)
  3. 1,500-yard run-swim-run

Once all the events are complete, the applicants are ranked according to their overall placing and select applicants are invited to an oral interview. After the oral interview, the top performers in both the performance exam and oral interview will qualify to take part in the Ocean Lifeguard Academy. On average, 30-50 qualified individuals successfully complete all the requirements of the academy and are ready to begin their summer protecting our beachgoers.

The Huntington Beach Fire Department Marine Safety Division protects and serves the community and its visitors with its dedicated and highly skilled surf lifesaving staff. Additional information on the HBFD Marine Safety Division can be found on the website.

To apply for an Ocean Lifeguard position, please visit the Ocean Lifeguard job posting.

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