Certification Courses

Northern Michigan University is proud to be an authorized health, safety and aquatic provider of American Red Cross Courses. All of our instructors receive continual training following American Red Cross Instructor guidelines and ensure that each participant leaves our courses with knowledge, information and skills that they are able to apply in real world settings.  The schedule varies on course options based on demand.  To learn more about certification programs and their availability, e-mail recsport@nmu.edu or call 906-227-2519.

CPR Certification and Recertification Courses

The American Red Cross First Aid/ CPR/ AED program helps participants recognize and respond appropriately to cardiac, breathing and first aid emergencies. The courses in this program teach skills that participants need to know to give immediate care to a suddenly injured or ill person until more advanced medical personnel arrive and take over. Participants will receive online learning content five days before the class begins. The online learning content must be completed prior to the scheduled class meeting. 

This course meets guidelines and requirements for NMU teaching certification, child care center workers, and for anyone interested in learning about First Aid/ CPR/ AED use. 

Fall 2024 Dates:

  • October 18, 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. click here to register 
  • November 15, 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. click here to register 
  • December 6, 4:30 p.m. - 7:30p.m. click here to register

Prerequisites

  • 14 years of age

Certification Requirements

  • Complete all online blended learning content prior to attending the virtual class
  • Participate in virtual learning class on zoom
  • Demonstrate competency in all skills testing in person 
  • Participate in and attend skill sessions
  • Pass each section of the written exam with a score of 80% or better

Certification Issued & Validity Period

All First Aid/ CPR/ AED certifications are valid for two years from date of course completion.

Cost

  • $80 for Rec Members
  • $90 for Non-Members

The Purpose of the American Red Cross CPR/ AED for Professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers program is to train professional-level rescuers to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, children and infants until more advanced medical personnel take over. 

This course meets guidelines and requirements for students in the Clinical Sciences, Radiology, Radiography, Health, Education, Wellness, and Exercise Science programs. This course also meets guidelines for Fire, EMS and police personnel. This course does not meet the requirements for NMU Nursing students.

Prerequisites

None

Certification Requirements

  • Attend all class sessions
  • Participate in all skill sessions and scenarios
  • Demonstrate competency in all required skills and scenarios
  • Pass a final written exam with a minimum grade of 80% on both Section 1 and Section 2.

Certification Issued & Validity Period

Certification validity is two years from date of course completion. 

Cost

  • $88 for Rec Members
  • $108 for Non-Members

This course meets guidelines and requirements for health care providers, rescue and emergency personnel. For NMU students wishing to attend these courses, please check with your advisor to determine if this course meets the requirements for your program.

The American Red Cross allows individuals to recertify before their current certification expires (or within 30 days of expiration). Individuals must present proof of current certification on the day the class is held. Individuals are responsible for reviewing information before the recertification course is held. Re-certification courses take no more than 2-3 hours depending on the number of participants. 

Cost

  • $60 for Rec Members
  • $70 for Non-Members

Please contact Katie at ktheut@nmu.edu or 906-227-2421 to discuss recertification options.

Lifeguard Certification Courses

The purpose of the American Red Cross Lifeguarding course is to provide entry-level lifeguard participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies and to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services (EMS) personnel take over. Certification includes lifeguarding, First Aid/CPR/AED for the professional rescuer. 

Participant must:

  • attend all scheduled virtual class sessions
  • complete blended learning course prior to first class session
  • be able to complete all required skills and pre-requisites

Fall 2024

Dates: October 22, 24, 29, 31, November 5, 7, 12

Times: 6pm-9pm

Click here to register 

Prerequisites

  • Must be 15 years old on or before the final scheduled session of this course. 
  • Swim 150 yards continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing. 
  • Tread water for 2 minutes using only legs. 
  • Continue swimming 50 yards after 2 minutes of treading water
  • Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds. Timed event includes entry, approach stroke swim, surface dive to a depth of at least 9 feet, brick retrieval, brick swim and water exit.
  • Inability to complete all course pre-requisites disqualifies the participant from beginning the course. Refunds are not available in this instance. 
  • Complete all online blended learning components prior to first class date 

Certification Requirements

  • Attend all class sessions
  • Demonstrate competency in all required skills and activities
  • Demonstrate competency in three final skill scenarios
  • Correctly answer at least 80% of the questions in three sections of the final written exam

Certificate Issued & Validity Period

Certification validity is two years from course completion date. 

Cost

  • $200 for Rec Member
  • $225 for Non-Member

Lifeguard training book and resuscitation mask included. Parts of course will be completed online. 


Lifeguard Re-Certification

Participants must be able to successfully pass course pre-requisites and show proof of current American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification.

Class Dates

April 7, 2024, Noon-9pm

Click here to register  

Cost

  • $115 for Rec Members (must have current ARC lifeguard certification)
  • $140 for Non-Rec Members (must have current ARC lifeguard certification)

The purpose of the Instructor course is to train instructor candidates to teach the Red Cross Lifeguarding, Shallow Water Lifeguarding, Waterfront Skills, Waterpark Skills, CPR/ AED for professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers, Administering Emergency Oxygen and Bloodborne Pathogens Training: Preventing Disease Transmission courses and/ or modules. Instructor candidates will also become familiar with Junior Lifeguarding, Lifeguard Management, Safety Training for Swim Coaches and Basic Water Rescue. 

Course length is approximately 32 hours, participant must attend all course sessions. 

