Which States Require CPO Certification? (2026 Update)

The short answer

There is no federal pool operator law. Each state writes its own public pool rules, and many hand the details to county health departments. So it helps to ask three things: does your state require a certified operator, does it name the credentials it accepts, and does your county add anything on top?

The PHTA Certified Pool & Spa Operator (CPO) card is a national credential, good for five years. Where a state or health district names the credentials it accepts, the PHTA CPO was on the list every time we checked.

State by state

• Florida: anyone who services a public pool must be certified through a Department of Health approved course (Rule 64E-9.018). The PHTA CPO is on the DOH list.
• Texas: Class A, B and C pools and spas must be maintained under a trained and certified operator (25 TAC 265.205). The rule names the PHTA Certified Pool Operator. The operator does not have to be on site every hour the pool is open.
• California: no statewide certified-operator law. Title 22 regulates how public pools are run, HOA pools included, and some counties, such as Los Angeles, run their own programs.
• Arizona: no state credential rule. Counties decide. Pima County requires a county-certified operator.
• Nevada: in Las Vegas, the Southern Nevada Health District requires a registered Qualified Operator with a national certification. Washoe County requires a Certified Pool Operator and accepts only the PHTA CPO.
• North Carolina: the owner must provide a responsible operator (15A NCAC 18A .2537), and certificates from the National Swimming Pool Foundation, now part of PHTA, are accepted. Wake County adds its own step.
• Georgia: covered pools and spas need a trained operator with a current certificate from an approved course (Rule 511-3-5-.22). The PHTA CPO is on the Georgia DPH list.
• Utah: public pools must be run by an operator certified through a program the health department approves (R392-302-34).

Each state has its own page with the full rule, local notes and links to the sources. See CPO certification by state.

Where a fully online class may not be accepted

A few places want the training done in person: Delaware, Iowa and Wyoming, plus Pima and Cochise counties in Arizona, Baldwin County in Alabama, St. Charles County and Kansas City in Missouri, and Arlington County in Virginia. If your pool is in one of them, check with your local health department before you book, or ask about an on-site class for your team.

How to check your own state

1. Find your state’s public pool rule. It usually sits in the state administrative code under the health department.
2. Search it for “operator.” Note whether it requires a certified operator, whether it names the credentials it accepts, and whether the operator has to be on site.
3. Call your county or city environmental health office. They inspect your pool, so their answer is the one that counts.
4. If you run pools in more than one county, ask each one. The rules can change at the county line.

What happens without one?

Where a certified operator is required, an inspector can cite the pool for not having one, and repeated or serious violations can lead to a closure order. How that plays out is set locally, so your inspector is the best person to ask.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

Last reviewed September 22, 2026. This article summarizes public rules and is not legal advice. Local health departments can add their own requirements, so confirm with yours.

• Florida Administrative Code, Chapter 64E-9
• Texas DSHS, trained operator requirements (PDF)
• 22 CCR 65501, California public swimming pools
• Pima County Code 8.32.240
• Southern Nevada Health District, qualified operators
• Northern Nevada Public Health, operator requirements
• 15A NCAC 18A .2500 (PDF)
• Georgia DPH, approved pool operator training courses
• Utah Admin. Code R392-302-34