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Vendor guide · Pool cleaning

Pool cleaning: what you need to offer it

A checklist for a pool company deciding whether to work for communities: what the work is, the credentials and coverage to line up, and where each one fits in your setup.

What the work is

This part is our own guidance, in plain words.

A pool tech runs a route: the same stops on a set schedule, testing and balancing the water, cleaning, and logging the readings at every visit. Repairs are a different job, and the trade uses a different word for the person doing them: a mechanic.

Quote per stop, and say whether chemicals are included or billed on top. Those are two separate choices, and a board weighs them separately.

Your per-visit service report, with the readings on it, is the proof a community can check. When you state a testing interval, name the jurisdiction it comes from in the same sentence.

Your checklist for this work

Tick items off as you collect them. Each one links to the page that explains it.

Certifications pool companies hold

Which certification a community or a county names varies. These are the ones the sources below describe.

  • PHTA's Certified Pool & Spa Operator (CPO) is a pool-operator education and certification program. PHTA, as of
  • CPO certification is valid for 5 years. PHTA, as of
  • CPO needs no industry experience; you complete the course and pass the exam. PHTA, as of
  • The classroom CPO course is a 16-hour, two-day program taught by a certified instructor; a blended option also exists. PHTA, as of
  • NRPA's Aquatic Facility Operator (AFO) certification is for pool operators; candidates should be 18, the exam is 50 questions, and certification lasts five years. National Recreation and Park Association, as of
  • PHTA's Certified Pool & Spa Maintenance Specialist (CMS) course is for people new to the industry or on a maintenance route; no industry experience is required. Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, as of

Licenses and certifications

Pool rules differ by place

Pool rules depend on the state and often the county. Check yours before you quote.

  • CDC says pool codes can vary greatly across the United States. CDC, as of
  • The CDC Model Aquatic Health Code is guidance, not federal law; it becomes law only where a state, local, territorial or tribal jurisdiction adopts it. CDC, as of
  • Because each jurisdiction decides how much of the MAHC to adopt, pool and spa rules can differ from place to place. Check with your local health department. CDC, as of

What CDC’s model code says about operators

This is a model code. It applies only where your state or county adopts it.

  • MAHC model code says a qualified operator has completed an operator training course recognized by the local authority having jurisdiction (the MAHC’s “AHJ”) and has a current certificate or documentation. CDC, as of
  • CDC’s model code caps an operator training certificate’s validity at 5 years. CDC, as of
  • Under CDC’s model code, a facility that does not meet the criteria for an onsite operator may instead have an operator available onsite within 2 hours or contract a qualified operator for at least weekly visits and help when needed, with written records of each visit kept for inspectors. Those criteria include more than two venues, a venue over 50,000 gallons, more than 200 bathers a day, municipal or school operation, or a history of violations. CDC, as of

One state example: Texas

Texas is shown only as an example of one state’s rule. If you work elsewhere, your state’s rule applies instead.

  • Texas requires every Class A, B and C pool to be maintained under a properly trained and certified operator, who need not be on site. Texas Department of State Health Services, as of
  • Texas accepts the NRPA Aquatic Facility Operator, the PHTA Certified Pool Operator, the ASPSA Licensed Aquatic Facility Technician, or an approved equivalent for operator certification. Texas Department of State Health Services, as of

Texas rule text, from its health department

A second state example: Florida

Florida is a second example of one state’s rule. If you work elsewhere, your state’s rule applies instead. Rules like this get revised, so read the current text before you rely on a summary.

  • Florida requires anyone who services a public pool (cleanliness, water quality, chemical balance) to be certified through a department-approved national course of at least 16 hours and a test with a 70 percent pass mark and at least 50 questions. The rule exempts the pool’s permitted operator and their direct employees, and licensed pool contractors are deemed certified. Proof of certification must be posted in the equipment room or be available to inspectors. Florida Department of State / Florida Department of Health, as of
  • Florida pool-technician certification belongs to the individual, is not transferable, and does not imply a contractor licence. Florida Department of State / Florida Department of Health, as of
  • Florida deems certified anyone proven certified by a course of national recognition. Florida Department of State / Florida Department of Health, as of

Florida rule text

A federal rule for pool drains

  • Under the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, public pools and spas have had to use anti-entrapment drain covers that meet 16 C.F.R. part 1450 since Dec. 19, 2008. A pool or spa with a single drain that can be blocked, or with multiple drains on the same plane less than three feet apart, also needs a secondary anti-entrapment device or system. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, as of

Commonly requested by managers and boards

This is guidance for maintenance contractors in general. It names no amount, and each community sets its own requirement in its RFP.

  • CAI guidance for association maintenance and remodeling projects says a contractor's insurance should likely include construction, property and liability, workers' compensation and professional liability coverage. Community Associations Institute (CAI Foundation), as of
  • CAI advises hiring a contractor or inspector who carries general liability without a homeowners association exclusion, plus errors and omissions where they act as a consultant. Community Associations Institute (CAI Foundation), as of
  • CAI tells boards to get certificates of insurance for the contractor and, in some cases, additional insured endorsements naming the association, after consulting counsel. Community Associations Institute (CAI Foundation), as of

Insurance explainedHow a certificate works

Workers’ compensation depends on your state

  • SBA’s guide lists workers’ compensation (through a commercial carrier, self-insurance or a state program) among employee benefits, and the rules depend on your state. SBA, as of

Workers’ compensation explained

What boards read about this work

Written for boards and managers: read what they read when they choose a vendor.

Next steps

Ready to apply, or want another guide? Both are here, and the setup pages cover the documents.

Submit application as vendorVendor setupPool monitoring guideLifeguarding guidePorter services guide

Sources

  1. Certified Pool & Spa Operator (CPO) Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA). As of .
  2. Become an AFO (Aquatic Facility Operator) National Recreation and Park Association. As of .
  3. Certified Pool & Spa Maintenance Specialist (CMS) Pool & Hot Tub Alliance. As of .
  4. About the MAHC CDC. As of .
  5. 2024 Model Aquatic Health Code, Code Language, 5th Edition (Dec 2024) CDC. As of .
  6. 25 TAC Chapter 265, Subchapter L, Public Swimming Pools and Spas (DSHS copy dated 05/03/24) Texas Department of State Health Services. As of .
  7. Fla. Admin. Code 64E-9.018 Public Pool Service Technician Certification (rule text via readFile 64E-9.018.doc) Florida Department of State / Florida Department of Health. As of .
  8. Pool and Spa Drain Cover U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. As of .
  9. Community Association Maintenance (best practices) Community Associations Institute (CAI Foundation). As of .
  10. Manage your business (SBA counseling guide) U.S. Small Business Administration. As of .

Official pages change. Each line shows the day we last read it.