Prerequisites

  • Be at least 17 years of age on or before the last day of the instructor course.
  • Possess one of the following: 
    • A current American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding/ First Aid/ CPR/ AED. 
    • A current American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding/ First Aid and either an American Red Cross certificate for CPR/ AED for Lifeguards. 
    • Be able to complete a skills associated with Lifeguarding/ First Aid/ CPR/ AED. 
  • Successfully complete: 
    • Online Orientation to the Red Cross. 
    • Online Orientation to the Lifeguarding course. 
    • Online Lifeguarding Instructor Precourse Exam (80 percent or better). 
    • Successfully complete the Precourse Session.

Course Objectives

  • Expand on information from the American Red Cross Fundamentals of Instructor Training (FIT) course to teach the courses and presentations in the Lifeguarding program.
  • Demonstrate the characteristics required of an American Red Cross representative and role model.
  • Teach courses in a manner that helps participants stay engaged in the learning process.
  • Ensure participants’ health and safety during training.
  • Demonstrate skills at an appropriate level of performance.
  • Maintain complete and accurate records and reports.
  • Plan, organize and conduct the courses and presentations in the Lifeguarding Program in accordance with the requirements of the specific course or presentation they will be teaching, and evaluate participants.
  • Monitor participants’ practice and provide corrective feedback and encouragement consistent with the critical skill performance steps.

Certification Requirements

  • Successfully complete the pre-course session.
  • Attend and actively participate in all course sessions.
  • Successfully complete class activities, including the required practice-teaching assignments.
  • Complete the Blood Borne Pathogens Training: Preventing Disease Transmission Instructor Self-Study/Pre-Test
  • Score at least 80% on the basic-level Administering Emergency Oxygen final written exam.
  • Score at least 80% on the Lifeguarding Instructor Course final written exam.

Certificate Issued & Validity Period

Certification validity is explained during course. 

Cost and Participant Materials

  • $325 for Rec Member
  • $350 for Non-Member

Class Dates 

The Lifeguard Instructor Course will be held in Spring, 2024


​​Lifeguard Instructor Re-Certification 

Participants must be able to successfully pass course pre-requisites and show proof of current American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor Certification.

Please click here to register

Class Dates

Wednesday, September 6: via Zoom

Saturday, September 9: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 

Cost

  • $150 for Rec Member
  • $175 for Non-Member 

The purpose of the Waterfront Skills module is to teach lifeguards the skills and knowledge needed to prevent and respond to emergencies in nonsurf, open-water areas found at public parks, resorts, summer camps and campgrounds. 

Course length is 6 hours, participant must attend all scheduled sessions. 

Prerequisites

  • Candidates must have a current American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED. Unless this is a combined course with lifeguarding. 
  • Must be 15 years old on or before the final schedule session of this module. 
  • Swim 550 yards continuously while demonstrating both the front crawl/freestyle and the breastroke.
  • Tread water for 2 minutes using only legs.
  • Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds. 
  • Swim 5 yards, submerge and retrieve three dive rings placed 5 yards apart in 4 to 7 feet of water, resurface and continue to swim another 5 yards to complete the skill sequence. 

Certificate Issued & Validity Period

Certification validity is two years from course completion date.

Cost

  • $110 for Rec Members (Waterfront only-must have current ARC lifeguard certification)
  • $135 for Non-Rec Members (Waterfront only-must have current ARC lifeguard certification)

Waterfront skills and waterfront certification courses are typically held in the spring semester (May). Please contact Katie Moe at 906-227-2421 for additional information.

Water Safety Instructor

This course will train instructor candidates to teach water safety, including the Basic Water Rescue course, six levels of the Learn to Swim program and parent and Child Aquatics.

Prerequisites

  • Participants must be at least 16 years of age by the last scheduled session of the course. 
  • Successfully complete the pre-course session (ability to perform all skills associated with course)

Certification Requirements

  • Complete all reading assignments
  • Attend all class sessions
  • Participate in all activities
  • Successfully complete all practice-teaching assignments
  • Pass the final written exam with a minimum grade of 80%
  • Demonstrate maturity and responsibility throughout the course.

Certificate Issued & Validity Period

Authorization is for 2 calendar years. All authorizations expire December 31. Initial authorization may be less or depending on when training is completed.

Cost

  • $300 for Rec Members
  • $325 for Non-Members

Course includes WSI instructor book and manual along with certification cards. Parts of course will be completed online and in the classroom
 

This course will be scheduled based on needs of the community.

Babysitting Certification Course

To provide youth who are planning to babysit with the knowledge and skills necessary to safely and responsibly give care for children and infants. This training will help participants to develop leadership skills; learn how to develop a babysitting business, keep themselves and others safe and help children behave; and learn about basic child care and basic first aid. Recommended age to register: 11-15 years old. 

Cost

  • $70 for Rec Members
  • $85 for Non-Members

Participants must be 11 years old on the date of registration

Class Dates: Spring, 2024

To register click here

STOP THE BLEED®

Get Trained!!!

With 3 quick actions, you can be trained to save a life. The number 1 cause of preventable death after injury is bleeding. That’s why we want to train you how to STOP THE BLEED®.

A bleeding injury can happen anywhere. We've all seen it happen too often—on the news or in everyday life. Life-threatening bleeding can happen in people injured in serious accidents or disasters. Instead of being a witness, you can become an immediate responder because you know how to STOP THE BLEED®.

  • How long is a STOP THE BLEED course?

    Most STOP THE BLEED® courses last no more than 90 minutes. A formal presentation is followed by hands-on practice of applying direct pressure, packing a wound, and using a tourniquet to stop bleeding.

  • How much does a STOP THE BLEED course cost?

    NMU Rec Sports offers STOP THE BLEED at a cost of $5 per participant, with a minimum number of 10 participants per course.

  • How do I schedule a STOP THE BLEED course?

    Your business or organization should contact NMU Rec Sports at (906)227-2519 to discuss options of scheduling a course at your location or at the PEIF.