Pool Maintenance and Service Technician Program

The Pool Maintenance and Service Technician Apprenticeship Program provides employers with an educational pathway to lead apprentices through 2,000 hours of on-the-job training, as well as a self-study program that offers more than 144 additional hours of online classroom-style instruction.

The Pool Maintenance and Service Technician Apprenticeship Program supplies unparalleled teaching, mentoring, and learning connections. Through structured training, apprentices will learn to:

  • Develop and practice worksite safety and maintain safe work environments.
  • Evaluate equipment & fixture performance for proper operating conditions and/or replacement.
  • Perform chemical analysis and dispense chemicals to industry & regulatory standards.
  • Calculate water flow and turnover rates and determine pump & filter sizes and perform preventive and scheduled maintenance.
  • Maintain chemical and biological distribution systems.
  • Maintain and program timers and control systems.
  • Perform pool, spa, and hot tub cleaning and maintenance.
  • Perform customer service.
  • Perform chemical analysis and dispense chemicals to industry and regulatory standards which includes service and maintenance of chemical treatment systems.
  • Determine structural and surface conditions and failures of pools, hot tubs, and spas.
  • Determine leaks and warranty procedures.
  • Service, maintain, and troubleshoot pool, hot tub, and spa control systems.
  • Identify water filtering system types; determine operational performance; change/clean to meet acceptable standards.
  • Service, maintain, and troubleshoot pool, hot tub, and spa operating systems.

In addition to mastering all the essential technical competencies, an apprentice must consistently demonstrate at an acceptable level the following behavioral competencies to complete the apprenticeship.

  • Participation in team discussions/meetings.
  • Focus on team discussions/meetings.
  • Focus during independent work.
  • Openness to new ideas and change.
  • Ability to deal with ambiguity by exploring, asking questions, etc.
  • Knows when to ask for help.
  • Able to demonstrate effective group presentation skills.
  • Able to demonstrate effective one-on-one communication skills.
  • Maintains an acceptable attendance record.
  • Reports to work on time.
  • Completes assigned tasks on time.
  • Uses appropriate language.
  • Demonstrates respect for customers, coworkers, and supervisors.
  • Demonstrates trust, honesty, and integrity.
  • Requests and performs work assignments without prompting.
  • Appropriately cares for personal dress, grooming, and hygiene.
  • Maintains a positive attitude.
  • Cooperates with and assists co-workers.
  • Follows instructions/directions.
  • Able to work under supervision.
  • Able to accept constructive feedback and criticism.
  • Able to follow safety rules.
  • Able to take care of equipment and workplace.
  • Able to keep work area neat and clean.
  • Able to meet supervisor's work standards.
  • Able to not let personal life interfere with work.
  • Adheres to work policies/rules/regulations.

Anyone who is interested in learning the competencies of a service maintenance specialist or technician. Apprenticeships are particularly appealing to high school students that would rather learn through on-the-job training than attend college, veterans considering a second career, and those currently working who are ready to learn a new craft.

To become an eligible apprentice, applicants must:

  1. Be 16 years or older.
  2. Provide proof of completion of high school, GED, or equivalent.
  3. Be eligible to work in the U.S.
  4. Be able to pass substance abuse screening if required by the employer.
  5. Be physically able to perform duties of a pool and hot tub professional.
  6. Possess a valid driver's license.

Employers offering the apprenticeship are responsible for:

  1. Identifying apprentices by hiring appropriate candidates or selecting current employees to be apprentices.
  2. Ensuring all apprentices are under the supervision of a qualified journey worker or fully skilled individual and providing the necessary diversified experience and training to train and develop the apprentice into a skilled worker, proficient in all the work processes of the occupation as outlined.
  3. Registering apprentices in the PHTA Pool Maintenance and Service Technician Apprenticeship Program, tracking hours and program requirements, and providing required data to validate the progress of each apprentice.
  4. Training each apprentice in the use of new equipment, materials, and processes as they come into use in the occupation.
  5. Providing training and education in first aid, safe working practices, and in recognition of occupational health and safety hazards.
  6. Paying progressively higher wages as skills increase. For example, during the Pool Maintenance and Service Technician Apprenticeship Program, apprentices shall not be paid less than $12.00 per hour during the first period, $13.00 during the second period, and $14.00 during the final period. Participants must be paid a minimum of $15.00 per hour upon exiting the program as a skilled journey worker.
  7. Providing training in the recognition of illegal discrimination and sexual harassment.

*Rates will be determined based on geographic area. Local, regional, or state minimum wage rates must be met when higher than apprentice wages indicated.

The Pool Maintenance and Service Technician Apprenticeship Program enrollment is free to PHTA members and there is a nominal fee for non-members. A chart is included below:

  Member Rate Non-Member Rate
Company Enrollment Fee Free $500
Fee Per Apprenticeship Free $125
On-Demand Training per Apprentice $1,799 $2,449

 

Contact Seth Ewing at sewing@phta.org to sign up your apprentice for the On-Demand Education.

The On-Demand Training per Apprenticeship includes the following:

Please note, the As-Assigned courses listed in the appendix are also available for those businesses wishing to expand knowledge of their apprentices.

  • Pool Operator Primer
  • Pool Chemistry Certification
  • Indoor Pool Air Quality
  • Recreational Water Illness
  • Discrimination-Free Workplace
  • Sexual Harassment for Employees
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • First Aid and Safety
  • Aquatic Play Feature
  • PHTA Certified Maintenance Specialist (CMS) Course
  • Fundamentals of Hazardous Materials
  • Hazardous Waste Management
  • World Aquatic Health Conference Education
  • Confined Spaces
  • International Swimming Pool & Spa Code Training
  • PHTA Certified Service Technician Course (CST)
  • Heat Stress of Combustible Liquids

We make it simple for you to enroll in the Pool Maintenance and Service Technician Apprenticeship Program. There are 3 simple steps—and above and beyond that, we offer a “concierge” service supported by a team of consultants to ensure you have the support you need to engage in the program.

Get started today.