LA County Department of Public Health - EH

Swimming Pool Technician Program

Any person engaged in the business or occupation of treating or disinfecting swimming pool waters, or cleaning, servicing, or maintaining swimming pools or swimming pool equipment and facilities in Los Angeles County, must be certified as a Swimming Pool Service Technician or Swimming Pool Apprentice Technician. This applies to both public and private pools. A Technician Apprentice may only work under the direct and immediate supervision and employment of a Swimming Pool Service Technician.

To become certified, an individual must pass a one-time examination. To maintain the certification, the Technician or Apprentice Technician must pay a yearly renewal fee thereafter. To qualify to take the Technician examination, the applicant must have taken an approved pool class, e.g., CERTIFIED POOL/SPA OPERATOR'S COURSE (CPO) or other approved class. Approved classes are listed below. For proof of attendance in a pool class, a copy of the certificate of completion is required. No prior experience is required to take the Apprentice Technician examination.

The certification procedure is as follows:

Upon completion of an approved pool class, send in the certificate of completion along with an application and the appropriate fee.
Once an application is received and approved, a study guide will be sent to you. When you feel you are ready to take the exam, call our office at (626) 430-5360 to set up an appointment to take the exam.
>The examination is administered once a month, always on a Thursday, at our Administrative Headquarters in Baldwin Park, California, The exam lasts 2 hours, please check in at 9:00 AM to register. You should bring a No. 2 pencil and calculator. The examination consists of 100 multiple choice questions and 65% is a passing grade.
Once you pass the examination you will be issued a certificate and wallet card. Each year when you renew your certification you will be issued a new wallet card.

Examination fees are non-refundable and must be taken within one year after payment of the fee. If you do not pass the exam you must wait at least 30 days before retaking the exam. There is a new examination fee each time the test is taken.

The fee for taking the Swimming Pool Technician or Swimming Pool Apprentice Technician examination is $ 166.00. The annual renewal fee is $ 32.00

On the examination the applicant will be tested for knowledge on the following:

California Code of Regulations Titles 22 & 24 regarding requirements at public pools, including:

Disinfection, pH and stabilizer levels

Safety signs and equipment

Requirement of operational records

Lifeguard requirements

Clarity, bacteriological and chemical quality of pool water

General requirements for maintaining pools clean, sanitary and in good repair

Skimmers and their proper operation and maintenance

Required turnover rates

Replacement of equipment

Backflow protection

Lighting

Depth marker requirements

Pressure gauges

Flowmeters

Maximum water temperatures

Understanding of the terms and concepts of the following:

Breakpoint chlorination

Chlorine and bromine based products used to disinfect pool water

Methods of action of disinfectants in clarifying and sanitizing pool water

Advantages and disadvantages of various disinfectants, their properties and effects on pool water.

Chlorine demand. Combined, total, and free available chlorine.

Alternate methods of disinfection and treatment of pool water

Balance of pool water. Total alkalinity, calcium hardness and pH, and proper levels in pool water.

Other chemicals used in pool maintenance including stabilizers, sequesterants, algicides, and flocculants.

Effects of corrosive and alkaline water

Tests and proper use of test kits for measuring disinfectant residuals, pH and other chemical levels in pool water.

Detrimental effects on health of improperly disinfected and balanced pool water

Pool chemical safety

Pool filter types, capabilities, sizing, cleaning and maintenance

Pool pumps, basic design, operation, characteristics, and maintenance. Pump curves.

Chemical feeders, their proper sizing, use, and maintenance

Supplemental equipment associated with pool recirculation systems including, separation tanks, multiport valves, hydrostatic valves, sizing of pool heaters, and ORP meters.

How to:

Calculate pool and spa volumes

Elevate or lower pH, alkalinity, calcium and stabilizer levels

Calculate levels of disinfectant in part per million given a pool volume and amount of disinfectant added.

Calculate minimum flow rates, turnover rates, and filter sizes for public pools.

Determine total dynamic head of a pool recirculation system

Determine the flow rate from total dynamic head and pump curve charts

Calculate volume of water loss through leakage and evaporation

Calculate saturation index

Calculate horsepower given, watts, voltage, and amperage.

Additional Recommended Reading:

“Basic Training Manual, Part 1, Chemicals”
Independent Pool and Spa Service Association, Inc. (ippsa)
P.O. Box 15828
Long Beach CA 90815-0828
888-360-9505 ippsamail@aol.com www.ippsa.com

“Continuing Education Series, Pool Chlorination Facts”
Independent Pool and Spa Service Association, Inc. (ippsa)
P.O. Box 15828
Long Beach CA 90815-0828
888-360-9505 ippsamail@aol.com www.ippsa.com

“Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Pool Care”
“Guide to Chlorine”
“Guide to pH, Alkalinity, Water Testing and Water Balance”
“Guide to Alternative Sanitizes”
Service Industry News
P.O. Box 5829
San Clemente, CA 92674-5829
(949) 366-9981
www.poolspa.com/publications/sin/products.html

“Basic Pool and Spa Technology”
various other publications
National Spa & Pool Institute
2111 Eisenhower Ave.
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 838-0083
www.nspi.org

“Pool/Spa Operator’s Handbook”
National Swimming Pool Foundation
224 East Cheyenne Mtn. Blvd.
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
(719) 540-9119
www.nspf.com

“Pool Operator’s Manual”
Washington State Public Health Association
Other publications available
National Environmental Health Association
720 S. Colorado Blvd.
Denver, CO 80246
(303) 756-9090
www.neha.org

Pool Classes:

Antelope/Santa Clarita/San Fernando Valleys
Blue Wave Certification Instruction
Two Saturday classes
Instructor: Tom Clark
(661) 250-5316
San Bernardino Area
Two Saturday classes
Instructor: Michael Clouse
Work (213) 485-4814
Home (714) 887-1106
San Gabriel Valley
National Pool Tech Training
222 E. Foothill Blvd
Monrovia, CA 91017
Two day training course
(888) 609-0302 or (626) 303-3758
San Pedro
Harbor Occupational Center
740 N. Pacific Ave.
San Pedro, CA 90731
Ten week course, Saturdays 7:45 to 2:30
Instructor: Russ Tucker
(310) 547-5551
West San Fernando Valley
West Valley Occupational Center
6200 Winnetka
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Ten week course, twice a week, Monday and Wednesday evenings Instructor: Russ Tucker
(818) 346-3540
Certified Pool/Spa Operator's Course (CPO)
Offered at various times and locations throughout southern California
National Swimming Pool Foundation
4775 Granby Circle
Colorado Springs, CO 80919
For information, call (719) 540-9119
Visit their web site at http://nspf.com