City of Newport Beach
Come join the City of Newport Beach Fire Department - Lifeguard Operations Division as a part-time Lifeguard Trainee! Join our amazing team and have a rewarding summer! To become a seasonal ocean lifeguard for the City of Newport Beach, candidates must first apply for the Lifeguard Trainee position. Lifeguard Trainees attend classes at the Basic Lifeguard Academy (BLA) in order to learn skills and techniques used in ocean rescue, emergency decision making, first responder medical treatment and public assistance.
Salary Information
Lifeguard Trainee PT: $16.50 per hour
Lifeguard Cadet PT: $18.50 per hour
Lifeguard I PT: $25.00 - $30.41 per hour
Knowledge and Skills Gained Through Classroom and Field Training May Include
Lifesaving techniques and procedures for ocean surveillance, rescue recognition, and surf entry;
Identification and effects of hazardous ocean conditions such as rip currents, surf, irregular ocean bottom conditions, lateral currents, and tides;
Emergency Medical Responder and CPR certifications; and
Customer service skills related to public safety and the beach environment.
Information Night The Newport Beach Lifeguards are hosting an Information Night on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 for those interested in seeing Lifeguard Headquarters, meeting the team, and learning more about becoming a Seasonal Ocean Lifeguard. Attendance is not required as part of the recruitment process, nor does it affect applicant eligibility and/or imply a future job offer. Click here to learn more and reserve your spot.
Selection Procedure
Application Evaluation:
Applications will be accepted until Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Candidates are required to attach the Release of Liability and Waiver Form to their online application.
Competitive Tryout:
Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a competitive tryout tentatively scheduled for the morning of Saturday, January 24, 2026. The tryouts will begin at the Benjamin M. Carlson Lifeguard Headquarters located at the base of the Newport Pier. The top candidates with a combined score from the Ocean Swim and Ocean Run-Swim-Run will be invited to the virtual interview. Candidates must complete each component to continue.
Virtual Interview:
Tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, January 28, 2026 (40% of the overall score). A minimum score of 70% on the Virtual Interview is required to be placed on the eligibility list. Candidates on the eligibility list may be invited to attend the BLA based on their overall score from the testing process.
BLA & Tower Orientation The City of Newport Beach BLA is a 109-hour course certified by the United States Lifesaving Association and Orange County Emergency Medical Services. The BLA is designed to prepare and evaluate the suitability of Lifeguard Trainees to become Newport Beach Lifeguards. The BLA is a competitively scored program. BLA attendance and completion of two tower orientations are mandatory. Your absence from any training may disqualify you from further consideration. Please check in advance for any conflicting dates.
BASIC LIFEGUARD ACADEMY SCHEDULE 2026
Wednesday, March 18 (Orientation)* 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday, March 20 (CPR) 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday, March 21 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, March 22 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday, March 28 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, March 29 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday, April 11 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, April 12 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday, April 18 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, April 19 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday, April 25 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, April 26 (Final) 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
TOWER ORIENTATION SCHEDULE 2026
Saturday, May 2 Noon – 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 3 Noon – 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 9 Noon – 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 10 Noon – 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 16 Noon – 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 17 Noon – 6 p.m.
Requirements and Considerations
Experience:
Strong physical fitness, strength and stamina, especially endurance swimming.
Training:
No training is required.
Age:
Must be at least 16 years of age by March 15, 2026.
Physical Requirements:
A physical examination including a drug test will be administered to applicants. The vision requirement is 20-40 correctable in an aquatic environment.
License or Certificate:
Due to the performance of some field duties which require the operation of a personal or City vehicle, a valid and appropriate California driver's license and an acceptable driving record may be required.
Please Note:
Candidates deemed most qualified, as reflected in their application materials, will be invited to continue in the recruitment process. At that time, background information will be requested from the candidates. Prior to employment, the prospective candidate must successfully complete a thorough background review, including being fingerprinted by the Newport Beach Police Department. The resulting report of your conviction history, if any, will be evaluated along with the other information received in connection with your application. Except as otherwise required by law, a criminal conviction will not necessarily disqualify you from the position. The nature, date, surrounding circumstances, and the relevance of the offense to the position applied for may, however, be considered.
