Marine Rescue Employment

St. Johns County Lifeguard Program

Become an Ocean Lifeguard!

St. Johns County Fire Rescue to hold annual tryouts for Seasonal Lifeguard for the 2025 Beach Season! We are in need of highly motivated and qualified personnel to staff our beaches for this summer. We provide all the required training during a paid Marine Rescue Academy. Starting pay is $18.11 per hour! (Incentive Pay for Florida certified EMT or Paramedics)

St. Johns County Participates in E-Verify. View the E-Verify Participation Poster and Right to Work Poster to understand the program.

Training Program

Step 1: Complete Online Application

  1. Ocean Lifeguard Program Online Application
  2. Email Capt. Jessica Earl at jearl@sjcfl.us, so you can be placed on a contact list and receive updates.
  3. Online application will open on January 1st, 2025

Step 2: Complete Initial Paperwork

Please Note: You must use the official St. Johns County forms posted below. The documents must be turned in at the time you attend a tryout.

  1. Physical Exam Form – Must be 100% complete, signed by you, and signed by the doctor of your choice. Incomplete forms will not be accepted.
  2. Lifeguard Academy Training Waiver – Must be signed and notarized.

Step 3: Attend a Tryout

All new applicants are required to attend a physical qualification test and pass the following standards prior to start of the Marine Rescue Academy. Tryouts will alll be held at the Solomon Calhoun Pool, unless otherwise noted.

Requirements
  1. 500 meter swim under 10:00 minutes
  2. ½ mile run under 3:30 minutes
2025 Dates & Times
  • Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 9am
  • Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 9am
  • Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 9am
  • Saturday, March 30, 2025 at 9am
  • Saturday, April 19, 2025 at 9am
Location
  • Solomon Calhoun Pool, 1300 Duval Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084.

Step 4: Attend Marine Rescue Training Academy

All potential first year SJC Lifeguards are required to attend the Marine Rescue Academy to be eligible for employment. We will be offering two Academies this year, dates are listed below.  Individuals who already hold a valid Florida EMT or Paramedic license may be exempt from a portion of the class. Please contact us for further information. 

The Marine Rescue Academy consists of:

  1. 8 hours of CPR for the Professional Rescuer
  2. 40 hours of Emergency Medical Responder
  3. 40 hours of USLA Advanced Surf Rescue training

Academy Dates

Marine Rescue Academy I

  • March 16th, 2025 – April 19th, 2025
  • Class is every Saturday, Sunday 9am-5pm and Wednesday night’s 6-10pm.
  • March 16th, 19th, 22nd, 23rd, 26th, 29th, 30th, April 2nd, 5th, 6th, 9th, 12th, 13th, 16th and 19th.

Marine Rescue Academy II

  • May 4th, 2025 – May 17th, 2025
  • Class is every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 
  • May 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th
  • Class runs 9am-5pm daily
  • Individuals are required to attend all class sessions.
  • If you have any individual issues regarding attendance, please contact a Marine Rescue Officer.

Important Deadlines

Marine Rescue Academy I:

  • Tryout must be completed by February 22nd, 2025.
  • Individuals must be 100% complete with hiring process by March 11th, 2025.

Marine Rescue Academy II:

  • Tryout must be completed by April 19th, 2025.
  • Individuals must be 100% complete with the hiring process by April 29th, 2025.

Questions

Jessica Earl Captain Marine Rescue / Fire Rescue