Did you know that the average pool technician earns around $40 per hour?
If you’re interested in getting into this lucrative profession, you’ll need to meet professional requirements. Education, experience, and practice are all essential to becoming competitive in this industry.
That’s why you’ll need a comprehensive understanding of how to become a pool technician and succeed in the field. Read on for a complete guide to this career path so that you can get started on the right foot.
Understand What a Pool Technician Does
Before you can start preparing to become a pool technician, it’s important that you understand exactly where the career path will take you. Pool technicians are professionals that maintain and repair residential and commercial pools.
They’re responsible for cleaning pools in some cases, but their main job is to repair and replace equipment that keeps the pool safe and comfortable. Such equipment might include water filters and pumps. Other common pool technician tasks include:
- Mixing chemicals to keep pool water safe and clean (such as chlorine)
- Testing the water for dangerous/harmful chemicals or bacteria
- Balancing the water’s pH/chlorine ratio
- Using a special vacuum or net to clean debris from the area
- Emptying and changing water filters routinely
This is a great job because it’s lucrative, but it also is simple for the average person to learn. While it does require some education and manual labor, you can understand these tasks quickly assuming that you garner relevant experience. Let’s take a look at what that entails.
Get the Right Education
Education is one of the most critical components to pool technician career readiness. About 24% of pool technicians have a bachelor’s degree, so it is not necessary for applying to this career. It simply makes you more competitive (and gives you the chance to earn a higher salary).
A high school diploma/GED is, however, a job requirement. You also may want to look into trade schools that give experience repairing pumps, heaters, and filters. While much of this experience may come to you on the job, prior experience makes you easier to hire.
Online CPO certification provides you with another layer of education that helps you get hired. These courses help you stay updated on all aspects of pool operation including regulatory compliance. You will also learn about the chemicals necessary in pool environments and the equipment needed to maintain water quality.
CPO certification is a fairly easy process. You just need to sign up for a class, complete the Zoom course (about 8-10 hours of coursework), and take your exam. This exam, given by a certified pool operator, is what will give you certification.
Polish Your Resume
Once you’re CPO certified, it’s time to begin looking for pool technician jobs. This will require you to buff up your resume. Make sure that you include relevant experience as well as your CPO certification and the requirements that you met.
You likely are going to get a lower-paying job at the beginning of your career, which is okay! Like all careers, becoming a pool technician is a journey towards success. It’s at this point that you’ll be able to get professional experience and form connections within the industry.
Get On-the-Job Practice
Once certified with Poolcerts, you’ll have access to your instructor’s expertise for around 3 months. However, you also will need to get some on-the-job practice and assistance from an instructor who’s physically near you.
Find a more experienced pool technician and work with them in your early career days. This may mean taking on a paid internship, but it usually means taking on a job that lets you work alongside higher-ranking professionals. This is a great way to develop skills and learn about the day-to-day responsibilities of experienced technicians.
It also is an excellent way to develop professional connections within the field. You want to learn all that you can from those with more experience and develop a relationship with them. This may take a few years, but you will be paid and it is worth it.
Find a Role Within the Industry
After a while, you will build a solid skill set that allows you to thrive within the pool technician industry. At this point, you should consider seeking more competitive employment. Try to carve out a niche within the market as an experienced name on your own- it’s time for people to begin learning from you.
Try to get a contracted agreement with a resort, hotel, or fitness facility. There are many avenues for experienced professionals to find high-quality work, so research your options thoroughly. You generally want to work for a big name so that you can get promotional opportunities and competitive pay.
Once you have a competitive job, you can then build your own brand as a professional and legitimize yourself as going above and beyond the basics. This means focusing on what matters to you, even if that is opening your own company. Learning the inner workings of pool maintenance facilities and core customer service skills may lead to long-term success.
Get Started With CPO Certification
Now that you know how to become a pool technician, it’s time to learn more about installing, servicing, and repairing pool equipment. We’re committed to helping you become a certified pool technician and helping you to get started on your chosen career path.
That’s why we’re proud to offer courses to help you begin acquiring the knowledge needed to fulfill your dream. Sign up for one of our online CPO certification courses to start your journey towards becoming a pool technician ASAP.