Disaster Service Worker:
In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, City of Newport Beach employees, in the event of a disaster, are considered disaster service workers and may be asked to respond accordingly.
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Salary Information
Lifeguard Trainee PT: $16.50 per hour
Lifeguard Cadet PT: $18.50 per hour
Lifeguard I PT: $25.00 - $30.41 per hour
Knowledge and Skills Gained Through Classroom and Field Training May Include
Lifesaving techniques and procedures for ocean surveillance, rescue recognition, and surf entry;
Identification and effects of hazardous ocean conditions such as rip currents, surf, irregular ocean bottom conditions, lateral currents, and tides;
Emergency Medical Responder and CPR certifications; and
Customer service skills related to public safety and the beach environment.
Information Night The Newport Beach Lifeguards are hosting an Information Night on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 for those interested in seeing Lifeguard Headquarters, meeting the team, and learning more about becoming a Seasonal Ocean Lifeguard. Attendance is not required as part of the recruitment process, nor does it affect applicant eligibility and/or imply a future job offer. Click here to learn more and reserve your spot.
Selection Procedure
Application Evaluation:
Applications will be accepted until Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Candidates are required to attach the Release of Liability and Waiver Form to their online application.
Competitive Tryout:
Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a competitive tryout tentatively scheduled for the morning of Saturday, January 24, 2026. The tryouts will begin at the Benjamin M. Carlson Lifeguard Headquarters located at the base of the Newport Pier. The top candidates with a combined score from the Ocean Swim and Ocean Run-Swim-Run will be invited to the virtual interview. Candidates must complete each component to continue.
Virtual Interview:
Tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, January 28, 2026 (40% of the overall score). A minimum score of 70% on the Virtual Interview is required to be placed on the eligibility list. Candidates on the eligibility list may be invited to attend the BLA based on their overall score from the testing process.
BLA & Tower Orientation The City of Newport Beach BLA is a 109-hour course certified by the United States Lifesaving Association and Orange County Emergency Medical Services. The BLA is designed to prepare and evaluate the suitability of Lifeguard Trainees to become Newport Beach Lifeguards. The BLA is a competitively scored program. BLA attendance and completion of two tower orientations are mandatory. Your absence from any training may disqualify you from further consideration. Please check in advance for any conflicting dates.
BASIC LIFEGUARD ACADEMY SCHEDULE 2026
Wednesday, March 18 (Orientation)* 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday, March 20 (CPR) 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday, March 21 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, March 22 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday, March 28 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, March 29 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday, April 11 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, April 12 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday, April 18 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, April 19 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday, April 25 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, April 26 (Final) 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
TOWER ORIENTATION SCHEDULE 2026
Saturday, May 2 Noon – 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 3 Noon – 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 9 Noon – 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 10 Noon – 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 16 Noon – 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 17 Noon – 6 p.m.
Requirements and Considerations
Experience:
Strong physical fitness, strength and stamina, especially endurance swimming.
Training:
No training is required.
Age:
Must be at least 16 years of age by March 15, 2026.
Physical Requirements:
A physical examination including a drug test will be administered to applicants. The vision requirement is 20-40 correctable in an aquatic environment.
License or Certificate:
Due to the performance of some field duties which require the operation of a personal or City vehicle, a valid and appropriate California driver's license and an acceptable driving record may be required.
Please Note:
Candidates deemed most qualified, as reflected in their application materials, will be invited to continue in the recruitment process. At that time, background information will be requested from the candidates. Prior to employment, the prospective candidate must successfully complete a thorough background review, including being fingerprinted by the Newport Beach Police Department. The resulting report of your conviction history, if any, will be evaluated along with the other information received in connection with your application. Except as otherwise required by law, a criminal conviction will not necessarily disqualify you from the position. The nature, date, surrounding circumstances, and the relevance of the offense to the position applied for may, however, be considered.
Disaster Service Worker:
In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, City of Newport Beach employees, in the event of a disaster, are considered disaster service workers and may be asked to respond accordingly.
#J-18808-Ljbffr