Did you know that, according to Comfy Living, swimming is, in the US the fifth-most popular activity? Additionally, the swimming pool industry’s annual revenue is $1.1 billion, and 17.12% of Americans who are between 18 and 29 years old one a spa, pool, or hot tub.
Considering how popular swimming and swimming-related activities are, and how much money there is to be made in the swimming industry, it’s an exciting time to be in the pool service industry.
However, if you’re in this industry or interested in it, you might be wondering about CPO certification.
If you don’t know what it is or why it’s necessary, you might not be sure about whether you need this certification or not. This can be stressful.
Fortunately, in this article, we’ll review what CPO certification is and why it’s valuable. Finally, you can get the certification you need and run your business as safely and successfully as possible. Read on to learn more.
What CPO Certification Is
If you’ve been asking the question, “What is CPO certification?” we’ll answer that question here. To know what it is, it’s important to know what “CPO” means. This stands for “Certified Pool & Spa Operator.” The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance provides this certification.
The CPO certification is designed, in part, for pool and spa operators who provide their services daily.
It’s also designed for maintenance staff at public pools, pool parks, hotels, and so on.
If you’re wondering, “What’s a CPO certification,” another answer to this question is that it’s a certification that provides knowledge that’s basic and pool-related. It’s important to note that this is an entry-level certification.
Additionally, it’s important not to confuse this certification with another certification, the Certified Pool and Spa Technician certification.
Additional Information
When you participate in a program to get the CPO certification, you’ll learn about the basic skills, techniques, and knowledge of spa and pool operation. The body of knowledge covered comes from the PHTA Pool & Spa Operator Handbook.
Topics covered include water quality management, pool management, system maintenance, system components, spa and pool design, and the special needs of a spa environment involving hot water.
Once you’ve completed the training, you have to pass the applicable exam. Your grade has to be 37 points, or 75%, at least, for you to earn your CPO certification online or offline.
If you’re wondering, “How long does a CPO certification last?” the answer is that it’s valid for a five-year period (as of when you completed the course).
Based on the results you get, you should be sent your certification within two to four weeks from PHTA via email.
This will contain a wallet card, which contains your registration number for your CPO certification, and official certificate.
Why the CPO Certification Is Valuable
There are several reasons why the CPO certification is valuable. These include that it helps with following state and local codes, is a proven educational tool, is a certification that state and local authorities accept widely, and more.
State and Local Codes
Whether you get an online CPO certification online or offline, this certification helps you follow state and local codes related to pool and spa operation. This is because topics covered include a section on state and local codes.
Proven Educational Tool
When you get a CPO certification online or offline, the course required for getting this certification is a proven educational tool. You’ll learn about a large number of pool- and spa-related topics, such as filtration, maintenance, and testing.
So, in addition to getting a certification that’s helpful for your pool or spa business, you’ll learn about many topics related to your industry and your everyday responsibilities at work.
State and Local Authorities Accept It Widely
State and local authorities accept this certification widely. So, chances are, you’ll be able to use this certification in your state and your local area. When choosing your online CPO certification course, submit information about what state you’re based in.
This way, you’ll be getting the CPO certification that’s appropriate for your state.
Handbook Is Comprehensive and Regularly Updated
As we mentioned above, when you’re getting your CPO certification, the information you’ll review in the course comes from the PHTA Pool & Spa Operator Handbook. This handbook is comprehensive, so you’ll learn a lot about the topics covered.
Additionally, because it’s regularly updated, the education you receive will be current.
Taught by Instructors Who Are Certified
When you take a CPO certification course, you’re being taught by instructors who have the PHTA certification. This means they’ll have access to the information that you’re learning and can answer any questions you have about getting the certification.
Recognized Internationally and Nationally
The CPO certification is recognized internationally and nationally. This is a benefit because it makes it possible for you to operate pools and spas all over the US and in other countries, as long as you get the other required certifications and do anything else required of you to do so.
Need More Information?
Now that you’ve learned about what CPO certification is and why it’s valuable, you might need more information. Maybe you want to learn more about the specific topics covered or you’re interested in finding out where you can take CPO certification classes.
Whatever information you need, we can help. At PoolCerts, we’re experts when it comes to CPO certification.
We also offer online CPO certification courses. To sign up for one of these courses, follow the instructions here.